The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-10-10
JUDGE r. w. Hughes.

W lien SUCH IL RepttDilcitil siS 81 uaSe L.
W. Hughes publicly and deliberately
announces that he will vote for the Dem
oeratic candidate for Governor of Nir-
ginia, it is time for all true Republicans
t put on their studying caps. Judge
Hughes is removed from the influence OF
partizan politics. He does not actively
participate i'll political contentious. but
he is none the less a Republican for that.
He is known as a gentleman OF very
conservative views and eminently judi
cal mind He reaches his conclusions
from no hasty impulse or sporadic feet
ing. He deliberates before he speaks,
and only speaks that which he honestly
believes When such a Republican and
such citizen announces his purpose to
support the Democratic ticket for Gov
arnor. rather than vote for the candidate
of Mahone's Norfolk caucus, it means
something more than the utterance OF
:sappointed politician. 1t means
sense of duty to State and country, as
well as to the principles OF the party to
which he gives allegiance. He recog-
nizes that there is nothing in Malone or
his candidacy that entities him to the
support of Republicans; and that there
is no obligation upon any Republican to
vote for him. Malone was the fore-or-
dained candidate of a arranged eau
Gus, which in no sense reflected the hon
est sentiment of the masses OF the Re
publican party. The manner of his nom
ination ought to assure an indignant re-
buke in an overwhelming defeat. The
attempt to draw attention from the
methods employed to elect delegates to
his caucus; from his abuse of power
conferred and confidence reposed from
his despotic, relentless. vindictive nature,
by introducing the tariff the State debt,
and other questions foreign to his perso
nal aims, will deceive no one who does
not court deception. He will never be
in position to serve the cause of protec-
ton, or exercise influence in any scheme
for the settlement of the State debt. The
people will trust the future for salutary in
fiuences in that direction. Noone doubts
Gen. Mahone's ability, and were it pos
sible for him to eliminate from himself
his insane hatred his revengeful dispo
stion and address his mind to the inter
ests of the Commonwealth. he could do
much good. But the past has demon
strated that he subOrdinates all ques-
malice and spite, and the enforcement
of self This was manifest in 1881, when
he caused the bolt of the big four :
it was manifest in 1888, when he defied
the law of the National Republican
party, in the election of delegates to
Chicago, and when he defeated the Har
rison and Morton electoral ticket in the
State by his conduct in the 4th district.
We're he Governor, he would be too busy
in his work of personal revenge to think
of anything else. AT least the people
will not trust him with that power
they agree with Judge Hughes that his
defeat is essential to the welfare of the
party and the good of the State. And
we think it would be safe to follow the
advice of q jurist and statesman, such
as Judge Hughes is acknowledged to be,
and a Republican who believes in the
principles of the party rather than to
obey the orders and submit to the mas
terry of political boss. He speaks from
unselfish considerations. He wants moth
ing Malone can give him and has moth
ing that Malone can take away. He
simply as Republican and citizen
.loes not believe that Malone ought to
be elected Governor. and for that reason
will not vote for him. That conclusion
will have more weight with the Repub-
licans of the State than all the blather
of all the time servers who may address
the people from now until the 5th Of
November. 1t is an example worthy of
imitation. and will be initiated by thou
sands of true Republicans on election
day, so far, at least as not to vote for
Gen Malone.