National Republican., 1880-04-23
VIRaINIA CONTENTION.
Views OF nm Observer at the staunton Moot
ing

ing
Staunton, which Is the county scat of
Augusta county, Va, Is very favorable
locality, per Sc, for the holding Of State con-
vontion. Asa central point it Is rather Off
from the centre, but, like everything else in
this world, IL Is not as locality, without its
mpensatons. In tho first place IL has an
elevation of somo 1900 fect above tide
watGr with a pure, invigorating atmosphere
that is provoking to appetite and sleep.
This is against the hotel interest, OK
cept that it removes all daintiness re-
lating TO food and makes tho guest
satisfied with tho quantity without any ques.
tions relating to quality. But lest this re-
mark might be regarded as invidious toward
mine host of the Virginian Hotel, IL is but
just 10 say that the tablsr was far superior to
the average State convention spread. Staun.
ton has q population of some 6O00 Intelligent
and enterprising people with largo local mer-
camille trade. II has spacious and neatly
ftted-up opera-house, with seating capacity
of 1,0O0 and with an auditorium that reflects
fair skill and taste in arrangement and orna'
mentation. This is where the Virginia State
convention was held yesterday aud the day
bofore tho general history of which comes to
the readers of The REPUBLICAN over the
wires.
The convention was called to appoint dele
gates 10 the Chicago Convention. Its duties
were really few and simple, but the delegates
seemed to have acceptea their trust with tho
impression that much hard labor WAS expected
of them, as tho first day was devoted to the
organization, and when 2 o'clock on the fol-
lowing morning was reached tho convention
had not omaucipated Itself from Its primary
condition, the permanent chairman not hav-
ing yet been chosen II would DO difficult to
get u correct census of the number OF dis
tinct speeches made, for they ran into each
4
could not be distinctly discerned. Not one
minute elapsed from 12 o'clock at noon down
to o'clock the next morning, except whom the
roll was being called, in which the opera
house was not filled with the resounding
tones of an enthusiastic aud eloquent de.
camor. 1t was q rare treat for reasonable
length Of time, but the ear will tire of the
rich flow of continuous tide Of eloquence, no
matter how fascinating an hour or two Of that
character Of entertainments may be. II teaches
that there may be too much Of good thing
However much Virginia may have dcgenerated
in other respects, ii is evident that its fOun-
tain of debate has not diminished under the
advancing tread of timn. This accounts of
the tardiness with which the convention pro-
ceeded to accomplish the business involved in
tho terms of the call--tliat of appointing dele.
gates to tho National Convention, appointing q
Republican State Central committee, and per-
haps the implied duty of presenting the people
with declaration Of principles.
| The spirit of the con ve-tion was varied and
somewhat profuse, and for that reason it was
rather diAicult OF ninuagenicnt. Tho idea
seems to have impressed itself at the outset
that it was the duty of the convention TO do
something unusual, and put in nomination n
straightout electoral ticket in advance of the
Chicago nomination, that it might bo caro-
fully laid away in u safe place for Use when
tho campaign shall have fairly opened Issue
| was readily taken on this proposition, as
quite unusual and uncallod-for by any pond
| ing necessity, aud II was at this point that the
convention began in about equal numbers to
divide and diyerge. The reasons given for this
proposition were mainly that the Republicans
of Virginia should 20 to the people with a
straightout electoral ticket, and that this
ticket should be selected at once lest tho Re-
| adjusters might interpOso and form ticket
| that could be tampered with, aud which, ii
| elected, could not be strictly relied upon for
| tho Republican nominee when the time for
tho meeting of tho Electoral College should
arrive. A fear that the Readjusters, under
the lead of General Malone, might swallow
the Republican party of Virgnia-and in that
way it might lose Its distinct identity and
| power-was strongly impressed upon q por-
| tion of tho delegates. These seemed to be the
chief reasons advanced by the supporters OF
| imm ediate action in tho nomination of All
electoral ticket. The fcar Of General Mahone
and his action was as affective to a portion o
| the Republicans In tho convention as the
third-term scare-crow is to chronic scratcher
On the other hand, full one.balf and perhap.
more of tho convention held that the nomina.
tion of an electoral ticket now Is premature
| and is liable to weaken tho Republican cause
| in tho State; that by deftrrng il circumstances
might occur which would contribute strength
to tho Republican ticket to degree that
would secure its certain success at the ballot
box; that delay would leopard nothing, while
precipitate action might work mischievously
In the way of diminishing the certainty oil
success. That sdo held that 1t would be
equivalent to shutting the door of the Repub
licau party in the face of those Read listers who
| had formerly been Democrats but who had now
encamped outside that organization, and might
hud It agreeable under invitation, or If not
! absolutely Tvpoiivu, 10 aiiy themselves 10 the
! Republican cause and aid in redeomiug tho
| State, This class of Republicans seem to ap.
preciate what tho Malone Readjusters have
| done to broak down the Bourbon power in the
State, and thus opon tho door of hope to Re.
publican supremacy. They contended that an
Immediate nomination of an electoral ticket
should not DO made, for the further reason
that the Democratic press throughout the State
arc advising aud urging 1t, aud it is never
| safe to listen to tho cOunsels of An open enemy.
1
shape, and how II came out In the ond the
published proceedings will show. 1t is to
| be hoped that tho event as IL may appear is
| tho wisest that could havo boen reached under
| tho circumstances The Democrats fear q
coalition on the National ticket with tho Re-
adjustors for that would render their defeat
inevitable in the coming election, and the
most surprising thing connected with Virginia
politics Is that this fact is lost sight of by any.
body in preparing for the canvass. IL is good
politics to secure every possible advantage
over the foe that does not involve absolute
dishonor, and it ia bad politics to allow per-
sonal ambition or prejudice to blind the judg-
ment so as to lot honorable opportunities slip
| through the fngors unused.
! It Is but truth and Justice to say that
while the Grant feeling In the convention ap-
poarcd to predominate largely, there was an
evident Blaine following of respectable pro-
portions. Ifthere was any Sherman strength
| In the convention IL did not crop TO the sur.
| face in very distinct manifestations He may
nevertheless be tho darker horse of tho three
in Virginia, aud develop future strength
not now manifest.
II was suggested, whom the convention
drowned itself in its own boisterousness, that
President Hayes is largely responsible for this
condition of things, for the reason tina. he has
not strictly and rollgiou5ly enforced his civil.
service order relating to tho intorGcrenGo Of
Federal officials in the primary political action