The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-14
Communicated.

EDITOR OF THE VIRGINIAN, .stl.ss !
Sir.-Iwas pleased to see your article on "bossIsm
last week. but think your coffee q little too weak
You say sthe republicans do not intend Z
submit 70 that kind of political tyranny. This II
well said, and fndorse 1t. But sir, have you no
submitted to boss for years? Let US see. I'M
Hon. John F. Lewis, before the war, whilst denounc
ing the republican party, bossed slaves, ana, per
haps would have been that sort OF q boss until tnis
day had not tho republican party drove the insutu
ton out of existence. When this was done, ana Inc
republican party came Into power wsr 1ce s 70 a No
about the year 1869 assumed the BOSS snip OF sno re
publican party in Virginia. And how has ne possee
1t? look about you, you will lind that by MS ire
auent travels to Washington he has held the ear o.
the Executive the exclusion OF older and DeIter re
publcans and the appointments maze IN tnis S.ate
the interests OF JOHN and the clan OF LeDiS he mas
used the republican party as mill to grind gr1sts
pointed his brothers. his sons his son-in-law, aye
not only blood relations but those connecteo wan
him by marriage to the incalculapie injury OF tne
republican party In this State.
Now hold that any man holding nigh omclal
position who Will receive gifts, appoint his fol-
tves to office unit for the position ne n0ius. Gov
eminent, but the PEOPLE and therefore. inc onces
hould be distributed among the people, ana nov
among families should think that one Important
oce ought to suffice for one family where there are
many who are willing and anxious TO serve their
country In that line.
country the President has set his lace against
"bossism" and the he turns his attentlou TO
Virginia bossism the better for the repupcan parry
and the whole country. That indeed would DO re-
freshfng.
Now to the question: Are you determined that
this thing shall be broken up? Are you determined
to have republican ticket in the feld? so. then,
in my opinion, there Is but one way to do T. Sue
cess cannot be reached In any other way and that -
to refuse at to sit In council or convention with
readusters. Allow none but stratghtout republicans
to be on duty now. II you are overpOwered at any
point by the tricks of readjusters (and they have
many) withdraw at once and forthwith assemble at
some other point giving notice that none but true,
stratghtout republicans will be permitted to take
Thus would you 'slet it be known everywhere that
the republicans OF Virginia not for sale, that
they do not to under the yoke OF the
without even asking their consent; but that they
propose to stand firm to their organization, their
principles and their integrity 6
Life death Is In this struggle. Either the repub
can or the read1uster party In this State must per-
ish. AS for myself my mind Is made up-sink or
lican ticket. The readtusters understand this,
hence their solicitude and with determination 70
If possible prevent the republicans from placing
candidates In the field. They know their weakness
and 1t Is to cover this weakness the effort is made
And now, II the fmpudence Of the Hon. John F..
Lewis was sufficient to induce him to seat himself
chairman of the republican central committee at
Richmond after having accepted the nomination
made by the read1uster party, what will be the
measure of impudence to be displayed by the rank
and file OF this party in this contest.
l say then, bewarel Taking this as an example,
their impotence will be suflcient to intrude them
selves Into your meetings to disorgantze and rus-
trate your proceedings Your only safety is in cut
ting loose from all entangements with readtusters
Their profession of liberal principles all sham
If it was not they would be in the republican
party. And what do they present for eur approval
beside what they have 1lched from the republican
platform? Two new planks. The one degrading to
the State the other corrupting the very fountain of
political power. They propose to repudiate por-
an Of the State debit for disguise It as you may, su
gar coat 1t you will, 1t Is repudation pure and
simple, The republican party is debt paying par
ty and for that reason no republican can act with
the readJuster party without violating or denying
Its principles and thereby FORGETTING all allegiance to
It, What is the other plank? The offices. Who ever be-
lore heard In this commonwealth, until this party
sprang up, Its stump orators offering offices
ward for votes? Every officer from road master up
TO the court of appeals is to be displaced and read
justers put In That their language Is there any
thing more corrupting? Why not offer money, 1t is
the same thing, it Is no more a bride.
And thus invited down to this feast Of spois
down from the high plano the republican party
has occupied for twenty years. to this degrading
plane In order to pull chestnuts out of the fire for
and cover the weakness Of the readJuster party. /
have no objection to men following their convictions
and II there are any who have heretofore been re-
publ1cans and who are now read1usters, would ap-
prize them Of the fact that their candidates
In the field and that they have the right to support
them In any legal way, but from the time they make
the readJuster party from that moment they be-
come reaa1usters and nothing else They have lost
all claim to recognition by republicans, have no
rights in their organizations or conventions, be-
cause the parties antagonstic; gravely so, for
the integrity Of the State is involved in the issue be-
tween them. This being 80, would mans political
honesty go unquest1oned, who would enter rspub-
ltcan meeting In order to slaughter it, for the benefit
Of the readJuster party? Can you estimate the de-
gree Of impotence required to induce man to go
Into republican meeting and there endeavOr to
control Its action in the interest Of another pary
One would suppose that there were none so ignorant
of the rules Of propriety of the etiquette existing
should exist In the intercourse between parties
70 do such thing But let me tell you, the leaders
II the readjuster party now the trot, endeav
BRING to seduce all the republicans with whom they
meet. They may seduce some, and the business |
now tp hand is, to to 1t that none OF those who
Ire seduced shall have any control influence in
republican assemblies. wish to impress this upon
7ou, for here the danger lies. Call none together
out strafghtout republicans, for they the only
,nes to be trusted in this emergency. Have council
With none other. Let me repeat Gin this course |
les your only safety" Dtckering with read1usters
8 a hazardous experiment., we saw the blossom In |
he United States Senate and now have the fruit
N the Presidential mansion. rl
Place the ticket in the field, and then shall have
10 fears, the republicans will be in line the day
If election. But on the other hand If the republi-
IAN party through the treachery of its leaders is
doomed to destruction, then can only lament the
calamity the corruption Of the times has entaled,
md take comfort In the fact that Its glorious 1
cannot be reversed, Its principles
9radicated from the hearts Of man. And Whatever
ate may await the parties myself think 1t hard
" possible for me to be found acting with the read
listers, Dennis Kearney wing Of the Democratic |
parity 5f 5AA REPUBLICAN.