The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-03

knew that Gen. Malone was to start North that
evening ana that it was futile to return, as [
Ine paper even II ne consented
Irouoleo ana perplexed at such Dlunder, l
saw no good that could be accomplished then
by volunteering unwelcome criticism 10 Gen.
Malone, and resolved to hide that paper away
from mortal eye and hope against hope that
others would observe the same honorable
confidence" as myself General Malone was
In the North for at least fortnight after we
parted, and have never seen him since. did
not care to tell him what thought Of his letter,
not ask me 1t could do no good then
After reading that letter. Gen. Malone being
gone, did consult Judge Waddil about it, He
agreed win me that 1t was calculated to do
Gen. Malone great harm. and proposed that we
go at once to see him. IeXpained that he had
mailed the letter before read it and was alb
sent from home. These being the facts just as
they occurred, i'll whatjuSt or truthful sense
can be said To have received the Grst copy of
the height of folly to say l had the first copy
when the mail bag was fat with these circulars
the first copy, what good would it have done at
that stage of the matter II 1 had read it care
fully and informed him what thought of 2"
II he wanted advice it was too late to advise.
he wanted approval my Withholding it did
not influence his action in the slightest. If /
mad censnred it ever so severely it could have
aValled nothing; and, really, while Gen. Ma
hone says he asked for my opinion and advice,
and while, if he had insisted. l would have
gwen them, do not see of what avail either
could have been at the time he sought Them or
thereafter. If had been consulted in time; if
my opinion and advice had been sought and
mad operated to suppress that letter, | would
nave done General Malone a greater service
than he knows, and would have saved myself
many regret that did not read the paper the
moment that he placed 1T in my hard.
Nothing that has ever occurred to me has
caused me more genuine and deep distress than
tne interruption OF the close Intimacy between
Gen. Malone and myself which my letter
seems to have occasioped. For many years l
nave not only been his ardent political sup
porter but his personal companion and friend.
The discrepancy in our years has made our re-
latfOns almost like that of father and son. and
during the period of this intimacy General Ma
hone has developed many noble and affection
ate and unself1Sh traits which, whatever he
may say or do, will never be forgotten. Some
OF our mutual friends have insisted that the
style of his recent statement was begotten by a
feeling, the result of our long intimacy. that
my opposing him is a sort of presumption as of
son setting up his opinion against a father;
and that l ought to overlook the many satiri-
cal and bling thiags contained In his reply on
and carefully to find the evidences OF kindness
and affection inseparable from The genuine
paternal feeling. l do not find them On the
contrary not only in the letter itself but in the
hot and dirty fight deliberately waged here by
General Mahone's command to defeat me, If
possible. for our convention in the outrage
Gus assaults upon me in the newspapers by his
partisans, accusing me OF all sorts of ingrati-
purpose made manifest everywhere to break
down if possible any influence l may have in
the party-it is manifest to me that in the flu
ture am to occupy no such relations towards
Gen. Malone as i'll the past am at the meri-
dian of life, and past the stage when my opin-
ious are to be spanked into or out of me as
when was a child. If cannot hold to them
and to my friendships at the same time. then,
much as regret it, the friendships must go; if,
indeed. those can be called friendships that are
broken for mere difference of opinion.
In conclusion would say to the Republican
party of Virginia what Otanes, the wise Per-
sian, said in his epistle to the seven brave men
who overthrow the Magus and placed Darius Oh
the throne:
where one man is allowed to do whateverhe
pleases without control, even ifthe best of men
from his wonted thoughts. For insolence is
engendered in him by the advantages that sur
round him, and envy is implanted in man from
his BIRTH
Notwithstanding what Gen. Malone has said
and done l fully recognize his abilities and
power to serve our party, and will support him
cordially and cheerfully in all he does within
reasonable bounds, but object to his treating
this party as his personal chattel and every
man in it as his miniop. 1t is time to let him
know that he Is one of many and not the whole
party. Respectfully,
JOHN s. WISE.