Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-11-17

that point musL 10 CoASlueiou aS selIleu.
T asked about the debt question. He said
that was a delicate subject, and he hesitated
to express himself for fear ofmisunderstand
ING or misconstruction. The democratic
nartv of Virginia had fought two campaigns
in favor of the McCulloch settlement aud
had been defeated. They had the whole
power of the Federal government against
them, and Gen. Malone had also the active
aid and sympathy OF the republicans of the
Senate. including Senators Sherman and
Hoar, Recognizing as binding, however,
the decision twice expressed of majority of
the voters of Virginia, the democratic party
in the Lynchburg convention had pledged
| itself not to disturb or repeal the settlement
favored by the majority. The democratic
party has been restored to power on this
pledge, and he trusted never to see the debt
question dragged again into the politics OF
the State. But he hoped that by wise,
conservative and judicious administration of
State affairs, both capital and desirable
class of immigration would be attracted TO
Virginia, through which her immense re
sources, both mineral and agricultural,
would be fully developed and the old Com
monwealth resume the proud position IL the
sisterhood of States to which she was en-
titled.
Abiding to the cry about democratic hos
| tilty to the common schools started by the
Malone party and taken up by republican
partisans all over the country, Gen. Lee said
there never was more senseless or more
baseless charge. The democratic party had,
six years in advance of the time prescribed
by the constitution adopted by the conven
ton called under the authority Of Congress,
put the school system into operation, and
| = - hos ba hap maid 8 /.
most the entire cost OF the system. Accord
ing to the statistics prepared by Mr.. Farr,
the Malone superintendent, it is shown that
in 1854 there were SIC more school houses
built under democratic control than in 1888
under Malone control. There was Ssh 600
more spent in 1854 than in 1888; there were
more teachers and more scholars. No man
| IN or out of Virginia can point to any demo-
cratic legislation hostile to the common
schools All the prosperity of the schools
of Virginia is due to the Henkle BILL dem
ocratic measure.
He said that rs yet he had been too much
occupied to consider any details of policy
which he would lay down for his action as
Governor, or any recommendations which
he might deem proper to make TO the Leg
islature. But he had bright hopes for the
future and every confidence in the Legis.
lature which was soon to assemble. He
believed that body would treat with wis
dom and discretion every subject involy.
ing the welfare and prosperity of the State.
l asked General Lee as to his estimate of
General Malone; whether he regarded him
as such an able politician and organizer rs
is claimed by his friends. He said promptly
that he did not. Malone had enjoyed ad-
yantages and combination of fortuitous
| oh al f,11 - fba lot CT
any political leader But he had not seen
in him any extraordinary qualities of politi-
cal generalsh;p or foresight. Malone did
not 60 upon the stump. He had not
made what could fairly be called one
speech in the whole of the campaign.
He introduced Senator Sherman at Peters
burg, but he would not go with him to
Richmond He shut himself up in his
house at Petersburg, surrounded himself
| with few Of his personal adherents and
little clique of Northern republican cor
respondents, who sent off any story he
wanted, and busted himself mostly in send.
ing around circulars This was the sum
and substance of his management. The
value of his political judgment was shown
in his claim, in 1850, that his electoral ticket
would carry the State; in 1883, that he
would carry the Legislature; in 1854, that
| lie blalu6 cleClOiS W Uui1l w CuOSol, auu III
the contest which has just closed that Wise
and Malone Legislature would be elected.
John Wise, he said, had started his cam
paign with speech somewhat approximate
ing to good temper and dignity. Butt was
a new role for him. The people did not
expect it, and neither understood nor appre.
ciated it. Mr.. Wise, therefore relapsed into
his old habits, after this one departure, and
the campaign which he made was eminently
characteristic.
In concluding, General Lee said that the
organization which the democrats of Vir-
ginia had been contending with for the last
five or six years was, both as regards morals
and practices, as base and degraded as any
of the old carpet-bag organizations, and had
as little as any Of them the true interests Of
the State at heart. The splendid victory
which the democracy had just won was, he
fervently trusted, the complete and per-
manent discnthralmcnt OF the State from
the clutches which had been fastened upon
it. The situation was such rs to require
prudence, moderation and wisdom, and he
doubted not the democracy would be equal
10 the occasion.
| Hon John s. Barbour.