Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-10-30
Politics in sole Yirginny."

Politics in sole Virginny."
Under the heading above, the New York
Herald, with truthful and forceful expires
sion, says that 'Mahoneism in Virginia just
now is simply republicanism with delirium
tremens.
1t was settled some weeks ago that Ma
homo couldn't carry the State in fair and
square fight. Undaunted, however, he
pushed ahead with the desperation of a
horseman who sees an lmplacable foe be-
hind him, dangerous chasm in front OF
him and one chance in a hundred that bis
horse will be able to make the leap.
That is the character of the campaign be
is conducting. His methods hardly COM
port with the great moral ideas of the party
to which he has temporarily attached him
self. He is perhaps engaged in some of the
most INSCRIPTIONS work ever done in repub-
lican politics, and is SO eager to win that
moral and political principles are Of no more
worth than the pennies which the rich man
throws to crowd of beggars.
Malone is a picturesque figure. He keeps
open house with hospitality as charming
as it is unstinted. AS friend his is loyal
and steadfast; as an enemy he Is relentless
and dangerous. He has all the private quail
tiles which insure unbounded popularity,
but as politician be is never to be trusted
with great interests. All means are to him
the same. provided they help his cause, and
he would sacrifice the welfare eff the State
for an immediate advantage without SO
much as second thought.
In the first place, Malone is a politician
with professional respect for the Negroes
rights and personal contempt for the ne
gro himself He does not believe the black
man to be fitted for self-government, and
declares that while be wants a republican
regime in Virginia it must be white mans,
not a colored mans regime.
And yet he has somehow got grip on
the black mans confidence and is working
it for all it is worth. That is to say, he
proposes to use the blacks as a step-ladder
up which to climb into the Governors chair
but once seated there his first act will be to
kick the step-iadder over.
In the second place Mr.. Harrison has put
himself and his administration at the dis
posal of Malone. If Malone wants advice
as to the tricks Of the trade, Mr.. Quay is
his most obedient; if he needs money TO
deposit in the doubtful sections, il can be
had in boundless abundance. He has the
patronage of the State to work with-the
custom houses, post offices, Navy Yard and
whatever else federal favor can supply.
Consequently the campaign wakes hot IS
the critical point is neared. On the one side
is very large number of disafected repub-
licans, the very best white material in the
State, men who distrust Malone and Will
have nothing to do with his INSCRIPTIONS
methods, and on the other is a vast negro
vote, both illiterate and unreliable, which
is numerically strong enough to phil the
boss through if he can keep control of it q
little longer.
The pity about the Virginia campaign is
that while it may break the solid South, so
far as this State is concerned, it will create
worse evil than the one it destroyed. IF
Malone can split Virginia with blacks and
whites On both sides, well and good. We
should be glad to see that done, not only in
Virginia but in South Carolina md Georgia.
But to split the State 10 such way that
blacks are on one side and whites on the 9th.
er, two parties glazing at each other, threat
ening each otber--well, We rather think it
would be better if Makone had never been
born than that he should bring about con-
summation of that kind. The race war has
mepacing aspects enough now that it is
unorganized; but &c deliberately organize
l., to foment discord and to use race trou.
bles for personal emolument and prefer
ment, that is a course which cannot be too
strongly condemned.
Malone is a cunning politician. He is
using demagogue's methods, and it is to
be hoped that he will meet with dema-
gogue's fate at the polls"
II rNT A n I'M n