Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-11
Genornl Mahone on the sltuation.

Two things indicate that the majority
party az Washington have not quite given
up all hope Of putting their election bill
through the Senate at tins session. The
first is the address Of their Congressional
Committee 20 Republican editors beg
ring the latter 10 whoop mp public senii-
ment in its favor; the second Is a mani
festo from MAHoNE's State Committee
speaking very disparagingly of our Virginia
voting system.
From his fine phrases those who do not
know MALONE as we Virginians do would
suppose that he is one of the fairest of men.
The truth is that he is one Of the most
selfish and despotic. Under his rule he in
effect named to the Reddiuster caucus the
persons they had to nominate for county
and city judges. These judges appointed
the registration and election officers.
Everywhere they gave their party the adj
vantages always accorded to the domi-
nant power in politics Out Of each set of
three iudges they took two and gave us
one. except on occasions when they took
ull three. But IT was Of no avail. The
people hurled him and his associates from
power and consigned him TO the compan-
ionship Of the Radical Republicans.
Soon after the Democrats regaincd pos
session of the State government they re
solved that county and city judges had
plenty 10 do attending 10 court business,
ard accordingly determined that officers
of registration and election should be
chosen not by the judges but by electoral
boards. That was the only essential
change. The Democrats now stand in Re
publican shoes. with this difference-that
weare far more honest and have never tried
to stamp the life out Of the minority.
Fouryears ago the Republicans carried
tho State. The returns showed 1t, and the
Democrats made no effort towithhold from
them the fruits Of their victory. Our folks
had been lukewarm and Indifferent. and
had TO take the consequences.
Last year Hon. Z. w. McKISNEY beat Ma
HONE for Governor by over 30 0)O votes. and
from that day to this the little General has
never ceased to gnash his teeth in furious
but impotent race. 1t was bad enough to
be defeated; but TO be dubbed worse than
any man that ever ran for the chief Office of
this old Commonwealth was rather more
than he could bear with patience. When
he talked Of frauds his own political friends
laughed at him. The vote was very full
one, and almost equslled that for CLEyE-
LAND and HARRIsoy.
The General has received very little SYM
patty from Dir. HARR1soN as far as we can
learn. If at all il has been exhibited in
empty words. for il nowhere appears that
any one of the hundreds of fine offices
at the disposal of the President has
been offered him. True, he is the Virginia
referee" for the Post-Oflice Department,
but that is trihing place for an alleged
great man and affords him more opportu-
nifty for the qualification of his spite than
for rewarding faithful friends.
MALONE in his address avoids endorsing
the RowlLL-LoDGE bill, probably not be
cause 1t Is too strong, but too weak for
him. He is reported as wishing it TO be
extended to legislative elections. because
the members elect United States senators.
He and his committee recommend that
the Virginia Republicans refuse TO partici-
pate in the elections save where district
conventions of the party put candidates in
the field. hopefully biding the time when
unlawful Acknowledgement of the electors
and fraudulent returns shall become so re-
pugnant to popular sentiment as TO make
the acceptance of public trust by such
means badge of dishonor.n
MALONE is evidently not addressing the
voters in the State, but is talking to the
United States Senate. He hopes there is
vet some prospect of the RowELL-LoDdR
bill passing, and this is his contribution to
that end. With it in operation as law he
could hope 10 be elected to Congress from
the Fourth district.
Ii seems TO us that the Democrats have
the mastery of the situation at Washing
ton, and we have no idea that they will
surrender il for nothing If they give up
their right of unlimited discussion of the
tariff bill it should be in consideration Of
positive pledge that the election bill is
20 be deferred until the winter session.
They can afford TO be plain-spoken in
deed they must and will be when they con-
slider the design of the address of the Con-
gressional Committee TO the Republican
editors and that of the MALONE Commit
tee to the Republicans of this Common
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