Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-10-02
Chairman Cooper.

Mr.. Chairman Cooper, who was in Rich
mond few months ago, and then had a
confidential interview with Governor Cam
eron, is still an important parsonage in
Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Telegraph
of Saturday last says of him:
chairman Cooper is reported to have
made IAN amusing speech at West Chester
last night. Probably he rehearsed the ex-
traordinary Stalwart performance in the
Senate on Thursday"
Mr.. Cooper is, as intimated, Stalwart,
and knows whereof he afirms. 1t was his
position at the head of the Republican par
ty in Pennsylvania which placed him in
possession of knowledge of the fact that
General Malone had an understanding
with old Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania,
even as early as 1879, in regard to break
ing up the solid South. As Mr. Cooper is
still a leader of the Stalwarts, still chair
man of the Republican State COMMITTEE Of
Pennsylvania, and still, it is to be presum-
ed, confidential friend and supporter Of
General Mahone's, it may not seem amiss
to reproduce once more what he says in
his book on the point mentioned. Some of
the Democratic orators in Virginia have
recently referred to this matter, but were
not fully posted. We shall now proceed
to quote from Mr.. Cooper's book, entitled
"Anse1ican Politics." page 1858. Mr..
Cooper says:
SIN the presidential campaign of 1880
the Readiusters supported General Han
cock, but on separate electoral ticket,
while the Republicans supported Garfield
on an electoral tmket of their own selection
This division was pursuant to an understand
inq, and at the time thought advisable by
Malone, who, if his electors won. would g.
for Hancock or not, as circumstances might
suggest, aUhile If he failed the Republicans
might profit By the separation.
"The ReadjuSter movement at first had
no other than local designs but about tie
time of its organization there was a great
desire on the part of the leading Republi
cans to break the solid Sonth, and every
possible expedient to that end was suggest
ed. It was solid for the Democratic party,
and, standing thus, could, with the aid OF
New York, Indiana, and New Jersey, (theD
all Democratic States assure the election
of Democratic President"
Then after stating that one of the favor
tie objects of President Hayes was to break
the solid South, and how he tried to break
it by conciliatory speeches. and then by
putting Mr.. Key into his Cabinet; and how
the scheme was fiat failure, Mr.. Cooper
adds:
''The next and most quiet and effectual
effort was made by General Simon Came
ron. He started on brief southern
tour, ostensibEy for health and enjoyment,
but really to meet General Malone, his lead
ing Readjuster friends, and the leading
Republicans. Conferences were held, anG
the union of the two forces aods nude to EN-
brace national objects. This aodS in the fdl,
of 1879. Not long thereafter General Ma
hone consulted with Senator J Don Came
ron, who was of course familiar with hi
fathers movements and he actively devised
and carried out schemes to aid the new
combination by which the solid South was
to be broken"
Just think of that No wonder Genera
Malone, when asked by the Democrats in
1880 to unite his party with theirs in sup
port of an electoral ticket pledged to vott
for Hancock, had to decline the proposition.
He was acting then in concert with Simon
Cameron His 'faithful allies were then
understood to be the negro voters, but Mr..
Chairman Cooper lets the world know thai
General Mahone's objects were not by any
means what the Democrats credited him
with when they proposed to unite theil
forces with his.
We may well repeat, therefore, that an
important person is Mr.. Cooper, chairman
of the Pennsylvania Republican State Com.
mittee. He has inseparably associated his
name with those of General Malone and
Governor Cameron and Senator Cameron
Though his statements concerning our Gov
ernor Cameron and General Malone were
such as challenged universal attention by
their most remarkable nature, yet no one
has ever so much as intimated that Mr.
Cooper went beyond the truth when he
said in his book what we have quoted
above, or when he said that Governor
Cameron had promised on certain condi
tions to contribute this year thousand
dollars to the campaign fund Of the Repub
icans of Pennsylvania.
Now, can any Democratic Readjuster ash
for any better or other evidence that Gene
raj Malone is to all intents and purposes
Republican, Surely not; and if in 1885,
the mere suspicion of the Democrats tina
his ticket was not the genuine Hancock tick
ct defeated that ticket inglorlously
surely in 1883 his known and avowed sup
port of the Arthur Administration will
doom his candidates for the Legislature tt
similar fate. Virginia is Democratic
State, and intends to continue to be known
as part of the solid uth.-Richmon
Dispatch.