The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-07-21


In 1877-for reasons not necessary
now to noticc-Mr. Hayes knocked out
the keystone of Republican supremacy
in the South by Withdrawing Federal
troops. At once carpet-bagism, negro
ism and Republicanism collapsed to-
gether, and on their ruins rose 1.-THE
solid Democracy" of which we have
since heard so much. The Republican
leaders were amazed and Disguised at
this action on the part of one whom
they had thrust into the Presidency by
impudent and outrageous fraud, and
never forgave him for it. But the &C
ton was fixed fact, which could be
vigorously cursed-not recalled. Hence
these ENTHUSIASTICALLY unwilling to
have the source of unfailing Republican
majorities permanently dried up-laid
their heads together to devise plan by
which the consequences of the Hayes
policy might be at least partially
averted, and Southern Republicanism
placed upon its legs again. They de-
cided that the cheapest, easiest and
best way to reach this desirable con-
summation was by buying such
prominent Southerners as offered
themselves for sale. and using these
purchased renegades to demoralize and,
If possible, destroy the Democracy in
their respective States. William Ma
hone, of Virginia, was the first and last
candidate for the immortal infamy.
He had acquired reputation and popu-
larity during the war, and when he pre-
scented himself for seat in the Senate,
had little difficulty in obtaining 1t. He
was elected as Democrat by Demo-
cratic votes, and the people of Virginia
had not the slightest suspicion that they
were sending political Judas to the
National Legislature. He did not keep
them long in doubt on this point.
Months before the Congress of which he
was to be member met, it was gen.
orally known that Malone had been
bought by the Republicans at his own
price; that price being the absolute con-
troll of Federal patronage in Virginia.
Both sides have lived up to their bargain.
Malone has voted steadily with the Re-
pnblicans on all questions where his vote
was needed, and he has carried the
Federal patronage in his pocket and
distributed it as suited his purposes. He
has been, and is, the "boss" of Vir-
| ginia to an extent which Conkling never
was in New York or Cameron in Penn
sylvania. He has pulled down and set
up whom he pleased, and the Admins
tration of Garfield and the Administers
ton ofArthur have sanctioned and sup
ported the dirty despotism Of which he
is the center and circumference. Demo-
Gratis of course expected and received
no mercy from the traitor, but anti
Malone Republicans Jared no better at
his hands. Men who were fighting for
the Union when he was fighting for the
Confederacy- and of whose Republican,
ism there never had been the smallest
shadow of doubt, have been turned out
of office at his dictation for no other
reason than that they opposed him or
did not work sufficiently hard for him.
The protests and prayers of these vic
tins have been treated with contempt
by the authorities at Washington, and
Malone is as much boss" in Virginia
to-day as he ever was.
1t is not at all likely, therefore, that
the late open letter of ex-Congressman
Dezendorf to President Arthur viii have
the slightest effect upon the uncleanly
domination of Malone. The present
incumbent, like his lamented predeces-
sor, recognizes the binding character of
the bargain and sale. and win do moth
ing to interfere with the regular pay
ments of patronage. But the Dezendorf
exhibit of the practical workings of
Mahoneism viii render it impossible for
the Administration to escape the full
measure of responsibility it has
tried to do heretofore. The Exon
gresham does not deal in vague gen.
eralities or wild guessing, but gives
facts and figures in most trenchant and
fearless style. He "means business"
and nothing else, and whatever may be
his motive, the public is certainly in
debted to him for q mass If interesting
and valuable information concerning the
system adopted by the Republican lead
ers for the re-establishment of Southern
Republicanism. We commend that
system, as revealed in the Dezen-
dorf letter, to the careful attention
of those Republicans who really think
their party has strong leanings toward
Civil-service Reform. In Virginia, as
run by Malone and Republican Adj
ministration, may be seen in full bloom
the worst of those political evils which
Civil-service Reform is intended to up
root; and the same evils would bloom as
luxuriantly in every other Southern State
if there were more Mahones in the mar
ket. Fortunately for the country the
example of the Virginia traitor has had
q contrary effect from what those who
bought him anticipated. 1t has not
been initiated by single Southern
Democrat, and there are no indications
that it will be. The bargain and sale
have been the means of embarrassing
the Virginia Democracy more or less,
but that embarrassment is not perma-
nent, and outside Of Virginia Southern
Democracy has been strengthened by
the device which it was thought would
disrupt it. Meanwhile there is Malone