Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-01-25
GEN. MAHONE'S CHANCES FROM
a KEPUBLICAN POINT
VIEW

The idea that seems to prevail among
Gen. Mahone's supporters. that the oppo-
sition to him has in any way been quoted
by the Republican Presidential success,
may be set down as an error born of hope.
The Roanoke Sun (Rep) expressing it's
disapproval of the recent Malone mission
to Indianapolis, says:
"We doubt the wisdom of the appointment
from faction in this or any other State to so
important position, and the result Of this
visit will be to cause an anti Malone delega-
ton to visit Mr.. Harrison also. Such see
saw business must be very distasteful to the
President-elect, and will not rebound to the
advantage of Virginia Republicans. We have
no idea that Virginia will be represented in
the cabinet though she might have been but
for the want of harmony in the party. We
have no disposition to revive any of the
questions which brought about dissensions in
the party in Virginia. but merely wish to dis
sent from the action of the delegation"
The Valley Virginian commenting on
the same mission, says:
The object of it was to press Gen. Malone
for cabiret position. We do not believe in
this delegation business and do not think it
calculated to help the idea for which it was
OiSfulACo. LII tuib 1ubbduC6 Nl0WluR IL 1IOuQ
common sense premise, we are of opinion
that any chances which Gen. Malone may
have had, have not been improved. The idea
of trying to force appointment into the Pres-
dents official family must be distasteful to
him, as it is out of place in every sense,
although it is practice not confined to Vir-
ginia.
I'VE do not care to discuss the address on
the occasion of presenting the case. 1t is
erroneous in some of its principal assump-
tions and consequently misleading in its con-
illusions. We have had occasion before to
refute its premises and we had hoped that
we would never again have cause to allude to
the subject. We do not desire now to more
than express our dissent from the policy which
instigated the visit of the delegation as we'll
as the terms of the address that was formu-
lated"
One of the frankest, most dispassionate
and able arraignments of Gen. Malone
from apurely Republican standpoint, that
we have seen appeared in the Harrisonburg
Spirit Of the Valley, last Friday, from the
pen of Mr.. D. Shelley Lewis, son of Ex-
Senator John F. Lewis. 1t recites and
candidly comedies all the good points that
Gen. Malone possesses as a party leader,
but adds:
But, notwithstanding all that we know that
Gen. Mahone's appointment to position in
Gen. Harrison's cabinet would be tie ao0rst
thing possible aolltch could happen 10 the Re-
publican party Of Virginia. We say this be-
cause we k110oo the sentiments of the people of
Virginia, and not because we think Gen. Ma
homes friends should be ignored by Gen. Har-
rison's administration. In fact, we are firmly
convinced that Come of the very hest mon in
the Republican party in Virginia adhere to
Gen. Malone, and even go so far as to ap-
prove of his un Republican plan of organiza-
ton. These friends of Gen. Malone should
not be left out in the distribution of the pa
tronage in this State. Their claims should be
considered upon their merits, and when found
deserving,s they should receive recognition
without regard to the question of whether
they are, or whether they are not, Malone men,
But this is an entirely different thing from
putting Gen. Malone in the cabinet and thus
subordinating more than one-half of the Re-
publican party to his dictatorial ways. There
is not single man in the State of Virginia,
who knows Gen. Malone, who is not thor
oughly convinced that no Republican in Vir-
GINA, who had in the past differed with him,
would be even SO much as tolerated Instead
of recognizing Republicans in proportion to
their worth and their ability to fill the offices
with credit to themselves and to the Govern
ment, he would not even consider them upon
the lower plane of their ability and disposition
to help the Republican party, but aoOuId make
su6sergiency to himself and his political ends the
sole test Of their eligibility. Knowing this as
we do, we could not do our duty as Repub-
lican journalist did we fail to enter our pro-
test against this attempted blow at Republi-
canism in the South.