New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-03
THE CONTEST IN VIRGINIA.
QUARRELs OF THE BOURBON LEADERS.
DIFFICULTIES OF CAMPAIGN IN THE OLD DoAlN.
IoN-JOHN z. MAssEYs ROPES.
TRIBUNE

1ON-JOHN Il. MAsSEfS HOPES.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNTH
RICHMOND, Va, Aug 2.-Virginia is upon the
of tho exciting and bitter political contest that
has taken place in the State since the War; Upon the
result depends only the control OF tho State Admin
straton during the next four years. but the election OF
Senator Mahone's successor. The knowledge that he
will be candidate for reelection will stimulate the
Bourbon leaders to put forth all their energies TO secure
majority In the Legislature Joint ballot and re-
sort by them to fraud and intimidation II not to DAN
VILE methods is among the probabilities of the impend
ing campaign. They hate and fear Malone with de-
gree OF intensity which nobody outside OF Virginia can
fairly realize appreciate. In all their speeches and
newspapers he is styled "vrgnias outcast and char
acerzed outlaw who is not entitled TO the usages
OF civilized or honorable political warfare The intense
for his downfs is stimulated by the belief that
his defeat will insure Democratic majority In the
United States Senate two years hence
Mahoncs successful revolt IN emancipatng some
$4,000 white voters from the shackles OF Bourbonism
did drive the Bourbon bosses from power in their
party but to extent 1t has weakened and d.
yidcd them. In tho recent convention Boss Barbour
defeated by Boss Daniel, assisted by some OF the
younger Of the party who espoused the cause OF Lee
but Boss Daniel and his defeated In their turn
by Barbour and his followers, who demanded that Mas
sey should be given the second place on the ticket.
Boss Daniel drew the Democratic amendments to the
Republican platform, which, as thus amended, was
unanimously adopted by the Bourbon convention. II
was he who proclaimed the important discovery that
"he que OF the debt has ceased to be OF
dollars ana cents and become of State sover-
eighty" The fight for the senatorship betweens him
and Barbour bitter and there Is already talk of setting
'Parson Massey hopes to he able take advantage
OF this situation to seeure bis own election to the
United states Senate lie believes that the Republicans
aud Democrats IN the Legislature will be pretty
evenly matched aud that II halI dozen men devoted
dictate B9IrDOna. 10 IL reported tnht
Massey accepted the second place on the state ticket
with an eye single TO this contingency and that he Is
ndineren prospect OF his defeat AS candidate
for lcuenantGoyernor, Prospect which Il REGARDED
a. almost certain by some politicians of both parties
The Bourbon leaders do not underTate Manone's pot-
cal ability or skill aud they freely admit that as cam
paign organizer and manager they have no man who l.
his equal.
People ia the North cannot easily realize how great
are the difficulties OF political campaign IN virginia
In the fret place II must be l"hS one.
For example Captain Wise make MS first speech to-
a "A place ia the southwest which II accessible
by rairoad. ON the following day he VIII speak at
place which Is more than twenty miles from the neares-
rarOad ataton ot telegraph ONCE hd during the re-
mahdcr OF August he VIII be IN the saddle, visiting the
of southwestern Nirsni, addressing. once or Twice
audiences which viii gather from far ana near 10
see aud hear one OF the most eloquent young meh III
SexI week Captain Blair the candidate for ttorney
General. will opeu his canvass ut Woodstock The home
OF senator Rddeberror, who. to the disappointment ef
the bourbon leaders. will give the Republican ticket his
earnest support Captain 'ar viii devote thc Remain
der Of the month To the Valley counties.
other speakers have been appointed To canvass other
Ing been laid already by General Mdhone the indc
fatigable chairman Of the state Committee who ha-
hcsu working night and day In the last fortnight, plan
ning AID providing for the details OF the campdign
Besides the speaking canvass. another. wnlch con
sumes much tme aud which, II less obtruslye,
Is equally important and laborous, must be
conducted III al the counties which have large
ber OF voters In all such counes-and they
numb about ity house TO house necessary,
aud minor details Of organization require careful
and down to The day OF election not
only secure fuli vote aud tar registration of all
legal voters but to prevent frauds. The new election
louTDous AbrOluto control the
election machinery aud Eerns makes IL necessary tht
the Republicans shall exercise the utmost vigihnce'
especially Ia the Black counties. where the temptr
tions toinrLit fraud ara great, and where the
Democratic registrar Judges and commissioners VIII be
more bold. unscrupuous and desperate than IN those
counties wnerc the white voters form large majority
That the importance OF thorough organilatou con
cannot be SHOWN Dy Tue lac th
the small Democratic majority Il gin alast ear would
Black counties. AT that the the present Infamous
election law had not been enacted nat the Bourbon
fully determined to The machinery OF this law 10
suppress II possible. the Republican vote aud manu-
facture bogus Democratic nJOrltirs IN the hraVy hs
publican counties clearly indicated In the emphatic
declaration Of Charrnal Barbour when ne sad
Under these changed conditions we have the power
and must rim"
other speakers in the convention less cautious
and boldly proclaimed their unlawful PURPOSES some
o. them even threatened sdrso,ea Violence virginia
speech Danvile last year rar-on Massey praised
and lntimatcd that In his opinion II might be
prontaby repeated In other places.
good many OF the Hourbons here are greatly dis
gt-ted by the nomination OF Ayres foe Attorney Gen
rra For weeks they had been procaming through the
and their determination put forward their candI
for that hs ana important oice the most eminent
who would b. fully equipped and able TO defend Nr
ginia before the highest judicial tribunal Of
unknown country lawyer whose le-a a,qnrenehts ar"
moderate In the rNreme, and whose abilities as plead
certainly in-ignncant. II one may Judge by his
speech before the convention