National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-14
Utterances of Strong Men.

! Hon. Simon Cameron and Hon. William
| Z. Chandler have i'll recent published in
| terviews taken very strong grounds in
opposition to the movement for a straight
Republican State ticket in Virginia this
year Mr. Chandler takes the ground
that the paramount fundamental princi-
pie of the Repul lican party is: "That
every citizen shall have the free right to
cast his vote as he likes and have it
honestly counted" He says that unless
the party "adheres to this principle,
gives it first place and secures for it final
success, it Will go to pieces, and ought
to 60" He expresses the opinion
that as this principle is being hon
estly and effectively contended for
by the Readjusters that therefore
the Republican party must and will in
evitably cooperate with General Malone:
and, if so, he will naturally cooperate with
the Republican party, not as Republican
himself but as an Independent Demo-
crat, &c. Mr.. Chandler finds no embar-
rassment for the Republicans in General
Mahonc's attitude on the debt question.
He thinks the Readjusters more correct
on this than the Bourbons, and that the
Republicans should cooperate with the
former in the interest of free speech and
a free ballot without regard to other
issues. He closes by saying: "As Mr..
Garrison so forcibly said, I stand by man
and his liberty as of more Importance
than money and its uses"
Simon Cameron was asked by United
States District Judge Hughes, of Virginia,
the question: "How can Southern Re-
publicans then keep from sympalhizing
with such a movement as that of Ma
hone's?" He replied: From your state
ment Of the situation, [ do not see how
any Republican can hesitate as to his
duty" And of General Malone and his
party he said: "Such man and element
in q Southern State does more for the
freedmen and the Republican party than
the National Government could with
standing army.
Judge Hughes was one Of thirty-nine
citizens who, in 1879, issued an address
insisting that the State could pay its debt
of thirty millions, with six per cent. i'll
terest. He says it met no response eX-
cept denunciation by all sides; and that
now, since one OF the signers has left the
State, he does not know of but thirty
seven other men in Virginia besides him.
self who maintain that position on the
debt question.
Judge Hughes is a wise, patriotic and
sagacious man. His utterances should
have great weight among the Republi-
cans of Virginia and of the whole coun-
try. He says:
deem it an unwise thing, thing which Re-
publicans ought not to do, TO organize against
party that has fought the important fight against
the national nuisance which have described.
No one knows better than General Malone
thatthe Republicans as party do not agree with
him or his party i'll the views habtually ascribed
10 them the subject Of the State debt and re-
gard his late publication explaining his position
OH that question a homage which lie felt i'm
PEELED to offer to the objections of Republicans to
him on that score. l think that paper was in a
large degree successful, and regard the issue now
being fought between his party and the Bourbon
Democrats so mixed that it will be difficult
for a plain man. wishing to be guided by princi- |
pies rather than by professions, to know with con-
fidence how TO decide and to vote between them |
upon the debt question.
The reasons have given for objccting to the |
Republican party being organized for warfare |
upon the Readiuster movement in Virginia this |
year have been inspired by an elevated motive of !
patriotism. have also partisan reason as a Re-
publican, for so doing. Unless General Garfield's
shall succeed in dsintegrating the |
Solid South is it not obvious that Republican |
success in the presidential election of 1854 is seri-
Ously endangered? The South being solid for the |
Democratic party, then the result of the election
viii again depend upon the vote of the single |
State of New York.
Is it sound condition of things fer the result !
Of national election in great country as ours
to be universally known TO depend upon the vote |
Of single State however large? As a Republican |!
am not willing to hazard the supremacy of our |
party in the Union again upon so doubtful an is /
sue, upon so narrow q theatre. Thrice welcome !
% me as Republican and as an American is this /
movement of General Mahone's and, indeed, any
which promises TO break up so PERM /
,ious a thing US the Solid South" and to over !
hrow the only dangerous enemy of the National .
Republican party of which we have any fear.
Our CITY is peculiarly subject to the /
earping criticisms of correspondents. We |
have such tribe of them here that it is
seldom indeed that some newspaper is
not spreading before its readers some sort