Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-07-14
The Readjasfer Conference.


Saturday with Readjustefs and Radi-
Gals of every complexion in color and
shade of opinion, but in personnel they
do not differ from the people We saw
here in December last, either as men,
bers elected TO the General Assembly
by these two factions or as their hungry
hangers-os who had followed them ap
to the Capitol in search Of Office or 10
receive in some shape their promised
share Of the spolls. That they should
also be the first to gather at this
Barmecidian feast of wind is not
strange, as they are either officers of
the State, who can afford to give the
time paid for by the Commonwealth to
this sort of work, OF they are meE who
have little else to do, and are therefore
willing to have their expenses paid for
the work that is expected Of them.-
These will constitute the real body OF
the convention. They are the picked
aud chosen men to do the work. They
are Mahone's men, who will direct and
control the action OF the body and carry
out the orders OF their chief. The other
persons who have been invited and will
take part IN the proceedings, but withs
out any power over its action, will be
the Conservative Raadjusters, who de-
sire aud intend to vote aud act with the
Conservative party Of the State. These
will no doubt make a strong and patri-
otic effort to have the conference deo
clare for the electoral ticket already
regularly In the field, aud placed there
by the legitimate action of tue party on
the 10th Of May. These have their
own views on the debt question, but do
not believe 1t should be made an issue
in the coming national contest. They
hold that the question is merely local
one for final settlement in the CoRser-
vative party itself, and by the Con-
servative party, and that it would be
one OF the greatest political crimes Of
the age for Virginia now to defeat the
hopes and aspirations of the Democracy
Of the country, after struggle OF twen-
ty years, by dividing up her vote on this
question in such a manner as to give
the State 10 the Radicals IN November.
We know that this is the sentiment of
at least three out OF four of the Con-
servatlye Readjusters of the State, aud
could the people who hold these views
have fair representation in the body
which meets tomorrow, and could they
possibly control its action, we know
that they would simply ratify the ticket
now in the field and adjourn, leaving
the settlement Of the debt question to
State elections next summer, where it
legitimately belongs anywhere in our
politics, State or Federal /; but this was
the fear of the Malone party, the ''Mo-
zart Hallers," and they have fully pro-
vided against 1t by packing the con
ference" or conYention with men OF
their own extreme views and intentions,
who will carry them out 10 the utter
most. Tue honest-meaning Conser-
vatives who intend to remain true to
their party in the presidential election
will, therefore, have no standing in this
body, or rather they will have nopower
over its acton, and shall consequently
expect to see them withdraw from it, If
not in body, why in detail. and range
themselves where they belong, side by
side in the Conservative party, willing
aud ready to do good service shoulder
to shoulder with US for the Democratic
party of the country in November, and
share in the glory Of that victory which
is now ioregone conclusion, and which
must result IN placing Gen. Winfield
| Scott Hancock IN the presidential chair.
That these Conserva tive members OF
this so.called convention, which can
only be conference, as it meets with,
out authority, and has no recognition
from either the Conservatiye-Demo
cratic party of the State or the Demo-
cracy of the country, will have no in'
duence in the body and cannot shape
| any of its action, they will very soon
discover. 1t is not intended they should
have. 1t does not come within the
puryiew of the purposes OF the Ma
bone party" that they should have
anything to say or do except to follow
blindly the lead and obey the orders oil
its chief, of that chief who is the en-
bodiment of the party he has formed by
combining the few dIscontesied eles
ments OF the Conservative party OF the
State with the Radical negroes ot tue
black districts. Malone will not listen
to any terms for a compromise by which
he must give up his negro allies. These
are of too great Importance TO him ID
the near future 10 be deserted now, and
he will not desert them. Therefore,
t the "unpledged ticket" will be resorted
to as the safest device to weld his mixed
crew together. 1t is most convenient
+ one-a Janus. faced invention that can
be made to suit the easy views OF both
, wings Of his following. To the negro
' it will represent Garfield and Arthur
under promise that the electoral vote
shall be cast that that way If necessary;
aud to the Democratic ReadJuster II
= will be explained that It's really Tor
i Hancock, and to fool the negroes
' What mouse.trap sort of concern II
1 would be were the business not over
. done, and If the General had only "
4 ..sI.f