Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-22
Mo nd Mahone IN Chicago.

MISC ana MdNOut III NuASakV'
The northern Republicans are better in
formed ss to the real condition OF things in
the Republican party Of Virginia than they
are generally supposed 10 be. The contest
between WISE and MALONE has bearing
upon the party a. a whole; but the fact that
WISE and MAHOEE are respectively advo-
Gates Of the nomination OF BLAINE
and SHERMAN Is what causes the north
ern Republicans 10 manifest 80 much
interest in the fight now going on within
the Republican party in Virginia. 1t Is pos
sible. too, that the Republican leaders In
the North have been misled into the belief
that Virginia Is a doubtful State, aud that
therefore they are anxious TO close the
breach between the Wiseites and Mahoneltes,
though Virginia is as safe for CLEVELAND
as Michigan IS fol Blaine.
We gave IN our last issue what had been
said in the Philadelphia Press in regard TO
the MALONE WISE contention. ltwas we'll
considered article. Here, from the ProVl-
dence Journal, is a paragraph which shows
that as usual that paper informed itself be-
fore It touched upon the Republican troubles
IN this State. II says:
ssThe fact that Mr. Wise did not take away
more than q quarter Of The delegates does
not signify necessarily that he s so much In
the minority. Malone had taken great pains
10 deny sdmittance 10 any but his own sup
porters, and IL seemed TO be fact that II al the
antl-Mahone delegates, regularly sent, had
been admitted Wise would have made
much lareer hole. Wise claims that he
would have bad a majority. He has strong
men on bis side, and there are several indca'
tons that the Chicago Convention will take
much more naturally to the Wise people
than to Nahone's."
We are inclined TO the opinion that II was
Bn extraordinary achievement for Mr.. WISE
20 take away from the convention even one
fourth Of the delegates. MALONE has for
years been not only the chairman OF tue
State Executive Committee, but the
acknowledged leader, not TO say master,
Of the Republican party IN Virginia.
For years, too, he had dispensed
all the Federal patronage IN Virginia.
lie had never allowed any rival near the
throne. To Mr. RIDDLEBERGER. United
states senator, was accorded no more patron
aye than TO a Republican representative In
the lower House OF Congress-that Is, We
might say, none. MALONE had ruled the
party with a high hand, and had cracked
his whip over ali the querulous amongst his
protested followers. Besides, the Repub-
lican party In this State Is made IN so largely
OF negroes, who like 10 have a master, that
he had opportunities which petty boss in
no northern State has ever been able TO
boast OF.
Under these circumstances it was an I'M
precedented success on the part of Mt. WISE
% draw even fourth part OF the delegates
from what may be truly styled a MALONE
convention. General MALONE had the power
10 remove county chairmen and TO sppolnt
new ones. He adopted Just such rules as he
chose 20 adopt for certifying the election OF
delegates 10 the State Convention. He had
charge, in q word, Of all the elections OF dele
gates, aud power to admit whom he would
and TO exclude whom he would, as was
sbundantly evidenced by the fact that be adj
mitied the boiling delegation from this city
upon exactly the same terms as the regular
WISE delegation.
our Providence contemporary says very
truly that there are several indications that
the Chicago Convention will take much
more naturally TO the WISE people than to
MAHoNg's. We feel confident that such is
the real state OF the case. Mr.. WISE is IA
Vorsbly and personally known to large
number OF leading Republicans in the
North. General MALONE, on the con-
trary. though everywhere known as
liitls boss, and personally known
TO n large number Of leading Republicans
is not isyorsbly known by anybody. The
Republicans Of the North would be exceed.
Ingly glad to see Mr. WISE succeed him as
the head OF the Republican party in Vir'
ginia. But We doubt that they have the
courage Of their convictions. Possibly they
msy conclude TO admit the WISE delegates
into the Chicago Convention; but II Is more
likely that they will attempt to please both
factions. or, rather, to offend neither uune-
ccsssriiy.