Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-06-19
MahOne's Ideas,

The Readjuster leader has turned up in
Washington and had an interview with the
President. To reporter he claimed that
the recent county elections were generally
favorable" to the Coalition, especially in the
white counties. He has no misgivings as
to the future. ''With proper encourage
ment and not too much sentimental
squeamishness," he said, eve can carry
Virginia and North Carolina against the
Bourbon candidate for President. Trans
lating this language by the aid of Mahone's
acts, it means that, with plenty Of money,
free use of patronage, and the employ
ment of the public service as partisan
machine, the Readjuster leader thinks the
Bourbons can be defeated in the two states
named. This is his idea of ''proper ell
enlargement and ''not too much senti-
mental squeamishness."
Is President Arthur prepared to continue
the alliance on these terms? VIII the Re-
publican congressional committee again
give its support to the Coalition, in the
hope of detaching Virginia and North
Carolina from the solid South The an
swer to these questions involves some pref
ty serious considerations for the Republi-
can party. An affirmative reply would
commit the Administration to the policy of
in Virginia-constituting him, in effect,
President for that Commonwealth, with
full power over the public offices. 1t would
give the sanction of the executive to the
wdefying practice of enforcing political
assessments, turning the public officers into
partisan agents and bestowing places as in
centives to, or rewards for, partisan activi-
ty. Objections to these and kindred prac-
tees may seem like sentimental squeam-
1shness' to Malone and his ieutenants,
but the people of the country have ex-
pressed themselves in very decided terms
to the effect that these things are evils and
abuses which must be stopped. So far as
public affairs at Washington or in the
Northern States are concerned, the Presi-
dent has in good measure respected the
popular will, and conformed his admins
tration, in the main, to the new order of
things decreed by the people. But reform
is not one thing at the North and another
at the South. What is a necessary and
proper rule for the management of politics
and the conduct of the Government in one
section of the country cannot be "senti-
mental sqHeamishness' in another. The
President must choose-mUst he not ?-l
between a consistent and straightforward
administration of the Government, upon
what are known as reform principles, and
a crooked deviation, made avowedly to gain
strength at the South On the plea that the
end justifies the means. The effect of
such double-faced attitude upon the best |
public sentiment of the country the Presi- |
dent ought to be able to foretell.
As for the ''proper encouragement at
which Mr.. Malone hints, the Republican
party saw the effect of that in the election |
of last year. Hubbell's committee, accord |
ing to its secretary, raised something like
$3.50, 600 for use at the South, where it was
expected to ''do the most good" The |
tally-sheet of the next House shows the |
result. 1t was sort Of encouragement |
that did not encourage. And if the Re- |
publican leaders pursue the mole blind pol !
icy of attempting to ''build up" their party
at the South on the basis of patronage, or
of trying to cement coalitions with blood |
money, their structure will tumble to ruins, |
and their bond of union prove a rope of
sand. Mahone is not sound wood; he is |
mere punk And splitting wedge cannot |
be made out of punk. It is not by force of
his ideas that the solid South can be |
cleaved asunder- Boston Hralda