Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-17
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY II, 1889.
THE .INFLOONCE AT WASHING
TON.

FRIDAY MORNING, MAY IL, 1889.
THE .LNFLOONCE AT WASHING
TON
The absorbing question with the Repub-
licans of Virginia is neither Tariff, Civil
Service, nor Protection for Home labor; it is
who has the pull at Washington-Gen. Ma
hone OF his opponents? 1t is a situation
that has all the Inconsistency Of a kaleido
scope 1t is but a few days since MI. Thomas
E. Borland, a gentleman OF standing and a
lawyer of ability, of Norfolk, was appoint
ed District Attorney for the Eastern Dis
trict of Virginia. 1t was claimed that this
solved the problem. The solutions were
fhree-that Malone had done it, that Ma
homes opponents had done it, and that
neither had done it, but it was the
first fruit Of a compromise between the
wings. The question was settled later by
the Hon. George E. BoWden of the Norfolk
district, making the announcement that he
had done it, and while he had no reason to
believe that Malone had opposed OF favored
it, that it was made in response to his,
Bowden S, application. So everything. was
at sea again with Nj. BoWden as the only
lighthouse in sight. A little later, Richard
f. FAIR, former State Superintendent OF
Public Education Of Virginia, was ap
pointed U. S. Marshall for the Eastern Dis
trict of Virginia. This time speculation
ran high and all were sure Malone had done
it, for FAIR was known far and wide as a
Mahoneite The situation was little con-
fused from the fact that two days before
the appointment, Col. Robert Berkeley OF
Farmville, had quoted Gen. Malone as pc
tulantly saying to him that he didn't want
to be bothered about politics; that people
need not bring their applications to him, as
he would not sign them; that he wished
politics were in -; that if those in Viz
ginia went on much longer as they are
going now the Democrats would GARY the
State next fall and he wouldn't care -
if they did. And yet, not far from this
date, the President had accorded the Gen
eral an interview. The situation was puz-
Zling until the announcement WAS made that
the appointment was not that OF Gen. Ma
lican candidate who was defeated in the 6th
district last year, and in whose district MI.
FAIR lives.
1t would puzzle the Wisest outsider, and
insider as well we suspect, to say which OF
the contending factions has the vantage
ground at Washington, and not the least
puzzled is President Harrison himself. We
do not credit him with any scruple Whatey
Ell about handing the patronage OF Virgin
la over to Malone, indeed it would be
great relief to him to unload it on him i'll a
lump for distribution, but the Republicans
elected to Congress from Virginia last fall
are terror to him. A President whose
party only has a majority of three in one
house and five in the other, cannot afford
to offend single member of that party.
1t is curious situation, but BOWden and
Browne of Virginia could check the wheels
of Harrison S administration on nine-tenths
of the measures it introduces, if the Presi-
dent should be SO rash as to antagonlze
them. They could paralyze it early in its his
tory, simply by their votes Oh the contested
seats. So they must be respected. Then
come the contesting Republican congress
iional candidates who were defeated. They
may vet be in the House to confront him
and he must listen to them. And again,
he has the persistent DINING in his ears by
: the Wise faction of the unfitness OF Malone
for any task but that of the destruction Of
the Republican party. Whether he believes
IL. II |, ~
they carry too much Of the brains Of the
party with them to be disregarded. And
so the President is in as awkward a fix as
the anxious and weary Virginia office seek
ers who are spending their time in alternate
" cursirg his delay, and watching a drop
of rain here and there to see if it is the be-
ginning 81 the shower, and if so, on which
faction the shower will descend.
The President started out with very
vigorous announcement that the two fac
lions must come together before he would
let the offices be distributed. But he could
not maintain his position. The elements
we have mentioned above were toe strong
to be forced to wait, and the eXi9encies OF
the situation have wrung from him several
appointments. But they Eavein no measure
allayed the hunger Of tae Republicans OF
Virginia. The eyrectants merely cast {
glance at the crtmbs that have fallen, an(
then with tongues hanging out turn theil
Whiting eyes again on the President. VIZ
Should not wonder if he wishes Virginis
politics were where Gen. Malone wish
es them, satisfied that however hot tht
place, it could be no hotter than the situa
ton the warning factions keep him i'll. HI
has not to sustain him in the fiery fur
mace in which he is walking, the consola
ton that Cleveland felt-the knowledge
that he suffers for what he deems higl
duty. Cleveland was rallied at by his party
for sustaining a principle to which he had
pledged himself. Harrison has no princi
pie at stake, having long since discarded
even a pretence Of carrying out Civil Ser
Vice-he is only waiting to see what is the
best policy for his party with regard te
Virginia affairs. The Republican who can
suggest the best way out of his troubles
can confidently ask for the highest office in
the State, in the gift of the President.
Mr.. William L. Royal, the Virginia At
torney of the English bondholders. an
nounces himself as candidate for the
House of Delegates from Richmond. on the