Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-04-15
Bitter Meditation.

The few former Democrats who remain
in the Coalition Republican party have no
doubt repented bitterly of their course and
wished thousand times that they had TAX
en- the advice of friends and stood by the
banner inscribed with the motto of Virginia.
Among those who have experienced these
regrets is doubtless the Governor of Virgin
ia. William E. Cameron was once staunch
Democrat; was beloved by a large circle of
acquaintances; commanded the respect and
esteem Of the people of Virginia, and was
withal cheerful, happy man. But the
creature whom Mr.. Cameron had called the
''Railroad Ishmael,' the man whom he had
despised, brought into play his willy methods
and, like the spider and the fly, Malone
caught Mr.. Cameron in his poisonous mesh
eS.
The outlook was bright at first, for the
foul and fatal web which Malone was weav-
ing was invisible to the ambitious politician.
Mr.. Cameron entered into the campaign
work of the Mahoneite party with charac-
taristc enthusiasm, and was soon known as
one of Mahone's chief lieutenants. In 1879
the Malone party was victorious; in 1880 it
suffered defeat; in 1881 it was victorious
again, William Il. Cameron being elect ed
Governor in that year. Then this form er
Democrat was intoxicated with delight, and
perhaps never stopped to consider that a day
of reckoning was coming.
Mahone's Legislature was in session in
1891-'S2, and Nlahones Governor was
prompt to act with that body in doing the
tyrant's bidding. But Malone and his fol-
lowers soon overleaped themselves, and the
crushing defeat of last year was a natural
result of the would-be Boss's policy. Gov.
Cameron had thought only of the present;
disinterested people could see the downfall
OF tyranny written on every page of Ma
homes record of 1SS1-'S2. And when de-
feat overlook the Coalition gang in 1888 ii
was crushing, permanent defeat. The
debt'issue had been removed from politics,
and the only issue that existed was so sim
pie that all men couli Understand TWAS
Tyranny, represented by Malone, or Lib
erty, represented by the Democracy, to rule?
The majority of the voters of Virginia being
freemen, liberty triumphed and blessed
have been the results.
MahOne's lieutenants look on in dis,nay
they see that Virginia has no further use
for them, and sad indeed must be the refec.
tion of men like Gov. Cameron, who once
held honorable positions in the ranks of the
Democracy.
Gov. Cameron sits in his gubernatoria
chair meditating upon the vanity of life anG
William Malone. He now sees the wei
that Malone threw over him, and how fata
it was to political existence. If he hae
thought of the consequences four years age
he might have escaped from the tyrant's
clutches in time to redeem his disaffected
record. But having been identified with the
corruptionists so long, he will hardly return
to the Democratic fold. In his isolated
position he will doubtless spend the re
mainder of his life i'll vain regrets and des
perate revilings.
The moral is: Young Democrats, if they
would be happy and respected, should sticl
to the Democratic party and never run aftel
disaffected leaders. They should never al
low their political ambition to lead them in
to places of iniquity. State.