Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-11-06
TILE FALL OF WILLIAM MAHONE

TILE FALL OF WILLIAM MAHONE
The downfall, on Tuesday, of Senator
William Malone at the hands of the Vir-
ginia Democracy, led by John S. Bar
bour, is the end Of one of the most re-
markable political careers, and of one of
the most noted Adventures in politics,
that ever had a page in Virginia history.
His is remarkable story. and his fall is
one of the signs of the times in the politi-
cal history of the Nation as we'll as of
the State. Tuesday ended career which
may be said to have lasted sixteen years
but which has only attracted attention
outside of the State in the past eight
years, for it was about that time, 1877, that
abandoning the role of Warwick, he stop
ped the manufacture Of kings and attempt
ed to ascend the throne himself. He was
master and INSCRIPTIONS hand in prepar-
ing the different gradations through
which men of opposite political faith were
to reach the Republican party, and showed
skill IN arranging campaign cries. false
issues and establishing Imaginary wrongs
for the people, that cannot fail to con-
mapd that astonishment and admiration
that consummate skill always ELECTS Be-
fore follower well understood that he
was an Entered Apprentice, he was wear
ing the regalia of Master. Many Of his
followers to-day are looking back in be-
Wildered way at The path they trod to
reach the Republican party, and wonder.
ing how it was all done. With all his skill.
however, up to the appearance Of the
question of REIMBURSEMENT, his road to SO
htical advancement seemed bockqt BY a
stone wall. His seemed to be strange DO
sltiGn: surrounded by band Of, most de-
voted friends, he was still enveloped IN
an atmosphere of universal distruSt. His
political character vas that of man who
without reserve, would do anything to win,
the anything to be taken In the widest
meaning; Of the word. But this distrust
was neutraliz9d by the hesitation and pal
tering of the Democratic party with the
debt question. It would neither raise
the taxes to pay it, nor repudiase it, and to
those who had become convinced that re-
lustment was the salvation of the State.
Malone appeared to be the only leader in
earnest either way--as he was. The his-.
tory of the defeats of the Democratic,
party year after year, in fighting the creea,
ltors battles are too recent not to "a "a
membered. They were due not e,ntz TO
having the unpopular side of the iss.a Of
the day, but to complications. net nee
essary low to recall. By 1880 Malone
had the Democratic PRIV thorouoh,v
Frustrated. himself la tie g. S. Senate
and The whole State government in con-
troll OF BIS party, OF rather in his own
n@aoj' here u, 'sbe full tide Of his pow
or With apaar entity an indefinite lease of
power ahpad Of him and an unbounded
popularity ia hisown party, there appear
ed 2.cro5s his path the grey head and spec
tacles OF John E. Massey, as counsellor,
adviser and co-conspira5or of the big
Four" 1t was here and frora these men
that Malone re ceived the first lesson that he
was not absolute. They blocking the way,
he could not reach the congressional reap
portlonment, the circuit judges, the COM
missioneFs of sales and other prey that he
could see but not lay his hands on. These
men were rebels and implacable ones,
who could not be appeased. The Boss
chafed for th5 arrival of another popular
election at which he might sweep the Big
-Four out of the way like dust, and as for
Massey he cut his official mead off at once.
But before the arrival Of another elec
ton, there appeared a Master Hand that
was to seize the little king from his throne
and toss him into the dust. There had
been, session after session, sent to Con-
gress from the Eighth District a silent,
reserved man, whose grey moustache and
whitened head had become familiar in the
the halls of congress. A man of few
words, he had welded remarkable influ-
ence in behalf of his people, even with the
Republican party in the majority. His
power IN the open field of political con-
test was known to but few, for outside OF
his own district he had been no informed
dIer in the affairs of the State, and of all
public men it could be best said of John
5. Barbour with perfect truth that he had
nothing of the political boss about him.
1t is such mau as this to whom the De-
mocracy of Virginia turned for deliver
ance. 1t was perilous experiment to ask
a successful public man TO make-to take
hold of party that had been uniformly
defeated for six years, dispirited, wretch
eddy organized, without money and without
hope. But the man who was to down
Malone never fiinched. He took the
Craftsmanship of the State Democratic
Committee, and from the moment the
helm passed into his hand the silent iri iu-