Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-12-06
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

Especial correspondence of the Alexandria GAZETTE.
RICHMOND, Dec. Binder happier aus
pices this year than two years ago your cor
respondent begins his legislative correspon-
dence. The surrounding atmosphere is
decent this time. A Virginian can now
enter his States legislative halls without
being rudely jostled by railroad rnonopolists
and big corporation lobbyists staggering
about with an insufferable air of ownership
calling to men of independence. He can
bring any petition before the General AS
semby OF his State without trucking SER
vice to an INSCRIPTIONS bully, presiding III
the midst of creatures doing homage to his
toe-nails Us he sets enthroned in low
gambling den. The air is purer, the sky is
clearer, the outlook is brighter than has
been known in Virginia for some years past
"How do the victors bear themselycs?' may
be asked For answer it need be only stated
that Mr. Barbour's admirable counsel to
maintain the organization, has been needed
and the democrats are moving together rs
one man. They give evidence that it Is
not necessary in order to expedite business,
10 hide from the people behind caucus dools.
The democratic caucus last night WAS
held with open doors. Votes for and against
were openly cast in the presence of au i'm
mcnse crowd, in striking contrast with
the caucus Of the Mahoneites over the way.
| They had closed doors in the usual dark
fashion started by their proprietor. But oc-
casionaly some ringing utterance Ola demo
cratic speaker, giving Mahonea few touches
of an aspic sort, lloated TO the ears of The
party corpses and occasioned Il nervous
Jwitching ofbodies which can never again
he galvanized into life.
The nomination Of Judge Stuart meets
with general approval. He is considered
lit representative of the young, vigorous
and determined democracy OF Virginia
During his past career in the House he
made IL fine reputation; in fact his election
proves that. He always commanded nj
! tcnlion and soon became recognized az one
of the cearest speakers in the body. While,
of course, his arguments with Mahoneilcs
were like hacking at IL pile of mud with Il
keen-edged sword, yet they gave ample
evidence what he could do when put before
Il worthy adversary. No man could have
been more inimical to the Malone gang \
nomination Matched in Il gambling den by a
low petty bully is no honor, for it is really
no nomination at ALL 1t is not won, it is
ordered. Yet, in fair fight, with honor
able and able competitors and where merit
is alone considered the test, II nomination,
gained in struggle witnessed by all who
chose to witness it, is Il high honor Judge
Stuart's selection means that tlfs*party will
put the young men in the front. The day
Of fossils is over.
The Governors message is universally re-
garded as Il very weak paper. 1t disap-
points his adhercnts who wanted hun to
crack few more rifles and sink the Bour-
bon knife little deeper in the Danville
business. But Cameron was not fool enough
for this.
He has been newspaper reporter and
the habits Of observation acquired in that
calling were not thrown away on him. He
sees that the lie did not take at the North
or South. He does not propose to help Ma
hone and Gorham in that way. He means
that they can do their lying. So some Of
their henchmen are disappointed. Gamer
on's talk about the debt Is considered the
veriest twaddle, and his friends think he
made mistake in Juggling it in SO clumsily
as he has done in his message. He evnced
an over eagerness to introduce it. The sand
wching was very inartistcally done.
Bailey, of Washington, IL man with q
tremendous voice, aSpres TO the leadership
of the corpses in the Senate. Grim, Of Shen-
andoah, IA new man, aims at the same thing.
| Bailey expects TO take the wind out of the
democratic sails, by anticipating them in
all measures. The great aim OF the corpscs
will be to hamper the democrats on the
debt question. They express the deter
mination to attempt to place the reform
legislature in the attitude of opposing the
debt settlement already decided by the pco.
pie. OF course this is chi!d's play. 1t fools
| phn l.,p,nnrotc l. no col h.,
are dealing with and the people know them
and know their motives
1t is said tonight that Mr.. Massey wants
the authorship. This morning it was con-
sidered that Henkcl had the inside track
for this place, Mr.. Massey, it was understood
declining the place Mr. Masseys friends
have argued that his acceptance ofthc place
| would jeopardZc his claims in Congress.
Mr.. Lovenstein, Of Richmond, it is rumored
will be the chairman Of the Senate Commit
tee on Finance Mr. Duff Green has done
most of the talking on the Malone side Of
| the House.
| Camcron's recommendation Of the aboli-
ton of the Second Auditors office causes
much amusement. Why does he wait until
rival party is in power TO abolish an office
which his own party has seen tit to prop up?
| They had the power to do away with this
office. lit was so useless, why did they not
abolish it then? The fact is Col. Frank G..
ltuln has been talked Of for The place of
Second Auditor He is an object of the par
ticuIar aversion of the Mahoneites They
would like to see him defeated in whatever
he undertakes General Wickham to-day
voted for the democratic nominees and vo-
ted with them STRoNGBOw.