Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-22
THURSDAY. AUGUST %, 1889
Mahone's Convention.

The MALONE Convention meets in
Norfolk to-day-we pity Norfolk-and
all the indications are that it will be
combination of circus and farce. The
circus features will develop in the usual
ventilation by the man and brother of
his views on great political problems
and in the feeble show at kicking that
will be made by such alleged white NAL
contents as shall take part in the pro-
coedings Of the body. The farce fea-
lures will manifest themselves in the
evidence that the whole thing had been
cut and dried by the boss and in the
manner in which all opposition will
be whipped into submission. AS to
the ticket that will be just what MALONE
has determined it shall be, and about the
only question OF interest involved in
specializing regarding 1t is whether MA
HONE will head it himself. OF course ii
he coyets the "honor" he can get it.
But would that suit his purposes ? Is
Iudk iihAt VI AAAO NOhoHAAANJ ~ "AAN
QUAY and Blocks.of-Five DUDLEY, and
the Administration have Matched up to
break the solid South 4? Can he af-
fcrd to chance the sacrifice? From
the lights now before us it ap-
pears that he will yield to the
demands of the faithful and allow his
name to be used-will
"Stick in his thumb
And pull out the plumb"
and ssy TO the Administration
"What a great boy am l."
But it does not follow that he will not then
decline the unsought "honor" and name
friend for the November immolation.
MAHoNE's whole object is to impress the
Administration with his importance, and
the convention will be manipulated in
order to that. There can he no
question that his compact with the
malignants is to deliver the State
TO the Republican party in the next
presidential campaign. and drive the en-
tering- wedge into the solid South. This
fact is recognized by Republican as well
as by Democratic papers. What con-
sideration he is to receive is not exactly
clear but one thing is certain-he will
go into the convention with that con-
sideration prominently before him. An
independent Republican contemporary
recently remarked that in case of
the election of the Democratic
gubernatorial ticket MALONE would
not hang Grape on the Repub-
hcan door provided he could con-
tinue to control the offices. This, with
other testimony, iustifies the conclusion
that whatever MAHoNE's decision may
be regarding the Republican gubernato
rial nomination. he will have in mind
the strengthening of his grip upon the
Administration and the perpetuation Of
his bossism, SO as to make himself
figure in national politics. If he thinks
that by accepting the nomination he
can further impress HARRISON with
his power and influence he will
accept it. If on the other hand he be-
heyes that by gracefully and magnani-
miously" declining it after it has been
unanimously rendered him he can Sc
cure additional favors from Washington,
he will see that it is unanimously ten
dered him and will decline it. In either
event he will emphasize the fact that he
is not only the worst enemy of Virginia,
but the worst enemy OF the whole
South. Whether he shall carry the
standard of his black cohorts himself or
name some one else TO perform
that task, he will be the tool OF
the vindictive northern Republican
gang that would put the South under tho
heel OF the ignorant and the vicious
and again bring about the horrors of the
reconstruction era. In this aspect alone
does the assembling at Norfolk to-day OF
MAHoNE's motley lcgions suggest seri-
GUS thoughts.