Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-02-12
WHO SHALL BE GOVERNOR.
fFr ~ tho Tyurhhury NpwS

Soon the term Of the man named and
elected by General Malone to the office of
Governor will, fortunately, have expired !;
aud The question that will shortly press for
answer will be, who shall ba his successor /?
The papers are beginning to canvass the
question,
The Stanton J'iAdicuiOr comes out
strongly for the Hon. John s. Barbour
We quote from it:
"He is the one man in Virginia with whom vic
| tory over Malone is And this the purity
through the State recognizes. 1t is said he is to
be Postmaster General, or very likely TO be very
good that should not interfere with his continu
ed service to bis State. A cabinet officer can
easily resign to become Governor of State. 1t
| would be Il personal sacrifice? So it would be
but, if we III stake not John :. Barbour has made
quite as great sacrifices for the democratic party
of the Eighth district aud of the State in the
past; and this last sacrifice would give Virginia
peace for four years---an argument that We don
think he is the man to withstand. We can UNI
dcrstand very well how little there is to be de.
sired in the position OF Governor OF Virginia to
any public man; that it is political pigeon hole
out Of which the tenant creeps at long intervals
waving q veto in his hand to show to the people
that there is such an official as a Governor; but
the United States Senate. which Mr.. Barbour will
fairly be entitled to and which Virginia will be
glad to give him."
There is truth and force IN what the Vim
dictator says. Mr.. Barbour is perhaps the
strongest man before the people in Virginia.
He is the one mau who would inspire per-
feet confidence in success. He is the man
who has twice defeated Malone, and can
do it again He is the master of the man
who was the arrogant boss OF Virginia. He
has the prestige Of success. His candidacy
would strike despair into the ranks of the
enemy, aud they would carry no heart or
hope into the fight
That is the sort of man that is wanted
We cannot afford to rup any risks when we
can grasp certainty. Too much is at
stake. The Governorship, the Legislature,
another Senatorial term, the Circuit Judge
ship, the management of the humane and
literary institutions-tbese are the matters
Of vast importance involved ia the election
of next fall We must take no chances The
man who is the surest to win is the man
who must run.
But Mr. Barbour is wanted for the Cabi.
net, some say. No one would like more
than we to see him in that position. But,
az the PindicatOr says, he could resign.
He would have six months to serve before
he would be needed in the Gubernatoriai
fight, and in that time he could do much in
upsetting the dirty work Of Malone and
Arthur in the postal service of Virginia.
We believe from the present outlook that
there will be such demand for Mr.. Bar
bour when the convention meets that he
will not be able to resist. The people are
not going to abandon, if they can help it,
the boat which has twice carried them safely
over the surging tide, nor are they going to
allow the boat to desert them. They see
one more fierce battle before them, and
they will clamor for the captain who has led
them to victory TO lead them again.
We join with the Findicator in this early
advice. because of certain indications aud
outgivings which may mislead. Mere per.
sonal popularity, or mere ability, will not
do without the organizing capacity. That
is the thing most needed, and without which
there can be no success. Mr.. Barbour has
it, and the people feel and know it, and are
confident when he carries the flag. AS the
Iindicator concludes:
"In all the gloom of the four years preceding
81, but one man inspired that confidence, aud
with him in front the party came out of slavery.
And it is this that makes him indispensable
we want to exchange certainty for chances,
however brilliant. The nomination for the Gov
ernorshp of Virginia this year is to he no matter
of personal compliment, Of locality Of the nomi
nee, or of traditional memories-it is to min