Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-19
Affairs on the Virginia Side,

THE READJUSTER COALITION-NOT A HEALTHY
ONE-sACRIFIcE OF PRINCIPLE By THE REPUB
LICANs-vlEws OF AN OLD LINE REPUBLICAN.
Correspondence of the EVENING STAR.
FALLS CHURCH, VA, Sept 10. 1881.
The readjuster primary meeting referred to in
my last. and for which the notices were posted
the same day on which the republican primary
was held. met. Both primaries were called to
elect delegates to a county convention to nom
mate a candidate for the house of delegates
The readjuster primary, though called to meet
on the Tuesday following the republican pri-
mary, the delegates which that primary should
elect were to attend a readjuster county conven-
ton to assemble one day before the republican
county convention. This WAS regarded as a move
ment to forestall the action Of the republican
county convention by our republican primary
meeting, and it was denounced as such by all who
spoke in it except the two cOlored men. AS
understand the matter, the Malone state
convention that nominated the state ticket
and which the republican state convention in
kind of halfway manner renOminated decided
that the house of delegates, where the repub-
licans in a district had more votes than the re-
adjusters, the republicans were to nominate and
the readjusters were to support the nomination.
but when the readusters had the most votes
they were to nominate the candidate and the
republicans were to support the nomination.
This arrangement was made by the readiusters
themselves and the fact that it seemed about to
be disregarded in our county, where the rep
lican vote was some thirteen or fourteen hun
dred to the readjuster vote between two or
three hundred. was what gave rise to the rather
pugnacious spirit in our republican primary.
The delegation was instructed to vote for no
candidate for house of delegates except he was
known to be republican.
The readjusterS in the county evidently got
scared and their convention did not nominate
candidate. but appointed committee to confer
with one from the republican convention if one
Oh, Il H.,
committee of conference was prepared with
candidate named Graham. who was of republi-
can antecedents, but now an officer in the DEM
Ocratic readjuster club in his locality He was
not known to the republicans. and the commit
tee refused to nominate him. but nominated r.
Farr, the present democratic readiuster mem
Der of the house of delegates. and a portion of
our Falls Church delegation violated instruc-
tons in nominating Farr. l must say for Farr
that he is very liberal democrat. think, too,
that Farr was the democratic readjuster dark
horse in his county.
Now, what is the prospect? Some of the DEM
ocratic readjusters. l understand have said that
they aim to use the republicans. and when they
1all TO do that, the thing is up. They all openly
say tina they are democrats and do not intend
to be anything else. They keep up their own
organization distinct from the republicans a cir
cumstance not favorable to enthusing both par
ties in this quasi coalition, for success. 1t is
simply an arrangement not arising from cher
ou Pi'hssPio, 81 HULL dts d uesIe W nithe
something in the Way of position or spos by
both parties. but the democrats are playing the
sharpest part in it.
But have no thought that this loose selfish,
scarcely justifiable combination of forces even
with the most INSCRIPTIONS, political morality,
will succeed Trading for places. when the dis
tnctive time honOred principles must be laid
aside, is bad business Republicans have now
place and power in the nation by answering adj
herence tor years to the noblest principles, and
when they drop them in state or locality their
prestige before the people. and all good claim
Tor their support are gone. 1t is said that a
union to break up the bourborn party. or to
throw it out of power is a purpose based on
principle sufficient to justify it. l think not
A union found on full platform of principles
antagoniZlng the sentiments in full of the bour-
bons would do. folshen the elements would be
s0lidihed into a party. have no principles to
trade, to lay down and take up as circumstances
may appeal to selfish interests s