Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-04-29
End Of the Readjuster Party.

After a long series of transformations,
each of which, says the Bait. Sun, marked
a distinct step of moral deterioration,
political party on Wednesday last under
went at Richmond its final change, surren-
dered its identity, and merged itself in
another political organization. eve, the
representatives of the people comprising
the Coalition party of Virginia, in conven-
ton assembled''-so runs plank of the
platform-''do declare that from and after
this date our party shall be known as the
Republican party of Virginia." and, sin
national affairs we shall follow the banner
of the Republican party" This is the for
NAL avowal of course long since adopt
ed and acted upon, but hitherto dis
claimed. There is not little curious in
terest in the history Of the successive steps
by which Senator Malone, taking advan-
tage of the discomfort felt in the State with
regard to the funding act of 1871, organ
lied in 1879 party of Readjusters made
up by Coalition of white Democrats with
Republicans, white and colored, led them
to victory for several years on the debt is.
sue, and was finally defeated in 1888, when,
the debt having been settled, the majority
of his white supporters returned to the reg
ular Democratic ranks. At the outset Ma
hone was Democrat of the Democrats. It
was he that led the conservative Demo-
cratic party in it's triumphant campaign.
against the element placed in power by the
Federal government after the war, and it
was to his drastic measures toward the en-
ployes of the railroads of which he was
president that the large majorities won by
that party in certain sections of the State
were mainly DUE His prominence and
success as brigade and division comman-
der in the Confederate army during the
civil war attracted to him many active
young Democrats, who were pleased to find
him exhibiting the same powers of skillful
combination, self-confdence and aggressive
ness in politics that had so much distinguish
ed him in the eyes on that day when, upon
the blowing up of a part of Lees line of
works in front of Petersburg, his troops
charged into the breach, restored the Con-
federate line and confined the enemy in the
Crater. Nor did Malone belle their trust
in him as a loyal commander as long as his
share Of the Democratic spoils was suffi-
GENTLY large. But he failed of the covet-
ed nomination to the governorship, and,
what was worse, was deprived of the presi-
dency of long line Of railroads consolidat-
ed during his term of control. Then he
meditated revenge, and found his opportu-
nifty, as said above, in the debt issue. He
was still, however, professedly democrat.
In 1880 the party under his control put in
the field Hancock and English electors,
and as late as March, 1881, in the violent
debates occasioned in the Senate of the
United States by his assisting the Republi-
cans in the organization of that body, Ma
hone vehemently affirmed, when reproach-
ed for his treason by the late Senator Hill,
of Georgia, that he was ga better Bemo-
GRAFT" than his accuser. But this was mis-
leading. Conferences had been lad with
the outgoing Hayes, and were renewed
with Garfield and Arthur, the result being,
as is generally understood, bargain THAI,
provided all control over Federal patronage
in Virginia and Virginia's share of Fede al
patronage at Washington were given him,
the Virginia boss would bring his party to
the support of the administration and even
tually bring it into the Republican party.
| This he has done as far as it was in his
power to do it. In each community he
has made sucn additions to the Republican
vote as could be gained and retained by his
control of Federal offices, but hardly more.
His formal detection at this time was nee
essary in order that his delegates should
gain admission to the Chicago convention
as good republicans, and be enabled to re-
turn President Arthur's many past favors,
but it cannot be said to improve his pros
poets in Virginia. On the contrary, this
formal abandonment of the Democratic
party, made necessary by Mahone's pros
pective identification with Arthur 10 the
coming campaign, will undoubtedly cause
the most of his Democratic friends to
abandon him-Democrats who were willing
to cling to him as long as he called himself
Democrat. Now, however, that Malone,
instead of being ga better Democrat" than
Hill, is better Republican than Dozen
dorf, and will be preferred to him at Chi
cago, it will be impossible for any one call
ing himself Democrat to allow himself to
be longer deluded.
| General MahOne's resolutions, as adopt
ed by his convention, demand protective