The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-13
The Policy Of the Republican Party
of virginia.

The Policy Of the Republican Party
of Virginia.
Several prominent Republican papers out 1
side Of Virginia, have recently manifested
some solcitude about the policy of the Re-
publicans of this State in the campaign of
this year, and have intimated a desire to
see them unite with Gen. Mahone's fol
lowers. 1t Is well enough at this early
day In the year and before the lines have
been strictly drawn between the organiza-
tions. that will likely enter that contest. to
give the assurance that the Republican par
ty will maintain Its distinct and positive or
ganization, and will not be made cOnve-
nience for either of the Democratic fac
tons. There could be no possible justifi-
cation for the suggestion OF the papers to
which we refer. unless Gen. Malone pro-
poses in some way to identify himself with
the Republican party. Should that be his
determination there will be no difficulty in
the way. We, however. have seen no init
nation that would warrant sSS6 conclu-
sion. 1t is the purpose. through the infiu-
ence Of certain Republican papers. and GER
tain Republican politicians. to urge the Re-
publicans Of Virginia to surrender their po-
litical identity, and allow thcdieelves to be
used by Gen Malone and his followers for
their own ends. and to promote the interest
That Democracy was sufficiently declared
In the recent Presidential canvass. He and
his friends supported the nominees Of the
Democratic National Convention. and OPP
posed the nominees Of the Republican Ma
tional Convention. Had the result been
ia, orab'e to Hancock they would have AS
serted claim to recognition by the
Democratic administration. But inasmuch
as it was not, and the candiiatesfGen. Ma
hone opposed were elected, 1t is now pro-
posed that the Republicans OF Virginia.
whom he antagonized in 1880. shall bring
their 81 600 votes to aid his 81 900 votes in
establishing, in 1881 his authority in all the
DEPARTMENTS OF government in the State
This looks most too much like the noun
tain going to Mahommed. The Republicans
of Virginia have had no occasion to re-
nOunce the principles OF their party. They
are pronounced in the views they maintain
as to national and State policy, and if it is
the wish Of Gen. Malone to carry Out either.
then the proper and most direct way to do
so would be to unite with the Republicans
for that purpose The Republicans are not
ohoy cd oR h.,;r ;to ~
pies. They have endured the most mali
cious Misrepresentation and denunciation
because Of their open and undisguised iden-
tity with the Republican cause. and it is
time when the best sentiment In the nation
has endorsed it. and when the judgment of
| the best element OF the oppo-ition in Vir-
ginia is debating whether 1t is not better to
surrender their preiudices to their convic
| ton OF principle and policy. If because
the I. olored vote of the State is the larger
part of the Republican strength, the sensi-
bilities OF gentlemen "ili not permit them
to become identified with the Republican
party 1T is not to be presumed that those who
because Of this.ar going to condemn them
selves and prove traitors to their principles,
| to crafty this squeamish sentimentality.-
So long as the colored voters of Virginia
use the suffrage for conservative ends and
the promotion of good goyernment-so long
as they support the laws and Constitution
Of the country and vote to preserve the
good faith Of the Commonwealth in the
pledges 1t has made, We can see no reason
or sense In asking them to desert the Re-
| publican pa rty AMI become the willing or
| unwilling instruments for advancing the
schemes OF the Democratic party, let it
come in whatever disguise it may.
The Republicans of Virginia have not
forgotten the black and base treaehery that
WAS attempted to be practiced upon them
in the last hours Of the recent Presidential
campaign. Nor will they be very apt to
forgive the parties who sought to transfer
| them from the support of their own ma
| tional nominees to that OF the Democratic
candidates in order TO further the selfish
ends of designing place-hnnters They will
not forget the despicable device, which con-
templated treachery to principle and organ
ization. and the qualification Of every Re-
publican in Virgin ia ia "a abandonment OF
his party and its representatives at the bid
ding OF a conspiracy. which had not single
| re leeming feature In it. 1t was deliber-
ate scheme. to transfer, through Republi-
can strength, the electoral vote OF Virginia
from Garfield to Hancock. concocted and
attempted to be executed in defiance of the
recognized Republican Organization of the
State, and the instinct. honor and self-re-
spect Of every member OF it, who chose to
believe that Republican principles and the
Republican candidates were preferable to
Democratic plots and Democratic eandi-
dates. This remembrance Of itself should
warn Republicans against ali coalitions or
combinations, ich do not accept the
name. the principles and policies of the Re-
publican party. Gen. Malone owes his
seat in the United States Senate to Republi-
can votes in the Legislature. The whole
Re-adjuster regime in the basement Offices
of the State, and in the county judiciary.
is due to Republican votes. Where have
Republicans been benefited by these dona-
tions? Some half dozen, in both Of these
lines Of service, had acted with the Repub-
lican party. and the balance of them Re
adjuster Democrats Now it Is proposed
that the whole Republican party. by its last
vote $4,000. but with its strength equal to
10000. when fully qualified and brought
out, shall strike their colors and 90 over.
bag and baggage, to the 81 600 Re-adjus-
tiers, forsaking their party name, identity
and principles. that they may contribute to
the promotion Of those who have from time
immemorial warred against them, and had
as much to do, il not more, than any 9TH
ers. to place upon the statute books. the UNI
just legislation which discriminates against
the poor people of the Commonwealth.
both white and black. because they are
poor.
Apart from the humiliating and disgrace
full position the Republicans OF Virginia
would occupy by such a surrender, and
apart from mere party policy, there are
other interests of eoral imnortanca ond