The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-09
The Proposed Conference.

The Proposed Conference.
Richmond now has its political sensation.
and that is the proposed assembling of the
State Committees and the Presidential
electors of the two wings of the late Con-
servative party, to consider proposals or
suggestions for a fusion. We publish else
where the correspondence between Mai.
A. Koiner. Chairman of the Funder faction,
and Gen. VIM. Malone, Chairman of the
Re- adjuster faction, which came to hand
since the article on the TROUBLES of the
Virginia Democracy" was prepared and
in the compositor'> hands. 1t will be seen
from it that the 18th of September and not
October. is fixed for the time of meeting,
and it will also be noticed that the entire
movement is an emanation from the Wood
stock plan of fusion, which has been before
the people for several months, without at
tracing attention or receiving demon
not in the secrets of either faction, but we
express the opinion here that there will be
no coalition or fusion, and that the fight will
60 on until the I'd day of November next
Gen. Malone will submit to no compromise.
for the simple reason that he cannot afford
it. An unqualified surrender is the only
| condition upon which he can treat and to
submit to that would be political death to
| every prominent Funder in the State. They
would not be recognized as equals in the
6 ,:&I II
sey, Wise, Williams, FulkersOn, and their
like, and consequently they would not sub
nit to the humiliation which would neces-
| sarily follow mere tolerance of their
presence that they might swell the victo-
rious and Wanting column which would
march under Mahone's orders-captives in
| the rear of the triumphant train of his
| entree into absolute dominion over the pol
Re-adjusters when they were incOntinently
read out of the party by the Lowell Com
mittee last fall, went deep down in their
very consciousness. 1t was an insult they
will never forget nor forgive. and no condi
tions will ever be consented to by
them which do not carry along with them
the fullest revenge. The attempt to effect
coalition upon terms OF equality would
| disrupt both of the organizations, for what
ever the leaders might determine, for the
wise satisfy the rank and file, especially OF
the Re-adjusters, who are yet smarting I'M
der the sting of the political disgrace that
was attempted to be fixed upon them.
An important fact of future import, but
of practical bearing in the present contest,
must be considered. 1t is not so much the
Presidential stake the Re-adjusters are con-
tending for as the possession of the State
N all the departments of government, next
year. That is the prize Of paramount con-
sderation, and in dickering for the bird in
the bush they might lose the bird in hand.
All the indications now point to the inter
rout Of the Democratic party in the Presi-
dental election. 1t is safest to base calcu-
lations on this premise. With a Republican
administration Senator Maho ne would have
much more influence as an independent,
than as the assumed leader in the defeated
Democratic party. His political indvidu-
ality would not only be compromised in
national affairs. but he would lose his hold
upon Republican Re-adjusters in the can
vass of next year, an jeopardize his sue
cess in the loss of confidence that would
follow his Identification with the Bourbon ell
ement which is now arrayed against him.
He cannot afford to offend his Republican
Re-adjuster following. in State matters. 1t
would be to him fatal p.for with this ell
ement estranged, the Funder faction would
offer terms exceeding in liberality anything
he has yet suggested, and possibly might
consummate coalition that would sweep
the State.
We cannot see, therefore, how d fusion
can be effected, without much more dan
ger to the Re-adjusters than benefit. The
Funders would accept most anything, and
what they would accept the Re-adjusters
cannot afford to offer.
We conclude that the proposed confer
ence will be waste of time and paten ce,
and that it will close with the two factions
facing each other with scalping knife and
war paint