The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-02
The Charlottesville Convention.
HARRIsoNBURa, VA, I
August 31st 1880.

The Charlottesville Convention.
HARRIsoNBURa, VA,
August 31st 1880.
Editors Va12ey Vaylnian'
In your last issue you have two leading edi- |
torial upon the late Republican Congressional |
Convention in which Ito put it mildly you do |
not treat your opponents with your usual fair
ness and candor, but in which you assume |
that all who opposed the nomination of a re-
publican candidate in this overwhelmingly !
democratic district were not true republicans,
but only wore fine lambs wool republi- |
can garments to conceal democratic re-adjust-
er wolves, who were anxious to devour not
only all of the realty SIMON pure Republican
sheep, but also to destroy, and blot out forever
every republican principle for which they had
heretofore so manfully battled.
However if you had been content to deal in
general criticisms of their course and had adj
duced arguments to show that they had mis-
taken their duties to republicans or if you
had stopped after impugning their republican
ism would have had nothing to say, but
would have been content to let the matter
rest upon the single issue of who were the
best republicans, those who opposed or those
who advocated nomination. Even the as
sertion that some of the chief actors in the
convention who were opposed to nominal
ton "were performing to the tune of John
PauTs fiddle'' would only have suggested to
me, and most of the other readers Of your
able paper, that the music of John PauPs
fiddle was quite as melodious and as pleasing
to republican ears, as that discordant sound
made by the banjo of the leading democratic
funder elector, Gen. John Echos; and II the
latter instrument had charms enough to cause
republicans to dance to its music, why then it
was not strange that Pauls violin should have
some effect upon other republicans with mu-
steal tastes and attainments,
But Messrs. Editors you have made specl-
fic charge against my father John +. Lewis
of unfairness while acting as chairman OF the
convention. You say he arbitrarily adjourned.
the convention sin defiance of the will OF
the majority of the representatives OF the
district"
Now, sincerely hope that by the time
this reaches you, you will have learned that
you had been misinformed about the matter,
and that the motion to adjourn qc0s m0de 6y
a friend Of the p0gacg Of maolca1g 7aonasnatao71,
and seconded by gentleman holding the
same views Mr.. Elliot, as l am informed,
made the motion, and it was seconded by
Mr.. John A. Noon, and conraed almost uaa071-
Maously.
In your own account of the proceedings
of the convention, published IN the very same
issue of your paper in which you made the
above charge of unfair dealing, you say,
about one o'clock motion was made ana
| carr5ed to adjourn the convention, supJec1 10
| the call of the committee"
| Thus you sec you will not have to go very
| far to get the material for a correction OF the
| incorrect charge which you have made. Ii
you find, upon inquiry, that the above state
| ment of facts is correct l believe from my
knowledge of your character it will afford
you pleasure to publish this correction, with
your endorsation.
Now, one word as to the views which IN
fluenced my father in opposing a nomlna-
ton. And just here suppose it is hardly
necessary to say that it was not on account
of any objection to Maj. Yost, the proposed
standard bearer, for it is well known to al
who know anything about it, that my fathe1
has the highest respect both for Maj. Yostf
personal integrity, and also for his consplcu
GUS ability, and that there is no man III the
district whom he had rather see occupya seat IL
the Congress of the United States. But he saw
clearly that with democratic vote OF sew
enteen thousand against republican vote
five thousand the election OF republican
was out of the question, even though three
democratic candidates were running, an6
even should they divide the democratic Vot'
aDOuI UCbWOOll olAoiiA'
He also saw that if there should be no re
publican nominee the interest of both OF tn
democratic candidates, and also Of their nu
merous friends, would be to help to bring ou
every republican vote. Judge Allen and nl
friends would see to it that all those republl
cans who were for Allen were brought to tn
polls, and armed with poll tax receipt, ant
their gotes counted. And SO it would be witt
Capt Paul and his friends; and thus, IN tn
language of the distinguished candidate 10
the Presidency on the democratic ticket, y;
full vote, q free ballot, and 1alr count,
would be secured.
He was also anxious, here in this district
where he was convinced that republican
stood no earthly chance of being elected, t.
show to the country that republicans, b
they funders or be they readjusters, appreclat
the bold and manly stand taken by the gal
liant Paul in favor of the repeal OF the u1
| constitutional restriction upon the right {
suffrage.
Upon this question, as upon the question
of maintaining the public schools, Capt. Eat
stands square and erect, even though ne Is
democrat of the staunchest kind. And ]
really seems to me that his position upo
these two great questions entitle him to th
s,lpport of all fair and liberal minded mel
no matter to which party they belong.
These, Messrs. Editors, together aosth otht
, obvious reasons, determined my father in h
course, and l am sure no one who know
him will for an instant believe that he use
any other than fair and honorable means
accomplish his purpose.
That there was at Charlottesville any a
g tempt to transfer the republican party !
, the readiusters, as you charge, | cannot IL
q one moment believe; for, in the first place,
seems perfectly obvious to me that the cour
pursued at Charlottesville, in not making
, nomination, will tend greatly to aid tt
t Garfield and Arthur ticket, very much mo
than it helps the readjusters, as l have
tempted to show above.
And in the second place, well know SUI
republicans as Capt e. W. Early, MIR. 70
(. ter, Dr.. Niche, Mr.. G. D. Gray, Capt. A: \
: Lawson, Mr.. A. L. Lindsey, DR.. W. j. Point
, Hon. Jno F. Lewis, and others, too hume
= Gus to mention, would ever be guilty OF II
fraud and folly of trying to sell out the
D publican party, to which they are SO warm
= devoted, and for whose principles some
O them have suffered SO much. This IS re
dered still more improbable when 1t IS w
: known that nearly all OF the gentlemen
e have Just mentioned were tunders IN ota
+ politics Very respt
u D. S. LEWIS,
It Democratic Blunders.
Scarcely is there proposition formulated