New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1895-10-16
New Ul u n Review
JOHNSON Z WlcHERskl, PUBLISHERS.
Wednesday Oct. 16, 1895.
General William Malone.

OSes
General William Malone.
There died at Petersburg, Va, last
week, one of the most picturesque
characters, if not one of the most re-
markable men, of the time. General Will
liam Malone has never been a popular
man in the sense in which the word
j. generally used, but he has had
fair share Of that admiration that
always goes out to courageous, aggressive
and impulsive men. General Malone
won his first reputation as q trusted
lieutenant of General Lee. He was a
dashing but self-contained army officer,
and was devotedly attached to the cause
of his State and to his commander.
His first appearance in the field OF
national politics was after the quarrel in
the Democratic party in Virginia in 1880
as to the read ustment of the debt. Mr..
Malone was electedUnited States Senator
and took his seat in March, 1881. At
that time the organization of the Senate
hung in the balance. The Republicans
were sure of members enough to
organize the Senate, but elections had not
been held, and their policy was to delay
the organization until the new Senators
were in their seats. The policy of the
Democrats was to force immediate or.
ganization. There were rumors and
something more as to the position Mr..
Malone whould ultimately take. It was
stated that in the organization he would
not act with the Democrats, and it was
certain that he did not attend the Dem
ocratic caucus. The policy OF the Dem
ocratic leaders was to smoke him out and
make him declare his purpose, or to bull
doze him or browbeat him into accepting
the dictum of the Democratic caucus.
Senator Hill, of Georgia, then in his
prime, as representative of the extreme
Southernism of the Democratic party,
undertook the task of driving Mr.. Maho-
ne from his position between the two
parties into the Democratic ranks. On
the 14th Of March, 1881, in speech
rasping and exasperating in innuendo
and offensive lnsinuations, all directed at
Malone, Senator Hill precipltated one
Of the most extraordinary scenes ever
witnessed in the United States Senate.
1t was against the traditions of the SEN
ate for new member to speak. Mr..
Hill seemed to regard this tradition as
Il rule that would prevent Mr.. Malone
from resentlng his extremely offensive
speech. The Senate generally seemed to
take the same view of the situation, but,
very much to the surprise of all, as soon
as Senator Hill had taken his seat Sena-
tor Malone slipped quietly to the front
of the clerks desk and proceeded to re-
ply to Mr.. Hill. For minute he spoke
quietly and in self-contained way, then
springing forward half across the space
between himself and the Georgia Sena-
tor, be addressed Hill personally with
great vehemepee of manner, haunting him
with playing the part of custodian Of
the Democratic party, and in language
Of singing keenness criticised the whole
course of the Democratic Senators. He
announced that be was the custodian oil
his own Democracy and as proud Of his
record aud as responsible for his word!
as Mr.. Hill.
The scene was without precedent il
the Senate. The nearest approach to i
was the celebrated encounter between
Zach Chandler and Jefferson Davis. Thu
Malone episode was unlike any othe
case. The Senator from Virginia made
no pretense of Senatorial dignity or re
serve, but spoke in vehement and i'm
FASHIONED manner. At the close of hi
speech the Republican Senators gathered
about him and congratulated him, ant
later in the debate, when Senator Hill at
tempted to reply, Malone again brok
over the Senatorial rule by asking Hill
directly certain pointed questions. TIL
extraordinary scene ended in Malone
voting with the Republicans, and it wa
conceded that Mr.. Hills tactics had Zee
mistake, as they drove Malone at one
into an open espousal of the Repnblica
cause.
After that there we're many encounter
and the star of Hill declined, while tina
of Malone went up. The latter wei
into the political arena with the sprin
of a lion and he kept up the fight, nc
only with the Democratic party, but wit
H. c..4:.x, Do,,l1;oop