Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-08-01
yrRGINIA's NEXT GOvERNOR r..

contests there have been not only bitter,
but fought with a stubborness never be.
fore equaled anywhere. The issues were
local rather than national.
Virginia had a tremendous bonded
debt coming down from the war period.
The Democrats, representing a vast ma
jority of the taxpayers of the State,
STYLED themselves the "debt. paying"
party. Senator Malone, himself a for.
mer Democrat aud ex. Confederate Gen.
eral, advocated the scaling down OF the
debt to about one.half of the original
amount. He was joined in this demand
by a limited number of property holders
throughout the State, but his following,
which he denominated the "Readjuster
party" were not strong enough within
themselves to accomplish anything look
ing to a change of the policy of the Com.
monwealth on the debt question. The
Republicans in that State also consti.
tuted a minority party. Under these
circumstances it was not difficult to bring
about q coalition between the Republi-
cans and the Readjusters, though it is to
be said in this connection that many
hitherto stanch and prominent Republi.
cans, feeling a laudable pride in the fair
name of the State, gave their adhesion
to the Debt Payers or Democratic party.
And thus the issue was made up, both
parties being badly disrupted and enter.
ing upon the conflict in strange company
and on new lines. The contest was not
settled by a single struggle but ranged
over a half dozen years aud as many cleo.
tions. The strife and partisan rancor
was indescribable. 1t was a continuous
political battle lasting for years. 1t
would be assuming too much to say that
excuses were not committed on both
sides in the prevailing state Of individual
zeal and public excitement. The Ma
hone men were branded by their op-
p~onents as regulators and swindlers,
who would drag the good name of the
proud old Commonwealth into the depths
of disgrace. Campaign catch words, and
epithets equally irritating. were applied
by the Readjusters to the debt payers.
The situation was still further aggravated
by President Arthur's Administration
espousing the cause of Malone and Civ.
ing the latter full control of the Federal
patronage in Virginia. Malone, who is
a good organizer, placed it where it
would do him the most good, and used
it in every case for all it was worth. As
the receiver of an important railroad,
which had got into financial diff ~culties,
Malone had in the meantime accumu.
lated al immense fortune which he also
used with a lavish hand in his campaigns.
The upshot of the whole matter was the
carrying of the State by the Readjusters
in two successive elections and the land
ing of both Malone and Riddleberger
l"Game Cock Harry of the Shenandoah"
in the United States Senate. In the
more recent elections in Virginia the Re.
adjusters have been completely over.
thrown by their Democratic opponents.
Two years ago Congressman Barbour, of
the Alexandria district, a modest bust.
ness man of wealth and ability, took
charge of the Democratic canvass, rout.
ing Malone. horse, foot and dragon, at
every point.
And now another of these exciting
contests is on in Virginia. Mahone's
term in the Senate expires on the 4th of
March next, and he may be expected to
make one final desperate effort to recover
the State and secure a reelection. Rep
resentative Barbour, who is more than a
match for him. will no doubt be his sue.
cessful competitor.
10 make this statement of the situa.
tion in Virginia entirely clear, it must
not be forgotten that Malone, last Fall,
rechristened his party the Republican
party OF Virginia. This was to help
Arthur at Chicago. The delegates could
not get into the Republican National
Convention as Readjusters, but they
would be admitted as Republicans.
Hence the new baptism.
Both parties in Virginia have just held
their State Conventions and two historic
names are pitted against each other for
Governor. Ex.Congressman John S.
Wise is the Republican, and General
~Fitzhugh Lee the Democratic candidate.
In their respective platforms the debt
question still has q prominent place.
John s. Wise, the Republican candidate,
is a son of Governor Henry A. Wise.
who caused the execution Of old John
Brown, in connection with the Harper's
Ferry affair, just prior to the breaking
out of the late war. The young man is
viporous INIT not salf. no;saJ T,j~;ro