The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-09-05
Increased Republican Vote.

The assumption of Gen. Malone that
the increased Republican vote in 1888
over that of 1880 was due to the strength
he brought to the party, and the infiu-
ence he eXerted with the people, is pure
ly assumption. The 10000 votes east
for his Hancock ticket in that year were
not all Democrats. Many of them were
who had been induced to
believe that it was the best thing to DO
under the circumstances. Even the
National Republican Committee contrib
uted funds to that movement which had
been raised and were designed by those
who donated them for the Republican
organization, by Representations made
to it, either by Malone or those repre-
senting him. Money contributed i'll Phil
adelphia by Republicans for the Repub-
lican cause in Virginia was captured by
the Malone influence, and appropriated
to the Malone Hancock ticket. How
many Republicans and how many Dem
ocrats were in the movement and voted
for it, it would be impossible to approx
mate All the Republicans, however,
in 1884, returned to the Republican par
ty, while large number of the Demo
citation, leaving comparatively few DEM
ocrats of the 10000 in 1880, who perma-
nenly left the party to unite with the
Republicans. The increase in the nu-
o., of tho rtV
then, has been in the white counties,
where the tariff question has been dis
cussed. Malone, as an individual, or as
chairman, has had but little to do with
it. 1t has been the result of the grow
ing Republican sentiment in the State
because of the principles of the party.
But for his prOscriptive and arbitrary
methods-the use he makes of the power
vested in him by his plan of organiza-
ton, the increase would have been much
greater than it has been, and all who
were with it in 1884 would be with it
now, instead of many leaving in dis
gust at Mahone's despotic manage
ment. He, as much as any other intiu-
ence, has kept the party in defeat, when
upon fair vote and count, it would be
at least 10000 majority. He has run the
organization as Malone machine-has
outlawed every Republican, who you'd
not bow at his command, and acknowl-
edge him as the law-giver and the
anointed of the party. Since 1881 some OF
the ablest and most influential men in the
State who sympathize with Republican
principles, have left him. Many more
are determined never again to sustain
him as candidate OF as chairman. He
has driven away members of the party
almost as fast as recruits have been
speakers who once represented the Re
publican cause remain to assist in main
tanning the party in the field. Malone,
indeed, is entitled to very little credit fol
Republican advancement in Virginia. 1t
has been effected in spite of him, in the
hope that his good sense would INSTRUCT
him to abandon a position in which he
can be no longer useful or successful
But he does not want to learn: He has
but one object In politics and that is self
exaltation and to crafty the greed of his
select followers. The Republican party,
to-day would be in the ascendant had
he been less selfish and arbitrary. and
welded the power entrusted with him
to promote the cause of Republicanism
instead of the interest and ambition OF
Malone But under him it will never
succeed, and this fact might as well be
understood now as hereafter.