Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-10-01
The Peoples Plan of Union Defeated.

10 WC CONSERVATIVE DeWsOCT0Cy " FWyftGW
The Democratic and Republican parties
in Virginia, in conformity with unbrOken
custom, assembled this year in State con-
ventions, chose delegates to the national
conventions of their respective parties,
designated their electoral tickets, and
adopted platforms of principles enuncia-
ting their several views on national affairs.
Those delegates sought and obtained ad-
mission iutO their respective national con-
ventlons, shared the duties thereof, and
participated in pacing before the people
the names now challenging public support
for the presidency and vlce-preSidency of
the United States.
On the 7th of July, 1880. several weeks
after both Of the national conventions had
adjourned, and the canvass on both sides
had opened throughout the Union, State
convention assembled in the City Of Rich
mond, composed indiscriminately Of DEM
ocrats and Republicans, of men preferring
| the success of Garfield, and men preferring
| the success of Hancock. and of not few
whose political convictions set 80 lightly
on their shoulders that they were entirely
| indifferent whether they supported either
or no ticket at all.
ONLY one purpose inspired this heterOge-
Deous gathering, however diversified its
constitution-t0 wit, the destruction OF
the Conservative party by whatever means
and with whatever allies that end might
be comprised. In this pursuit the Repub-
licans only differed from their allies in
that they had been their pioneers for eleven
wears in the same desire and labor.
This convention chose new electoral
ticket, and adopted a platform of princi-
pies from which national issues were stu
diOusly excluded, they expressed the Opln-
| ion that the Democratic candidate would
be more likely to advance those State is
sues than the Republican, and therefore
| instructed their electors to support Han
cock and English.
This action. framed and fitted to antag-
onize the regular Democratic ticket IN VIZ
ginia, met with an early and generous well
come at the hands of the Republican press
and leaders throughout the Union, beyond
! the Commonwealth; and has recently re-
ceived equal applause from the Radlcal
papers within the State, presenting, as 1t
manifeStly did, the most feasible and etfec-
| tive plan for the loss OF the State to the
Democratic party common object OF
both wings Of the 7th of July convention
and for the dissolution Of that great Con-
servatiye organization in Virginia which
originally rescued, and has hitherto pre-
served the State from Radical misrule.
The scheme excited the gravest appre-
tensions of the Democratic people OF the
Commonwealth, who OWNED the purpose,
since openly avOWed. by its Republican
supporters to divide the Democratic
strength of Virginia, and when the gulf
became impossible to consolidate the he
publican party and carry the State. With
in the Commonwealth prudential reasons
have produced general silence as to this
So lo,,< no toco
press of other States has avOwed this hope
and purpose, echoing the confident predic-
ton of the leading Republican paper OF the
Union, the New York Times that the
| Virginia Republicans would certainly de-
feat their divided opponents"
No one familiar with the state of parties
| in Virginia can doubt the possibility of
such result; no one acquainted with the
desperate fortunes of the Republican par
| ty can doubt that this result will be
sought.
The effort to avert this party disaster,
which may involve the loss of the Union,
has engaged the reflection of every pa
triotic citizen in every quarter; it being
Justly thought that it would be GROWING
disgrace to this faithful Democratic Com
monWealth should her vote be lost, and at
the same time the hope of Democratic
triumph in the Uuion, by her detection,
be blasted.
The union of the Democracy on fusion
ticket is the simple and easy exit out OF
the peril; and after much individual specu-
lation as to the method a mass meeting OF
citizens Of the populous county OF Shenan-
doah unanimously suggested that the
State committees of the two parties pro-
Tossing to support Hancock and English
should unite in placing an electoral ticket
| in the field, to be composed of five electors
from each :.of the existing tickets,
pledged to Hancock and English, the
eleventh electOr to be chosen by the Ma
tional Democratic COMMITTEES; and the
promoters unanimously pledged themselves
to support ticket thus constituted.
The chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, earnestly DESTROYS and singly
concerned to unite the Democratic people
on one ticket On terms of fairness to all,
requested meeting of the 18th of July
committee with his own to consider this
plan of fusion.
The committee met in separate session,
on the 18th of September, and the Demo-
cratic committee promptly communicated
to the other committee its willingness to
accept the plan proposed by the people of
Shenandoah; but, cautious lest the known
disavoWal by the other committee of all
allegiance to the National Democracy
should furnish excuse for objection to
settlement of such intrinsic fairness, the
the other committee preferred, to submit
the choice of the eleventh electOr to lot,
rather than to the National Committee.
This proposition was. after much delay,
rejected in any and every form; and the
rejection, coupled with the avOwal that
the peoples plan would be refused by them
however presented-that no fusion ticket
would be accepted, however framed!
An easy, equitable, and certain method
of ensuring the vote Of Virginia was by
this action hopelessly defeated. Eleven
electoral votes which might thus by an
honorable and just arrangement have been
placed beyond the chance of loss were de-
liberately put in peril, and the unpatriotic
purpose OF perpetuating and exasperating
the existing divisions among Virginia De-
mocrats was with bold effrOntery avOWed.
II they had stopped here credence might
have been given to the gasconade as to
their strength as the excuse for this ex-
traordinary repulse of an honest effort for
peace; but the fundamental purpose of the
leaders being, as we have stated, the de-
struction of the Conservative Democratic
party Of the StaGe, they could not separate
without disclosing it. They accordingly
proposed, as the only scheme they would
condescend to accept, the holding, fort
night id advance Of the presidential elec-
ton, of private election in Virginia, in
which there should be but TWO tickets in
the field-tLe Democratic and ReadJuster
tickets-permitting every registered voter,
qualified or not, to vote therein, irrespec-
tive of his politics, and declaring the tick
ct chosen at lsuch a poll the true Demo-
cratic ticket in Virginia.
The committee had convened at the in
stance of the people to compose strife; here
was a proposal to renew and embitter it.
They had assembled to settle Democratic