Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-24
Mr.. Barbour Speaks.

Every Nirginan IL always ready TO hear
from Mr.. BARBOUR. The Washington Post
reports him as follows:
Virginia Democrats are not saying much
at present. but they are thinking great
deal, and will be found wide awake when
the votes are counted. When the question
il presented to the white people OF W.
cinia whether the State shall be turned
over to Malone and his black followers
there is never hut one response nowadays
and that is an emphatic negative. The tax
paying people OF Virginia have not forgot
ten the reign OF MahOneism, and their
memory is so keen on that point that they
do not wish to return TO IT. IT Is too early
10 outline the issue on which the campaign
will be waged, but presume General Ma
hone will attempt TO thrust the industrial
issue upon Us. or in other words, the hlgh
protective tariff issue.
Now II should be understood that Nlr-
ginia Democrats are not and never were III
favor of free trade. They are III favor OF
tariff reform / do not think the State
debt question will cut any figure in the
campaign this year. bat whatever the Is
sues presented by the opposition may be,
the Democratic party will be prepared to
meet them squarelV We do not propose
that General Malone shall make the pace
for ~ by any means. The campaign on
our part Will be aggressive from start 10
finish. In 1881 lS2 Malone and his follow
ers had Governor, Legislature. supreme
Court of Appeals. two United States sena-
tors-in fact, everything that WAS out. The
world knows how the Malone dynasty
used its power; the people of Virginia
know only too well. We have gradually
wrested everything from the MahOneltes.
in spite Of the fact that they had control
of what is known as the machine. Now
we have it and we expect to hold 1t.
"MahOne still issues his orders rs if he
was at the head of his division OF Lees
army. His discipline is of the most rigid
character. He carries everything on his
own shoulders. | do not underrate his
organizing capacity. lie generally fOOts
the bills for the State conventions which
he calls. paws for the hall, and paws the
board of the negro delegates while the
convention lasts. A MahOne convention,
frequently misnamed "A Republican State
Convention, Is worth something 10 the
curioSity-seeker The negro delegates gen.
orally comprise the major portion OF the
convention. They do not put up at hotels,
but are Quartered in squads of half q
dozen or more at some private house own
ed by negro. 4 member OF the squad
does the cooking if any Is required. Usu-
ally, however, very little cooking Is done,
rs corn-bIead and "A cup of tea or coffee
and some whiskey suffice.
Much has been said about MahOne's
organization in Virginia. As a matter OF
fact he has no organization in the sense
known TO northern politicians. His work
is done mainly through cOlOred preachers
who proclaim from the pulpit Mahone's
wishes, and who eXhoTt their 1Ocks 10 60
TO the polls and vote the straight Repub-
lican ticket from a to lizard
IL do not know how much of figure
Iangston viii cut in the impending cam
vass. He hates Malone enough to give
him trouble if opportunity offers. Lang
ston is able and shTewd, but il is probable
that if he is found too formidable in his
opposition TO Malone that the Adminlstra-
ton will try to buy him od with some good
Office | do not think Malone cares 10 be
elected Governor Of Virginia. My opinion
is no would like the opportunity TO decline
the nomination, and II is quite probable
that twill be given him.
~ cannot name the Democratic nOmi-
nee for Governor. Several good men are
in the field, any one of which can be elect
ed this wear, ! think. Whoever is nomi-
mated. whether il will be an ardent Tariff
Reformer like 0Farrell or some man Of
more conservative views, the candidate
will stand squarely on the platform en-
dorsed by the convention. The campaign
must from necessity be of more than local
interest from the fact that the National
Republican Committee intends TO give the
Republican party in Virginia financial sup
port and the aid of its best speakers.
THE Administration will throw its in
fuence in favor of Malone, and every effort
will be made to place the State perma-
nently in the Republican column. But we
are not frightened The State is naturally
Democratic. Four ffths of the white
voters are with Us, or against Malone, and
the apathy that existed during the Cleve-
land Administration. and which came so
near causing US to lose the State, has van
ished.'