The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-22
VIM. Malone.


State-deyoted his life more unreserv.
eddy to her service. or who so fully and
broadly comprehends her wants. The
correspondent says:
To-day the proudest boast of Virginia
soldier is that he belonged to Mahone's
brigade. Though other Generals sue.
ceeding Malone commanded that famous
organization it always disdained to be
called by any other name than Malone
Brigade" Says the Southern historian of
the Crater battle, General Malone won as
he deserved enduring glory and rescued
the city from capture and probably from
sack. Said another Southern historian,
writing of the advance of Mahone's men,
Now was the crisis of the day, and for
tunate was it for maiden and matron OF
Petersburg that even at this moment
there were filing into the ravine between
Cemetery Hill and the drunken negro
battallions of Ferrero a stern array of
silent men. clad in faded gray, resolved
with grim resolve to avert from the
mother-town fate as dreadful as that
which marked the three days sack of
! Badajos."
Southern historians and poets have en-
shrined this brigade. its General, and their
achievements in undying lines of admiring
tribute; and he who was true among the
truest in war to Virginia, is faithful
among the faithless now. Lee leaned upon
him be was one of the only two Generals
whom Lee consulted on the final scene at
Appomattox; and afterwards at licking
| ton, Lee said to the guests at his table on
public occasion, that during the war,
oppressed with sense of the growing in
firmities of age, he had often thought of
resigning and recommending as his sue
cessor-Mallonei This is an authentic
historical fact fully attested, and that by
Bourbons who would not deny it if they
could.
In Mahone's house is magnificent
sword, presented him as token of the
love and admiration of his soldiers and
people and the gratitude of the city he
saved. Yet in that city every door is
closed against him and his in a caste and
clan ostracism as cruel as fate, as bitter as
death and in a meanness and malignance
unspeakable. In the great house, alone,
with his workers, he carries on his desper-
ate fight, with no thought of shrinking or
of parleying with the enemy, while fin
nicky Republicans North, looking on this
life and death struggle of Republicanism,
languidlyremark that they guess Malone
will get beaten this time for good and
ALL
There is not Bourbon leader to-day
who would not be treated the same way by
the Bourbons if he asserted his indepen-
dence or dared to show the courage of his
convictions. Let Bourbons as Daniel or
Tucker or Lee or any other of the Bour.
bons whose patriotism and 'sblood . and
ability and eloquence are now extolled to
the skies, declare themselves as openly
and bravely as did Malone, and upon
them the flood gates of Bourbon slur and
SANDER would be opened.
Malone has been the central mark for
every shaft of this festered malice of
Bourbonism-a malice which has shown
itself in like ages and in all countries. De-
voted to his State, a man of great force of
character and practical genius, he has
been the only statesman who has arisen in
Virginia since the war. No one can be
named comparable to him, either in pro.
ject or accomplishment F.; either in the
assertion of Virginia s rights, OF in the
protection and developments Of her inter-
ests. He is easily first among living Vir-
ginians, whether in peace or war.
In judging mans actions it is well to
look for motives. What could have been
Mahone's motive for putting himself in
such a position if it was not honest con-
viction and sense of duty Hehad wealth,
high social position, great fame, the love
and admiration and respect of his fellow
citizens and everything to make life enjoy
able in honor, prosperity and honest
pride.
His sacrifice for the sake of his party of
all things that men work and fight for and
hold most precious has been tremendous.
No man ever made a greater, and as for
money, $15000O will not cover the sum
expended by him in fighting the battles of
Republicanism in Virginia.
And yet any office of trust and emolu-
ment in the gift of the Democrats of Vir-
ginia he could have had. There never has
been moment that he could not change
all this situation with a word, and again
become the idol of Bourbonism, clasped to
its heart and lauded and applauded, and
the past forgiven and forgot, even as old
man Massey is now sung, and feted, and
worshiped by the same Bourbons who
short time ago stoned and rotten-egged
him in the city of Richmond, and daily
crucifed him in the press as ''mangy
cur brutal and villainous dog, "a
wretched liar,' ''the spawn of corrup-
ton, y "a brute, liar and a villain, ''"a
reverend hypocrite," SC.
This treatment and abuse was poured
out upon Massey because he favored Ma
homes plan of readjustment, which is now
the whole platform of che Bourbon party.
| So much for Malone, the man and his
motives. So much for his work If he is
beaten in the coming contest, it will be
the end of the Republican party for the
present in Virginia, and, for that matter,
in the Nation, so far as power is concern
ed. If he wins, it will be new life. new
lease, and staggering if not fatal blow
to Bourbonism. It would be well enough
for the Republican party if it wants to
live and get back into power to see to it
that he does not fail for lack of aid.
F. D. M.
Wonderful Cures.