Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-10-09

remember as the BROOKS" gun, tina.
fred the fatal shot.
Diary writer's OF the war should ex
ercise vigilance over their memories
Some other people Of those times are
still living. L.
The Virginia canvass--Mahone and
Wise Threatened with a Crushing
Defeat.
WASHINGTON, Sept. S0-The Virgin.
ia canvass presents some novel feat.
ures, and is becoming very animated.
For years past the election machinery
has been largely in the hands Of Ma
homes creatures, and gross frauds
were practiced to defeat the Demo
Gratis.
This year the Democrats have the
advantage Of honest and upright cleo.
ton boards, which will form a com
plete protection against fraud. Again,
since suffrage was first conferred on
the blacks, in 1867, the Federal gov
eminent has been in the hands of the
Republicans until now, and its power
was used with great effect against the
Democrats. :
The office holders greatly stimulated
the negro vote. This year the negroes
behold the majority of the important
Federal offices in the hands Of the
Democrats, and they know also that
there is a Democratic Administration
at Washington. The negro naturally
goes to the side of power, and the rt-
suit is noticed that there is unusual
apathy among the Virginia negroes. 1t
will take a great deal of Mahone'S
money to secure the usual negro vote.
Not many negroes will vote the Dem
ocratiC ticket, but thousands will stay
at home.
All the prestige is on the side Of the
Democrats. Fitz Lee is immensely
popular. He makes good speeches and
makes friends wherever he goes. He
has excited a degree of esthusiasm
which goes far beyond the most san
guine expectations Of those who advo-
cite his nomination. The mounted
cavalcades which greet Gen. Lee in
every county he visits are a striking
feature Of the canvass, and have pro-.
duced a signal effect in srousing the
enthusiasm and confidence Of the Dem
ocraCs. Malone has plenty Of money
and will use it at the proper time, but
Fitz Lee is already so far ahead OF
him that the money will be thrown
away. Mahone'S real object now is to
save the Legislature and have himself
reelected United States Senator. But
the same vote that elects Lee Cover
nor will carry the Legislature probably
by a two-thirds majority.
The Democratic leaders and man
ayers are claiming from fifteen to
thirty thousand majority. This will
be the end of Malone and Wise. The
latter has gone about making black
guard and defamatory speeches, but
this has only augmented the deep con.
tempt and hostility everywhere enter
tanned for him. No man in Virginia
has ever sunk to so low a depth. The
recent event at Abingdon, where four
or vie Of Mahone's allies combined to
assassinate Judge Ward and shot him
as he lay helpless on the ground, has
had the natural effect of exciting the
Democrats to the highest pitch of in,
dignation, and is safe to say the oc-
will end Mahoneism in the
white counties of the State. Even in
the black belt the tide has turned
against Malone and it looks now as If
his foul conspiracy would be most sig
nally rebuked. The fact that the as
sassins Of Judge Ward have not been
lynched shows the great moderation of
the Virginia people, and is full answer
to John Sherman's calumnies.