The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-13
ELEVATION or LANGsTON.

n is reported in Washington on what APP
pears TO be good authority, that the present
administration proposes hereafter TO recog-
nize Iangsiou az the head of the kepupli-
can party in Virginia. This step, II IS saio'
will bc taken in consequence Of the deter
mination Of the Republican majority OF 'nc
Committee on Elections to scat Langs'o" J"
place OF Hon. T.. {. Ncnablc, who was eiec-
ted 10 the position now occupied by him' pu'
who will soon be uniustly forced 10 Naca'e
il TO give room for his negro competitor. 10
advance Langstcn TO the headship oil inc
Republican party Of this state rs far as IL
is in the power of The National Admin's'ra-
,ion 10 do so upon such slim ground as thls II,
,xouId socm TO be a stroke Of the most short
sighted political policy. Is tins sunclen'
reason for eleyating him or for ignoring Ma
honey IL is such small reason that IL IL
d;a,c,lt 10 believe that the report can be
correct.
IL should be remembered that llar-
rison has fully made up his NINA
TO be candidate for renomina-
,ion. and with that ambition squirting him
on. he is looking about on all sides .ior the
PURPOSE Of using every means in his reach
70 Increase the number of delegates VINO
will support his pretcnsions in the kepubli-
can National Convention. Every appoint
rcnt which he now makes is made with
this object i'm view. II his administration,
which in this instance is really himself,
has decided to recognize Langston as the
Republican leader in Virginia, IL is simply
because he labors under the impression tia'
he will thereby secure the votes OF the VIZ
ginian delegation TO the National CohNeh-
tion more easily than if he were to recoS-
uize Malone. But in this he falls into n
grievous mistake. Langston has person.
ally and individually no influence with the
members OF his party in Virginia. lie mas
no influence even with the members OF his
own race. The Administration might con-
fer upon him all the patronage which 1t has
10 give. and he would receive but little ac-
ccssion of personal weight among the rank
and file Of his party.
In the first place, Langston's career III ' IT.
GINA has given him no claims to personal
consideration. for he has developed no quail
tiles of leadership; and, in the second
place, he is negro, fact that Will raise
the strongest opposition to his political ad-
vancement among individuals of his own
color who constitute the great bulk OF his
party. The recognition Of his leadership
by the administration would be regarded as
an insult by all the whites in the party, and
especially by those who occupy positions OF
great prominence in its councils. And
lastly, it would MORALLY offend General Ma
hone, who, in spite Of his Overwhelming de-
feat at the polls in November, is still the
most influential Republican in Virginia
1t is idle TO suppose that so restless, schem-
ing and yindictiye a man as he is viii look
on supinely at the appointment of a negro
rival over his head. On the contrary, 1t
would certainly induce him to use all his
power over his party in this State to thwart
the determination OF Harrison to secure the
Virginian delegation to the Republican Ma
tiOnal Convention.