Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-10-25
SOMETHING TO BE THOUGHT
ABOUT.

Practically this is the last opportunity
We shall have to address all the readers of
this paper before they cast their votes; for
between publication next Friday and the
9TH of November, there will be hardly time
for the paper to reach it's distant readers.
Without passion, and without personal
bitterness, we have striven for two months
to press on the people in reach of our advice,
the Importance Of defeating Gen. Malone
and his ticket in this State. We have given
reasons that to us appear unanswerable,
and where proof was attainable in support
of those reasons we have given it. No
man will contend that under a republican
form of government an administration can
he benefit to a State, where it is viewed
with dislike amounting to hatred by a
very large majority of the intelligence of
that State. No man can contend that the
highest form of good government can be
given community by personal political
faction of whom five-eighths of the voters
are far too ignorant to WELD the ballot. To
assume that it can be, is to blot out every
argument on which a government by the
people is founded. The success Of such a
faction cannot be too earnestly resisted.
1t is not hard to forecast, for it has cast
its shadow before, in the party government
of Gen. Mahone's own party. In that case
the bulk of the intelligence Of the party
has been subordinated to the will of one
man OIL forced into revolt against his rule.
1t has long ceased to be political party in
the proper sense of the word, and has be-
come simply a personal party. That is the
opportunity an ignorant constituency
always gives to ambition. 1t was this con-
dition of party affairs which made an open
ing on the top round of the ladder for such
men as Yarmouth of Louisiana, Malone
of Virginia, Chalmers of Mississippi, Hol-
den of North Carolina, and others at the
South-some better, some worse, but all
alike in the matter of personal power. And
it is their use of theirplace on the top round
that has split and paralyzed the Republican
party at the South.
1t is this which has paralyzed it in Vir-
ginia. But here an effort is being made to
re-vitaliZe it. Not on any broad basis of
principle, not on any issue of an improved
administration OF State affairs, but On the
narrow commercial basis of bargain and
sale made by MI. Harrison's administra-
ton. 1t is bargained that the power of the
administration be given to VIM. Malone
to capture the State with, and that being
captured it shall be ruled by Malone as the
viceroy of the administration. In this
commercial transaction the people of both
parties are left out of account. 1t is well
understood everywhere, in Washington and
in Virginia; by Democrats and by Republi-
cans; by the wise and by the ignorant; by
the white men and by the black men, that
if this trade succeeds, the government of
Virginia by the people in Virginia ceases
for four years. 1t is well understood that
ers of government, if the people of Virgin
ia can be induced in November next, by
promise of Federal office-with the 3D. Sd
and 4th distribut1ons-by money subscrib-
ed by the Republicans of the North and paid
into Virginia by the Quay National Com
mittee; OIL by any similar means, to put
Malone in power. 1t is well understood
that he will dictate who shall be the
State officers, who shall be employed in our
asylums and schools; who shall be the town
police; and who shall transact the affairs Of
the Commonwealth in every department.
No one, in all the denials made by the Ma
hone speakers and press has thought it
worth while to deny that this is to be the
Commonwealth of Malone instead of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, after January
next, if their party wins, So far from de-
nying it they seem to glory in it.
With this before them, is it not natural
that those--hoth Republicans and Democrats
who believe in republican form of gov
eminent should make fierce resistance to
the threatened change What benefit is
promised the State in return for the change?
A settlement of its debt? That cannot be
done without an increase of taxati0n-are
the people able to bear that A more rapid
DEVELOPMENT of the resources of the land by
capital and immigration from elsewhere?
Go back to 1S81-19S5 and see what was done
in that four years when Malone was in
power in the matter of capital Oh new set
tiers. More capital came into Virginia in {
the first year after the Democrats returned