The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-08-30
"A Burnt Child breads the Fire."

Republican journals, we observe,
have discovered that Malone is very
poor Republican after all, and that his
utter and final defeat will be no
very serious misfortune to the party.
This change of tune has sweet sug-
gestiveness which can not be over
looked. Mahone is now just as good a
Republican as he ever was, and he was
considered so good a one even by the
lam ented Garfield tic. the Federal
patronage in Virginia was placed in
bis hands unconditionally, to be disposed
o1 as he saw fit. 1t is rather late in the
day for Republicans to find fault with
their purchase. Malone, elected to the
Senate as a Democrat by Democratic
votes, offered himself for sale and
named his price. The Republicans
bought him and paid the price without
defalcation or discount. They knew ex-
actly what they were getting and were
glad to get it. Such highly moral or
gans as the New York Tribune rejoiced
greatly over the infamous transaction.
Malone was a prodigal son returning to
his fathers house, and dozen fatted
calves were none too many for the cele-
brat.on of the family reunion. He could
have and should have as many "rings
on his fingers and bells on his toes"
in the shape of offices, as he wanted,
for was he not the predestined leader of
new Southern departure? the advance
guard of mighty host of Southern Dem
ocrats who were to desert Democracy
and join the Republicans? Who does
not remember the storm of congratula-
ton over what was facetiously called
"the conversion of Mahone?n Who
does not remember the Republican pre-
dictions in regard to the tremendous eff
feet this conversion" would have up
on the solid Democratic South? Ma
homes example-so said these prophets
would be initiated in every Southern
State, and in a few years a prominent
and influential Southern Democrat
could not be found without search
warrant. There has been fearful dis
| appointment, of course, but is Malone
| to blame for it? He has faithfully full
filed the terms of his contract, and
what more could be asked of him? If
| Southern Democrats saw the treason
and despised and damned the traitor,
was it his faultp Republicans are not
particularly popular in the South, even
the best of them; and Republican,
made such by open and unblushing
bribery, is naturally and inevitably an
object of deepest detestation. The Re-
publican party paid Malone for his
| treachery, and Southern Democrats
paid him again, in a different way, and
| will continue to pay him as long as he
lives afterwards.
The fact is-and this is what gals
and digusts the. Republican purchasers
| Moh hos fho ,o,.try for. n,.c
harm than good. 1t was odious enough
in the South before, but he has man
aged to make it still more odious. Not
only this, but his methods in Virgins
have not merely dernoralized and sor
ganized the Republicans in that State
but sickened the better class in the
North. At the very time this class
were trying to get rid of the curse o
"bossism'' in New York and Pennsyl
vania, the spectacle of the meanes
''bosses'' in Virginia, supported by {
Republican Administration, was no
pleasant to look upon. Conkling ant
Cameron were angels of light compared
with Malone. They had some decency
and dignity even in their worst acts; h
had none, and did not pretend to any
From first to last he has beer
On Ine make, anu Ino lrauu
corruption and rascality which North
ern Republican "bosses' tried II
conceal, this Southern Republican
"boss'' Haunted in the face of tn
world. To ''assume a virtue if yol
have it not'' was foreign to his nature
for virtue was not in his line of bust
ness, and the semblance of it might EN-
barrass him. So he has gone on in hi
own way, and very pretty way it i
when studied from the standpoint O
human depravity and impudence. Th
Republicans have got Malone; now lie
US see them get rid of him. He is, 70
them, veritable ''Old Man of tn
Sea-" firmly seated on the shoulders o
the party, and resolved to ride as lon!
as legs and lungs hold out. The part
has made itself responsible for him an
his. and that responsibility is an uncom
monty heavy burden, as Republican
are now ascertaining to their sorrow an
shame. 1t is safe to say that the mex
Malone in the market will not
snapped up as quickly as was the pres
ent one. "a burnt child breads tn
fire. "-St. Louis Republican.