Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-20
DAILY POST.INTELLIGENCER
rae yIxeISIa CONTEST.

tess Of the present year Ia that which
10 taking plscs 10 Virginia IL IL
death grapple between the Democrat
and the Read asters, vhs for the pres
ent are Incorporating A. Kspublieans.
The Democratic candidate for Governor
ID General FiizhHgh Lee, late Of fhe
Confederate army, and the k@sdiuster-
Republican candidate is John ;. -.
son Of the Governor Wise vho made
himself famous A. the man who more
than any other was responsible for TIE
banging Of John Brown This strange
arrangement Of candidates has caused
both parties 10 take sorse extraordinary
positions. The Republicans are assert
ing that the Lee family never did
amount TO very much, and that all ~
members from Light Horse Harry down
to Robert T. have been very much over
rated. Ihe Democrats, on the olAsr
hand. attack Wise because bis father
hung John Brown, al action which
they have hitherto regarded a. the
browning achievement! 81 the Wise
family. To this the Republicans, -
called, answer that Brown never Was OF
much account anyhow and that Gov
ernsr Wise did perfectly right IN hang
ing him. A Western Congressman who
made several speeches in favor Of Vice
remarked after leaving the State that
the can't aiQn IN Virginia was the nrsi
OF which be had eyer known Ia which
the bands Ia the Republican pro
oessions failed to play John
Browns Body" OF course, both the
candidates base their claim to the Office
OF Governor principally upon The ser
vices which they rendered in aid Of the
defunct Confectionery. Both are stump
ing the State. Lee is not much Of an
orator, and his adversary succeeds ID
bringing together the largest crowds.
Wise has hit upon the device OF giving
an exhibition OF bis skill as marks
man before each speech. lie breaks
ffly glass balls before beginning TO talk
20 his audience on the Issues OF the day.
OF course this il something very like the
devices prscticed by patent medicine
vendors on street corners. but this Is
very cheap campaign, and Wise does
not much care how he gets bis crowd.
II glass balls catch the popular eye
why. glass balls are precisely what MIR.
jobs s. Wise intends 10 use.
1. IL plain, however, that the contest
for the eovernorship In really second
airy matter. Neither party has any spe
cial antipathy to the candidate of the
other. Both Lee and Wise are descend
ed from old Virginia families, both are
gentlemen ard both are brave men. AZ
ter the excitement of the campaign has
disappeared the Democrats woald not
be greatly dissatisfied with Wise as
Governor, and the Republicans would
be greatly dissatisfied with Lee. The
real contest IL over the legislature, which
will elect a successor 10 Malone. 1ha,
individual IL exceedingly anxious to
succeed himself aud Is moving heav-
en- and earth to secure majority
of the legislature. But II Malone is
anxious to return 10 the Senate, he Is no
more anxious than the Democrats are
10 keep him ont. Malone is the pet
aversion OF the Virginia Democrats.
They bate him "a certain individual
With whom Robert q. Ingersoil ia often
oonfounded in the popular mind is said
to hate holy water. There is probably
not another man in the United States
who IL 50 cordially detestea as Senator
Malone, and there h probably not an
other who 80 cordially detes.s his enc
mics 10 return. TO get Malone out of
the Senate, the Democrats would be
willing 10 ooncede the RoverHorship
and everything else 10 the Republicans,
And. on the other hand. Malone does
net care much who is elected Governor
80 long as he is assured another SIX
years term In the Senate.
This contest for the Senstorship Is not
important simply az deciding whether
or not William Malone shall be rele-
gated 10 private life. ID will decide
whether the Readjaster party is to live
or die. With Malone beaten the party
OF which he is the leader would very
soon disappear. With him returned 30
the Senate it would probably continue
10 exist for some time 10 come. There
are few outside OF its members who
would be heartily sorry TO see Il expire.
Although IL has lately assumed the name
Of Republican. Il really has no more in
common With the Republican party than
IL has with the Concord School Of Phi
losophy, An ofshoot Of the Demo
cratic party. il was at Arst welcomed by
many thoughtful and patriotic people
"a the arst indication OF break In the
solid South. While IL has been able to
carry on an even contest with the De
mocraoy Of Virginia. the struggle has
been 80 acrimonious. 80 unprecedent-
eddy bitter, that the State has been in
iured rather than benefited. For the
last ave years the Readiuster party has
existed simply as a spoils party. Ma
hone has been political hess who de.
handed from his followers implicit
obedience TO his every whim. Neither
be nor the party which be carries in
his vest pocket is credit 10 American
politics.
A rebellion has broken out IN Eastern
Rnpnalia. Ths insureapts hnxa hr,van