The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-02-23
Then and Now.

Then and Now.
The Fredericksburg Free Lame, edited
by Col. John ". Wolff, has been burrow
ing into it's musty pigeon holes, and drag
ging forth scrap of history. Here it is
''In 1880 the same Mr.. Sherman, who is
now candidate for the Presidency, was
candidate then. The opinion he then
expressed of General Malone and bis
schemes in Virginia, has undergone rad
ical change; but then Malone was "a bet
ter Democrat than Ben Hill, y and was not
for John; now be is bigger" Republican
ethan old Grant" and is for John. Here
is what Mr.. Sherman said to US of Gen.
Malone in the year A. d. 1880:
The Republicans of Virginia viii de-
stroy the projects Of the National ticket
if they touch Malone. | appreciate all
you have said in regard to his intentions:
but if, as party you ally yourselves with
Malone, and encourage his schemes OF re-
pudiation, the effect on the pivotal States
of the North will be disastrous to the
ticket soon to be made. New 4olk will
repudlate our ticket as certainly as we
have anything to do with reputation IN
Virginia. We had better give up all hopes
of carrying Virginia than run the risk OF
uC1Cau III puC oLd0Co nave nv"
ever much you may declare you are not in
favor of reputation, you will be regarded
as regulators by our friends in the North;
and | advise you to let Malone and his
schemes alone,
Mr.. Sherman might profit by his Own
advice just now"
Read in connection with the above the
following paragraph from the Washington
correspondent of the Richmond Dispatch
under date Of Feb. l, 1888. 1t may prove
suggestive, If not interesting:
Gen. Malone has been busy ever since
his arrival here in matters not intended
for publication, But am able:to state on
very positive and direct information that
the main object of his visit has been tC
promote the candidacy OF Senator Sher
man for the presidency. All the Malone
constituency was summoned to a confer
ence with the Boss on yesterday at Cham
berlin s, and the plans for the State cam
| paign to some extent determined upon
| After this conference Gen. ldaiipne dineJ
with Senator Sherman, where he met Sen
atOr Chandler and several other prominent
| Republicans who are engineering the Sher
man boom. His friends to-day are in high
| spirits, and one of them told me- that he
| had secured the promise of all the funds
necessary for the conduct of the canvass
in behalf of Sherman's nomination, witt
! the assurance that if Sherman was nomi
mated the management of the campaign
in all the Southern States would be com
mitted to him,
And how does this tally with the asser
tions of Senator Sherman g friends that hi
| uou13 nnf bovoshoonyo candidate for fb,
nomination had Mr.. Blaine not declined
the use of his name? The dispatch wa
published ten days before Mr.. Blaine
letter was given to the public. And how
does the statement that MI. Sherman
would not have been candidate if MI
Blame had remained in the field, compar
with the claim put forth in the persona
aud confidential" circular issued by Gen
Malone in January, in which it is virtual
said that assurance had been given of sup
port from Sherman? What object coult
Mr.. Sherman have had in giving such as
surance, except to command the delegate
from Virginia in the Chicago Convention
But this whole matter of the friends 0
Mr.. Sherman and ;Mr. Sherman himself
protesting their friendship for Mr.. Blain
and deferring to his claims upon the party
is the merest pretense. The combination
was made three months ago to pack tn
delegation from the Southern States TO
Sherman, if it was possible to do so. W
do not know that Mr.. Sherman was par
ty to it, but considering the past relation
of some of the gentlemen who were in
to him, it is reasonable to suppose that b
was not entirely ignorant of what was &C
ing on.
But it is matter of small moment
whether he was candidate before the lei
ter of Mr.. Blaine made its appearance Q
not. He will not be the nominee of tn
Chicago Convention. The Republicans c
the States whose electoral votes are relic
on for the Republican nominees, will nc
endorse the policy outlined in the ''perst
nal and confidential' circular, nor kind
take to the nomination of man who's
workers and supporters hope to build u
his fortunes upon the defamation of th
character of such man as James c
Blaine.