Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-10-09
I'M KINNEY TALKS.
And Answers all of Mahone's Roanoke
Charges.

And Answers all of Mahones Roanoke
Charges.
AN INTERESTING AND COMPREHENSIVE IN
TERvIEw-TARIFF,. EDUCATION AND WAR
RECORD.
The following inrerview with Capt. Phil.
Mckinney, held at Charles City, Va, the
1st instant, and published in the Richmond
Dispatch of the I'd instant, showing how he
is being misrepresented by Malone aud his
henchmen, will be read with interest
After the Democratic meeting was over
at Cape Charles the Dispatch man visited
Captain Mckinney at his rooms at the hotel
and was granted an interview.
First Question Captain, what is the
truth of Mahone's statement that you at
Marion last year threatened the State with
an invasion of the kuklux?
Answer-There is not a word of truth in
it, sir. He must have referred to what /
said on that occasion in reference to negro
supremacy in this State. l cannot recall
the exact language that used then, being
at that time in my own congressional dis
trict in Southside Virginia in very exct-
ing contest for Congress between the white
people and the negro. The negro candidate
for Congress was LangstoD, he being bitter
ly opposed by white candidate nominated
by Mahone's dictation and the Democratic
candidate. The contest was both bitter and
animated-mOre bitter between the white
Republicans and the colored Republicans
than between the Democratic party and the
white Republicans.
l never used any language, am sure, that
could be connected by any fair or liberal
minded man with the kuklux. l know Of
no kuklux, nor has thers has been ever any
such organization existing 10 this State.
TARIFF VIEWS.
Second Question:-Does Malone correct
ly report your tariff viewso
IS No, sir; what he said is total miscon-
struction of what / have said. stand fair
and square upon the Democratic plank in
the Democratic platform. Yes, favor tar
iff reform. do not know of a single fres-
trade Democrat in this State. The ouiy
free trade man that l know of is Henry
George, and he is a political fanatic as we'll
as Republican. In my remarks at Char.
lottesville which were briefly quoted by the
press, l was speaking of the war tariff. Il
was war measure. Its object was, said,
to raise more revenue than was any necessi-
ty for in times Of peace, and called attsn-
tion to the fact that the Republican party
was raising more revenue than was neces-
sary for the economical administration Of
the Federal Government. never said aud
never believed that the Federal Govern.
ment ought to be supported by direct taxa
tion upon property, as l have been accused
by Malone, but l favor a judicions tariff.
WAR RECORD.
Third Question:-General Mohone at Alb
ington intimated that you knew very little
about heavy battalions. You saw some lit
tie fighting, did you not In what engage
ment were you wounded How long were
you disabled and where?
In the early part of the war / raised
cavalry company ie the county Of Bucking-
ham. and l was its commander. 1t was in
the Fourth cavalry regiment and part of
Stuart's brigade. l was in Stuart's CON-
mand in the raid around McClelland's 8 army,
the Seven Days fight around Richmond,
Second Manassas, and the invasion of Mary
land, and other movements. l was wound
ed in the cavalry charge at Brandy station,
and was disabled for long while, and am
now sufferer from ball, which has lodg-
ed in my leg little below the knee. My
position in the army was quite an humble
one, but honorable. / had no newspaper
reporter during the war claiming credit for
what l was not entitled to. My life has
been one of a modest man. Perhaps have
not claimed for myself as l ought to. Ger
tainly have not claimed either in peace or
in war that which belonged to another.
THE SCHOOL QUESTION,
Fourth Question Gen. Malone charg-
es you with great Indifference to the public
about that ?
Like the other, there is not any truth in
it. 1 have always been a warm advocate of
the school system. No opportunity has
been presented to me which l have not and
will not embrace to advocate its cause on
the stump.-I have always advocated the
Blair bill or some other kindred measure 50
that the Federal Government, with its over
flowing Treasury, might enable us to make
the commOn-school system more Efficient.
Yes sir, had l been member of the United
States Senate as Malone was I should have
felt it to be my duty to have voted for the
Blair bill and should have subjected myself
to any sort of Inconvenience to have been
present when the vote was taken and should
have opposed any motion to delay a vote or
any method the object of which was to de-
feat or impair its efficiency. No, sir, il
bill as am let his record show it.
WOULD LIKE TO MEET MAHoNE.
Fifth Question:-Do you expect to meeS
Gen. Malone in this clmpalgn /?
Answer Il do not. l do not know what
Mahone's appointments are. l would take
great pleasure, however, in dividing time
with Malone at any of the places which the
State Executive Committee have appointed
for me to speak.
Sixth Question Have you been pleased
with your reception through the State?
The Captain good -humoredly replied
Well, should say so. have been loaded
down with kindness. | have been compli-
mented by large audiences of attentive and
intelligent listeners, aud don't hesitate to
say that have never seen the Democratic
party SO determined as they are now.
Seventh Question Captain, you ara
looking quite well. How many speeches
have you made
Answer We'll, sir, my health is good.
have no cause to complain. l feel as we'll
as any man could be expected to feel that
has spoken as often as l have. l have been
going night and day and have n ade over
twenty speeches. will in a few days be
in the Piedmont Valley, and then go to
Southwest Virginia,
The Disnatch assumes all the time that
one of the races must be subordinate and
servile. This seems to US perverse aud
dangerous method of treating the question.