The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-25
THE VIRGINIA REMOVALS.
Offensive Partissnship Illustrated in the
BaiIiwick of Malone.


The removal of the Malone post
masters in Virginia is acknowledged by
all fair-minded Republicans as bene-
fetal measure to that State in her pres
ent extremity. No one can question
the infamy of the system introduced by
Malone and his followers in State
which was once the proudeSt in the
Union. 1t was the result of a bargain
struck between him and the Republican
Administration by which all the ma
chinery of the Government offices was
placed under his control and plant and
unscrupulous Federal officials appointed
for the purpose of delivering Virginia
bound and gagged into the hands of
the Republican party. So ruthless was
this system that Malone has frequently
searched the departments at Washing
ton lest there should be some clerk
accredited to Virginia who was not of
the right stripe of obedient partisan.
The sharp remedies applied by the
Democratic Administration excite the
blind wrath of the New York Tribune,
its ''me too" in this city and other
rabid organs of the same kind. They
vince under the lash of reform and
threaten the President with the venge-
ance of the Republican Senate. They
evince fearful sympathy for the "anti-
Bourbons." as they call Mahone's
''heelers," who have been turned out
of the positions they disgraced. and
declare that their dismissal is clear
violation of the principles. of Civil
Service reform. Their ridiculous as
sertions afford considerable amusement
to those who know that under the late
Administration the public offices were
used for bargain and sale in the vain en-
deavor to tear the State away from the
Democratic party.
The President would be false TO his
professions and policy of adm .nistering
the Government on the principle of re-
form were he to leave Virginia at the
mercy of the harpies thrust into the
| Federal offices by MahOne. There was
no pretense made a. the time of their
appointment of their fitness or capabil-
| ity, or even because they were Republi-
cans, trusted and respected by their
party. They were appointed solely on
the understanding that they would be
ready at moments notice to prOsti-
tute their official post ons to any nefa-
rious scheme concOcted BY Malone. De-
cency and justice required their dismi,-
| sal when the reform Administration
came into power. The bowls of the
Tribune and the other jackals of the
disunion press only excite contempt
and derision. for the true character
of Mahone's tools in Virg MIA is too well
understood by the country at large.
The retention of such shameless Great
ures in office would be a standing re-
proach to the Administration. Many
Republican newspapers, respecting the
laws of probity and JUSTICE. applaud the
determ nation of the President to rid
the Old Dominion of the crowd of Of
fice-holders which Malone introduced
and to replace them with respectable
people. In no part of the country does
the term offensive partisan receive
such significance as in Virginia. Ma
hone has brought the State to the verge
of financial ruin by means not less dis.
reputable than those which character
lied the carpet-bag Governments in
other Southern States. President
Cleveland proposes to give the State 3
fair opportunity to redeem herself by
depriving her ex-boss of these very
means.-Albany argus.