Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-09-02
General Wickham's Position.

General W1ckuaM EVSlC1UA'
HE PREFERS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDI-
DATES TO THE ADVOCATES OF REPUDI-
ALTON.
The .Debt- Payer,'' of Richmond, pub
fishes the following letter from Gen. Will
liams C.. Wickham. the leading Republi-
can of Virginia
Dear Sir,-Responding to your request that
I would give you for publication in your pa
Der nv views in regard to the present situa-
ton of political affairs in Virginia:
The prospects of the Republican party of
Virginia were never so bright before as on the
eve Of the last presidential election Its stead
fast course, its strict adhesion to principle, had
elevated it in the opinion OF our people; but
the attack made upon it by parties claiming
to be authorized by the NATIONAL Republican
Committee to withdraw the Republican cleo
toral ticket in favor of the Re-adjuster Han
cock ticket, demoralized our voters, certainly
in nv opinion, to an extent of loss to the Re-
publican ticket of more than The II, 430 votes,
which would have given the State to Garfield
and Arthur.
Though beaten in the election, yet the hon
sty and earnestness of purpose exhibited by
1he great body of the Republicans OF Virginia
in resisting the overtures and threats OF these
men, and the miserable tools in Virginia that
entered into their schemes, won still further
for our party here the respect and esteem
ufour opponents and the whole people of Vir-
:sinia, and we could haye gone into the can
Mass for State officers this autumn with an
almost certainty of success had not the means
Jesorted to by the Re-adjuster party to break
down the Republican organization in this State
resulted in such division of the party at
Ivnchburg as to show those who were labor
ing for the success of Republicanism in Vir
.inia that if a Republican ticket took the field
the time of the canvassers would have to be
devoted to bringing back to the party those
who had been deluded into desertion, instead
of the effort TO win recruits and supporters
from the ranks of those who had been oppos-
ed to them. And had the Republican party
presented an undivided front, as it would have
| done but for the treachery OF some Of its mem
| bers apd the weakness of others, am conf
| dent Chat victory would have this time re-
warded our efforts.
As it is the Republican party finds itself without
candidates in the field for State officers, and its
members ARE free, without any forfeiture OF ailegl
ance to the party to cast their votes according
their Individual preferences, or to abstain alto
| gether from voting for any Of the candidates
| But, in my judgment. no Republican can vote for
| any Of the Re-adjuster candidates without abandon
ing of the most vitality important principles OF
| the Republican party-one on which the party has
4
tering in which, by the National publican party
| would be followed by the instant overthrow Of the
party in the United States refer to the honest
unhesitat1ng support of governmental obligations
| and credit
| "No Republican should touch any Larry tainted
| with Republication" That one Of the parties now
seeking the support of the people Of Virginia il
sstainted with reputation do not think that any
one conversant with the history Of the deot OF Vir
ginia question. They call their process 're-ad
| justment,' and some Of them t'eltmin alton.
| R1tt ba nal ed act
to strike off from the Indebtedness of the State, an6
to refuse pay either principal or interest Of some
ten twelve millions Of the debt OF the State III
addition to what has been assigned to West Virgin
| LAY, which stands to her debt on her own books
which has been recognized as correct by her STATE
officers, and which has been sustained by her high
est court and by the Supreme Court Of the United
States itself. debt which, In the language Of the
platform OF the Republican party Of Virginia. adopt
ed by the Republican convention at Lynchburg, or
August 18th. 1881, created for constructing bel
internal improvements and charitable institutions
which, permeating every quarter in the State bring
benefits of far greater value than their cost to the
| whole people of Virginia..
If this is not reputation OF the very worst KIND
| Suppose they succeed in these efforts against the
credit Of Virginia, will it not have demoral1z1ns
the tone of the whole country, the sane
| tity of governmental obligations? Will it not un
settle the public mind them Will it not encour
age assault upon and indeed endanger, the credi
| of the United States Government itself?
Their candidate for Attorney-General has declar
ed, longer than year ago. for s'vigorous appli
cation Of REIMBURSEMENT principles to the Nationa
! Debit. Their chief leader has, on the floor of thu
United States Senate, said: 81 am not a Democrat
! am not Republican: am Re-adjuster." Theil
party has butone distinctive principle which is thu
disturbance of the State debt. With these s1gnih
| cant expressions on the part Of these leaders, l
| they succeed here can expect anything but ''i
vigorous application their part of the principles
of readjustnent to the national debt, and can any
| one measure form a more fruitful theme to the
demagogue in the South and West than re-adjust
ment OF the national debt l reflect upon 1t will
| horror, and as man and a Republican will res1s
every measure, every party ''ta1nted with repud1a
| tion."
! But again, why should any Republican supper
this Re-adiuster party Has not their every nerve
been strained to destroy the Republican party o.
Virginia.? Do they not refuse to acknowledge ale
glance to the Republican party? Do they not claim
on the stump and elsewhere to be Democrats? Has
not their candidate fof Governor recently declared
| that he a Re.ad1uster Democrat? But the!
| claim to be ssliberaP' Democrats. have known o
| liberal Democrats from time to time since 1910.
have known them sometimes to get Offices by thu
| support of the Whigs and after that prove them
selves the most tll1beral of Democrats. And the1
they talk of Stree ballot and fair count Re
member. they want the votes of the Republicans to
| get into power here. Is it not a clear case of
s'The devil was sick, the devil monk would be-
| The devil got well-the devil monk was he.
| their effort is to tear down the Republican party
here, build their upon its ruins, and certain
| ly will not aid them in their efforts.
| No. If they succeed this fall, the Republican par
AFTER and have not the slightest idea that shoult
they succeed here they would ever form part Of thu
| National Republican party.
Daniel, Barbour and Mckinney. as far less hurtfu
to the best interests Of the State and of the countr,
| than the Re-adjuster candidates. But when this
canvass is shall exert all the zeal possess
resuscitate and re-unite the Republican party o
| Virginia, and bring it to success.
Your obedient servant,
| WINS. G. WICKHAM.