The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-03-20
Brady on Malone.

Brady on Malone.
Petersburg Index-Appeal
SO much has been heard about the fight said
to have been made by Gen. Malone against Col
James D. Bradv's appointment as collector of
internal revenue for this district that the T.dey-
Appeal concluded that it would be interesting.
to learn from Col. Brady how much, if alv
truth there had been in these rnmors Conse-
quently reporter for this paper ca He'd on the col
lector Saturday and an interview took place
which will make interesting reading for Demo
Gratis.
"Col. Brady" began the reporter the Tader-
Appeal would like to have YOU give it some
statements concerning the alleged opposition of
Gen Malone to your appointment as collector
Please tell me, if there is no objection just what
there is of it"
THE protracted contest over my confrJna-
ton" replied Col Brady, was not of my seek
ing. | endeavored to avoid the fight, but when
it was forced upon me by Gen, Malone [ met
the issue and asked and gave no quarters.
''For reasons publicly announced i'll the news
papers at the time actively and earnestly OPP
posed Gen. Malone in 1887, and whether right or
wrong from party standpoint, in that cam
paign, the differences in the Republican party
of Virginia We're submitted in 1888 to the Ma
tional Republican convention which decided,
after full and fair consideration, against Gen.
Malone, and the result of this decision was my
membership on the Republican National Com
mittee. Gen. Malone refused to abide by the
decision Of the highest party tribunal, and con
tinued his warfare during the whole of the
presidential campaign of 1888 upon Republicans
who had opposed his policy at the Chicago con
vention. He himself prepared resolutions, had
them printed and sent to his agents throughout
the State with instructions to be adopted at
Malone meetings, denouncing the Hon. John S.
Wise and myself as the Virginia member Of the
national committee. He quarreled with Prof.
Langston, who was his most influential ally and
supporter at Chicago, and by his bad manage
ment and unrepublican methods forced two Re-
publican candidates in this district in that cam
paign. The result of this election clearly de
monstrated Gen. Mahoncs weakness and throws
upon him the fearful responsibility for not only
the loss of q Republican congressman, but also
the loss of the State to Harrison and Norton
Colonel tell me why did you not attend the
Norfolk convention.
'Immediateiy after my appointment I sent
for my friends and made every honorable effort
for harmony in the party. | desired to attend
the Norfolk convention as delegate from this
city, and with that end in view had made ar
engagements to meet q number OF friends there.
Senator Quay had stated that for Malone to
keep me out of the Norfolk convention would
be an act OF political suicide. 1t is a fact known
to every intelligent Republican in this city that
fully 80 per cent. of the Republican voters de-
sired my election as delegate. The machine
ordered otherwise, and under its outrageous
operation was not allowed to go.'
You supported the ticket. however, believe?
LAS for Mafone's nomination for Governor |
regarded it unwise, because it was impossible
to bring to his candidacy united and cordial
Republican support. The day after his nomina
ton at Norfolk, sinking all personal feeling, and
fully realizing my responsibility as representa-
tive of the Republican administration, and my
duty as member Of the national committee,
profrered my services through this committee,
for such duty as might be assigned me in the
campaign and did all could consistent with
honor, self respect and manhood for party sue
cess"
Please give me an insight into Gen. Mahone's
opposition to your confirmation?
During the contest over my confirmation, the
villianouS scheme was clearly developed that it
the set purpose of Gen. Malone and his
close friends to poison the mind of every North
ern Republican speaker against me, the object
being to use their influence at Washington ode
feat my confirmation.
Sly nomination was sent to the Senate on De-
cember 18th last, and few days thereafter it
announced in the newspapers that / had
been confirmed. The Intimate friends and asso-
ciates of Gen. Malone hereabouts, proclaimed
upon the streets that Malone was not Fighting
me, and there was no doubt of my confirmation
Subsequent events clearly prove that these pre-
mature announcements were but the tricksofthe
machine to throw of my guard. General |
Malone knew wen that l had supported and
voted for him; he was assured of this fact by
more than dozen of his friends and herenl lies
the infamy of the opposition There never was
in the history of politics more diabolical
scheme than that concocted for my defeat. My
character was most outrageously assaulted.
"A crank named Cheadle, congressman from
one of the western states, I believe, who was
Mahones tool during the last campaign in Wiz
ginia, wrote letters filed with falsehools 4
Senators protesting against my confirmation. ] |
think my reply to these letters, on file with the
finance committee of the senate, would be inter
estng reading for his constituents. It is said he
is a harmless sort of an old fellow, and i'll all |
this was but doing the masters bidding; but
why Republican constituency should send such /
a silly old granny to the Congress of thes United 4
States to represent them appears to me incom
prehensible
Gen. bIahone had printed and sent to his /
agents throughout the State petitions with in
structons to obtain signatures, white and coll
ored, i'll separate columns, for my rejection the
same to be returned to Senator Morrill, His eff
forts in this direction were complete failure. /
Here in Petersburg only few signatures could I
be obtained aite, persistent efforts on the part
of the persons circulating them, and in the des-
peration to make the Petersburg petition appar
entity respectable i'll size signatures obtained in
Dinwiddie, Sussex and Prince George counties
We're affixed to the Petersburg petition, and this
petition With the names from the counties added,
and purportng to be from Petersburg, had
thereon the names Of forty ave White and one
hundred and sixty three colored persons. A
number OF the white and cOiOred signatures
thereon were forged as shown by the atiidavitS
and certificates forwarded to NE and now OIL
file with the finance committee of the senate.
Seven of the white sgners are known Demo
Gratis six are "hoaters. and, besides, IL names
of dead persons and minors appear among the
number. What q pitiful exhibit of the power
and influence against my confirmation at Ma
hene's home!
"Now, as to his petitions throughout the State.
/ examined them on Feb. 2Gth in company with
a friend with tbs following result: IN my col
lection district, excluding the richmond and
Petersburg petitions returns had been received
from eleven other counties, cities and towns
upon which there was a total of four hundred
and forty one names; from Richmond city where
the opposition, under the Inspiration OF Coec
tor of Customs Fisher and other federal officials,
was stronger than elsewhere, two hundred and
thirty names were secured, making q total OF
only eight hundred and fifty nine signatures
throughout my collection district. In Collector
McCaul'S district, with the assist Of his Off
Gals and Mahones postmasters, petitions from
only eight counties, cities and towns were filed,
containing q total of two hundred and sixty
eight names; and thus the signatures to Ma
homes petitions throughout the entire State ag
gregated only eleven hundred and twenty
names, white and colored.
'eThese petitions were answered by letteIsa
kilograms from my collection district, represen-
ting the almost unanimous Republican senti-
ment of the various localities iii favor of my
confirmation, and the most gratifying thing to
me throughout the entire contest was the mani
festation of confidence and esteem on the part
of the business men from all portions of the dis
trict, and especially from the tobacconists ban
kels and leading merchants of this city.
"fo Illustrate the character of the opposition
to me, happen to know that an emmissay Of
Gen. Mahones, through Il leading Democrat APP
preached an influential Democratic q. S. Senator
and assured him that il he would defeat my con
firmaticn lie could name q Democrat TO be my
successor, and he would receive the support OF
the Mailonetes to that end. Under these cir
cumstances feel personally gratified to both
Senators Daniel and Barbour for their generous
and mai &c I to ,a hair