Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-10
Are These dead Calumnies -?


the leaders of the party ought 10 possess
reasonable amount of constancy to one
side or the other. and of course that Gene
raj Malone should be so distinguished.
But If We may Judge from two established
facts. we must conclude that he cannot
claim the leadership Of the Republicans in
virtue of any such merit
The first OF these facts is this: In the
wear 1885 Governor Lee and Hon. John W.
Daniel were met at Abingdon, where they
bad an engagement TO address the people,
by "A dodger circulated and signed by
General Malone. in which, after setting
forth at some length what he conceived TO
be the enormities Of the funding bill OF
1871. he concluded by charging its passage
into law upon those two gentlemen.
AsGovernor Lee had gone home and TO
work upon his farm in Stafford county IN
1865, had remained there until long after
1871, had taken no part in politics, had not
been to Richmond in all that tune, and
had not even heard of the funding bill
until after il became law. he felt no hesi-
tatiOn in publicly denOuncing the charge
as deliberate falsehood. BIT before
doing that he called on Mr. Daniel for an
explanation Of the part he had taken III the
matter. and WIS informed by him that he
had both spoken and voted against the
bill. He was further informed by hlm that
pending the discussion of the measure Gen,
eral Malone had waited upon him and
urged him 10 vote for It, setting forth what
he called It's advantages.
Notwithstanding General Lees repeated
denuuciations of this charge. made oil
through the canvass from the time he first
hoard Of il. General Malone made no reply
nor exclamation. though the charge of
having favored the funding bill was retort-
ed on him. But after Governor Lees cleo
ton General Malone wrote TO several per-
sons who had been members Of the Leels-
lature of 1901 asking them II they did
not know that no was ODpOscdtO the fund
ing bill One Of those letters was addressed
10 the late John Bacon Crenshaw, an &C
tive mcmber Of that body from the county
Of Henrico. He consulted an intimate
friend. who. along with another witness,
still lives TO testify TO the facts, as to
what he should do IN the matter. He re-
WONDERED distinctly that General Malone
had told him ut the time that he was IN
favor Of the passage Of the funding bill.
But knowing that he had afterwards
claimed 10 have been opposed 10 II, he was
reluctant to write or say anything. As he
was n man of peace; in fact, q member OF
the Society Of Friends and a preacher Of
that denomination. His friend knowing
the circumstances of the case stated them
to him and advised him that he owed II to
truth and justice to answer General Ma
homes letter. telling him exactly what he
remembered and then TO give a copy OF
the letter to Governor Lee. This he did,
showing the original to his friend and then
giving copy Of II TO Governor Lee; and
General Malone has stood mute on that
matter ever since.
With the direc. testimony OF two such
witnesses. there can be no doubt that he
had avowed himself in favor of the fund
inc bill TO each Of these gentlemen and on
different occasions. There can be as Little
that to other persons equally as credible
he avowcd himself TO be opposed to 1t; be-
cause he said he was III the dodger he CIR
culated at Abingdon. From tins 1t follows
that General Malone was ION both sides
Of one public questions the reason proba-
bly, beng that he was then intriguing for
some Of the schames which ho had before
the Legislature.
There is another question towards which
he occupied the same double position. and
il presents a very important one, as throw
ing a flood of light on General Malone, $
character. That Is presented IN the fol
lowing extract from book now before me
entitled American Politics by Hon.
Thomas V. Cooper, chairman Republican
State Committee of Pennsylvania; 1881 81;
published March /, 1892; Part l., pages
263 264. ,
In the presidential campaign Of 1856 the
Readiusters supported General Hancock,
but ON IA separate electoral ticket, while the
Republicans supported Garfield on an cleo
toral ticket Of their own selection.
This division was pursuant to an IN
Outstanding. aud Mt the time thought adj
yisable by Malone. who. If his electors
won. could 90 for Hancock or not, as cir-
cumstances might suggest, whlf If be
F. t,rpfgF h..
separation.
"The Readiuster movement at 6rst had
no other than local designs, but about the
| time of its organization there was great
desire on the part of the leading Repubsi-
cans to break the Solid South, and every
possible expeedient to that ond was sne:.
1t was solid for the Democratic party.
| and standing thus. could with the aid OF
| New York. Indiana, and New jersey. (these
all Democratic States assure the election
| of a Democratic President
THE next and most quiet and ehcctual
! effort was made Ivy General Simon Came
ron, ex-senator from Pennsylvania. He
! started on brief southern tour, oStenslbly
! for health and enjoyment, but really 10
meet General Malone. his leading Re
! adiuster friends, and the leading kepubli-
cans. Conferences were held, and the
union of the two forces was made TO EN-.
| brace national objects. This was in the
| fall Of 1879. Not long thereafter General
| Malone consulted with Senator j. Don
| Cameron, who was. of course, familiar
| with his fathers movements, and he
actively devised and carried out schemes
| TO aid the new combination by which the
solid South was TO be broken.
"In the great State campaign of 1881,
when the Bourbon and anti-Bourbon can
| didates for Governor were stumping the
! State, General Malone found that large
portion Of his cOlored friends were handi-
| canned bv their inability to pay the taxes
| imposed upon them by the laws Of VIZ
cinia: and this threatened defeat. He
| sought aid from the national Administra-
ton. President Garfield favored the CON-
| hination, as did Secretary Window; but
| Secretary Blaine withheld his support for
several months. finally, however, acceding
/ to the wishes of the President and most OF
| the Cabinet. Administration influences
caused the abandonment of a straightout
Republican movement organized by Con.
gresham Jorgonson and Others, and a
movement, which at one time threatened
a disastrous division, was overcome.
1.-THE tax question remained, and this
was drst met by Senator j. Don Cameron
who, while summerine az Manhattan
| Island. was really daily engaged in New
York city raising funds for Malone with
which TO pay their taxes. Still this aid was
! insufficient. and in the heat of the battlt
| the revenue officers throughout the United
| States were asked 10 contribute. Many o.
| them did 80. and on the eve of election al
taxes were paid, aud the result was tbs
election Of William l., Cameron (Read1ust.
err as Governor by about 10000 majority
| with other State officers divided between
the old ReSdjusters and Republicans. The
combination also carried the Legislature.
II will be observed that in 1879 the
Gbove-descrlbed understanding was had
and that in the fall of 1881 the understand
ing resulted III active aid 70 General Ma
homes campaign. And il will be remem
bered that on March IL, 1891. with full
knowledge that that understanding exist
ed, he declared that he was a better De
mOcmt than Senator Hill, Of Georgia; in
fnitely better."s
Aud this is much more remarkable
instance OF General MRhone's having been
Oh both sides OF the question.
His arrangement Of the Democratic part,
was simply and necessarily" for havins
been on both sides Of every public ques
ton AT different times fUis allusion wal