The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-12-13
Exit Malone.

The country has become acquainted
with this adventurer. He has been a
notorious and powerful quantity in Fed
eral politics because of accidental cir
cumstances. He got himself elected to
the Senate-as Democrat, with diff
ference from the main party in tho
State on the debt question. They were
were Funders. He was a Readjuster.
So many readers forget facts that it
will be well to explain these terms
The Funders maintained that all the
debt of Virginia-not assessable on
West Virginia, which was cut out of the
Old Dominion as a war measure
should be funded and paid. 1t was
$45, 100000. The Readjusters Hsain-
tanned that Virginia should pay only
S30,000,0 900, on the plea that that was
all she could afford-really because the
reputation of SO, 100000 was "popu-
lar" The Reputation was softened into
the term ''readjusting." Falstaff
called stealing conveying" Malone
got $4,000 whites and $4,000 negroes to
vote for "Readjustment." Against it
100, 600 whites voted. The Republican
party in Virginia combined with the
Malone whites to make two minorities
form majority. All the time, Ma
hone said that, on all Federal questions,
he was a Democrat. He ran an elector-
al ticket in 1880. Only the whites with
him voted it. The Funders ran electors
of their own. The Republicans did so,
too. Both distrusted Malone. The
Funders won by a plurality. The vote
| of the State went for Hancock. In the
1880 canvass, Malone urged the DEM
| cratic National Committee to get the
Virginia Democrats to join with him in
the canvass. He said he was as good a
Hancock man as any of them. At the
same time, he secretly visited Garfield
at Mentor for the purpose of a fusion
with him-only to be repelled.
| When the Senate met, March a, 1881,
there were thirty-seven Democrats,
thirty-seven Republicans, and two non
descripts, David Davis and William
Malone. The latter sent word to the
Democratic caucus that he would vote
with them if he could dictate his plac-
ing on committees. The party refused
his offered trade. He then negotiated
with the Republicans the nomination
Of fellow repudiator, Riddleberger, to
be Sergeant-at-arms, dictated his plac-
ing on committees, and voted with that
party. The negotiation was effected
by Vice. President Arthur. 1t was the
most dishonorable pact ever formed in
politics. Ever since then, by having
a casting vote in tied Senate, Ma
hone has been the master of the Repub.
lican column there. The murder oi
Garfield enabled Malone to have the
same hold on the Executive that he
had on the Senate. Since Arthur be.
came President, Mahone has effected his
plan of reputation for Virginia, anC
had it declared inviolable by the Repub
lican Supreme Court of the United
States.
! His course has been impressed on the
country. He has made his action il
Virginia that of an autocrat, with pol
icy of larceny and tyranny. He grad
ually estranged every considerabl,
leader who had led off with him. HI
stung the honest Republican leaders in
to revolt. Thatleft him only the mel
without reputation among the whites
and the practiced scoundrels wht
worked on the fears and ignorance o
the lower grade of blacks. After al
earnest struggle the Democrats hav,
united all the efficient honesty in tn
State against him. 1t proved to be
majority. The Legislature is agains
him. He has yet two more years in tn
Senate. His tool, Cameron, will b.
Governor two years more; but that i
} the limit of his power. This Legisla
!, lature chooses his successor. The Stat
has slipped away from him. His over
J throw is the chief event for civilization
: which has occurred in American poll
} ties this year. 1t is a great rebuke t.
!, the Federal Administration. Presiden
Arthur has sacrificed every principle o
Civil-service reform to gorge Mahon
) with patronage. He has reversed ever.
principle of Republicanism, as to homes
money, to sustain the Virginia repudia
ton. He has condemned his Admins
tration to dishonor in history by his Ma
honeism. Yet that utter badness is tn
only affirmative and overt feature of tn
Administration. Otherwise, it has bee
| a-mere parasite on the spoils and in it
: action and policy, dull, commonplace
and tricky.-AL6any argus.