Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-11
r M UP IN VIRGINIA.
The MahOnites and FItz Hugh Lee Prepar-
ing to Fight.

The Mah0nites and t1tZ hugh Lee frepar-
ing to Fight.
RIcHMqSD, August l0.-Upon the return
Of Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee from Gen. Grsnt's'
funeral the Virginia campaign will open
animatedly. "Yes, SIR said q well known
Democrat; I'VE Will begin firing all along
the line on Monday. We're going TO make
it warm for somebody
This remark gives a good idea Of about
what the coming three months struggle in
Virginia will be. 1t will be a liteand-
death fight. In reconstruction days there
was nothing like the hatred that now exists
between the Mshonites and their opponents.
The former are chsgrined that Malone was
not invited as a leading ex-Confederate
General to take part in the Grant obsequies,
while the latter are mercilessly jibing them
at the slight. The prominent notice given
given to Fitz Hugh Lee and Joe Johnston,
both bitter anti Mahonites, makes the feel
ing all the more bitter.
The Malone people have retorted that the
funeral has been desecrated by being turned
into q Bourbon show. The attempt is also
made By some Of the Malone organs TO
make it appear that this Is q fight between
West Point and the Virginia Military Inst
tute, the idea being that only West Pointers
have a show. Malone is from the Virginia
Military Institute.
Gen. Lee announced Just before he went
to New York that he meant to call a spade
a spade and to say things that the other side
might not like. He has the great majority
of young men on his side, and his campaign
from the start will be q very aggressive one.
Ex-Congressman John S. Wise, Mahone's
candidate for the Governorship against Lee,
is disposed to make capital Of the decision
of the Democratic Committee not to have
Joint discussions. He has expressed o wish
10 meet Gen. Lee on the stump. He says
there are personal reasons why he cannot
meet one Of the Democratic nominees IN
debate. This nominee, although MIR. Wise
did not call his name, is the Rev. John E.
Massey, the candidate for Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor. The personal reasons are these:
Mr.. Massey was Mr.. Wise's opponent for
Congressman at Large. During the taking
of deposition in the contested election case
that followed, Mr.. Massey said that Mr.,
Wise told an untruth, whereupon Wise
slapped him.
Massey is an old mar of fragile build,
while Wise is young and one of the most
athletic men in this city. Massey did not
return the blow. The act of Mr.. Wise was
denounced as cowsrdly at the time, and
alienated many Of his best friends from
him. .
Mr. Massey is by all odds the abIest and
most irritating debater in the State, and
Wise's opponent will make all the capital
possible out Of this episode. These things
indicate that the canvass will be q bitter
personal fight. 1t is scarcely likely to end
without some bloodshed.
One of Malone s l novel campaign lodges
is reported from L~unenburg county. II Is
said a white mar got a biz crowd OF negroes
together by means ofa magic lantern ex-
hibition. After the pictures had been
shown he proceeded to deliver a political
h%arapgue to them. Malone also has his
agents in the negro congregations and
| lodges, and he has BY this mean heretofore
succeeded in getting their solid vote. There
has been in the last few days a break here
and there in the Malone negro ranks, but
| they are, as q rule, among the least intiuen-
tiai negroes, whose desertion to the Demo
cratic ranks will scarcely be of any help to
the latter.
As the Whites visit social ostracisn upon
all of their race who vote for the Malone
ticket, so do the negroes socially ostracize
the negroes who vote against Malone. The
Democrats, however, will make q great et-
fort to get negro votes. The experiment
! will be interesting, but from present ndica.
tons it will not be successful. Malone will
depend more than ever upon the still-hrnt
policy. =,
The Democrats are discussing the plan Of
organizing campaign cavalry all over the
State, whose duty it shall be to ride every
where and stir up the voters. 1t is expect
ed that the Virginia duel will be heard from
frequently during the canvass.