The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-05-31


When the Malone party was doml-
nant in Virginia, the manly, thrifty.
hard working, intelligent people were
for little while cast down, as they saw
tyrant's heel pressed savagely upon
liberty. We were defeated in 1881, and
again in 1882. One victory was enough
to raise the conceit OF narrow minded
upstart. and make the incendiary leader
run riot over the rights of the people.
The second victory, of course, increased
the arrogance and the boldncss of this
infamous tyrant. Dcccncy was tram
pied under foot. The temples of justice
were converted into partisan tribunals.
The charities of the State were reorgan-
lied SO as to give dice TO partisan vul-
lures. Virginia was being dismantled.
All these things the Conservative peo-
pie saw, but though their wrath was
kindled, they did not make fiendish ex-
hibit;ons of their temper rs the defeat-
ed Mahoneites are now doing. They did
not try to incite to incendiary deeds, as
the so-called Coalitionists are now do
ing. They simply bore the evils of mis-
rule philosophically, and at the same
time determined to overthrow Malone
ism at the polls; and last fall, rising in
their manhood and power, the freemen
OF Virginia accomplished their work cf-
fectually. They overthrow tyranny and
put an end forever to Bossism in this
Commonwealth.
Was ever heard such bowling as the
whilom Boss and his henchmen send
FORTH? Like hungry hyenas driven
away from their prey they howl le-
cause they can not longer prey upon
the people of Virginia. Fat places they
made for themselves, and they howl be.
cause they are to be put out sooner or
later on account of incompetence and
maladministration of their trusts. Such
bowling in the hour of defeat shows
what rich spoils the spoilsmen had
found. And such bowling on the part
of the ex-Boss shows how that indi-
vidual hates to give up his position of
legislative manipulation.
Every one must be struck with the
difference between the Malone methods
and the Democratic methods. William
Malone as chairman of the Readjuster
party was ex-offic;o dictator of that
party, manager of his Legislature and
autocrat of Virginia. During the last
session of the Legislature he left the
United States Senate and spent much
of his tine in Richmond ruling that
Legislature. No railroad charter could
be granted. no bill of any kind could be
passed without his approval. AS chair
man of his Executive Committee he
was virtually the Legislative, the En-
ecutive and the Judiciary. Greater
scandal than his methods brought upon
Virginia never known in the history
of any American Commonwealth.
Last summer delegates selected by
the Democrats met in Lynchburg and
elected John S. Barbour Chairman of
the Democratic Executive Committee.
His duty was to manage and direct the
Democratic campaign in the State.
How we'll he performed that duty last
fall is known to all. His chairmansl ip
does not invest him with the power to
rule Virginia; TO make Vir ,inia's laws;
to execute Virginia's laws. Bills and
bills may be presented and passed;
charter after charter may be asked for
and granted, and John S. Barbour
knows no more about them than does
the Governor of a neighborng State.
He accepted the Office of chairman of
the committee, but not the office of
Boss. The people elected legislators to
make laws. and these legislators will
act for the people and in the interests of
the people. The Democrats recognize
the fact that the people are the sover-
eigns and that they are the servants.
Malone had declared himself the SOW
ereign and the people his servants. A
great contrast! The representative peo-
pie of Virginia are in power now, and
will keep in power. But it is pitiable
to hear the Mahonites howl.-Rich-
mOnd State.