The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-07-20
Conservative Democratic Committee

CONSERVATIVE DomOcrdLlc SOHluIoeo0
Atelegram received after the close OF our
forms last Wednesday night announced the
failure of the estate Central Conservative
Democratic Committee" to call State
Convention to nominate candida tie for
Congressman-at-lar The simple state
ment WAS sufficient to interpret what was
meant, and that Hon. John Z. Massey was
to be its standard bearer in the coming con-
test. AS we have before remarked. Mr..
Massey had the bulge on the demOrallzed
forces of the Bourbon faction, and this ac-
ton of the COMMITTEE was a tacit admis-
sion that Boss Massey had his foot on the
neck of what was left Of the great and
good Conservative party, and intended to
press 1t down. The Committee did not
dare to call State Convention OF the
twenty odd members present, only two IA
vored such policy. All the rest OF these
veterans of an hundred warmly contested
fields, flrled their colors, and ingloriOusly
surrendered to B ,ss Massey, without de-
| cent show of resistance or defensible plea
to justify their action. ftef .t3 leaI o
| It is strange picture indeed to contem-
plate. There were Payne, Daniel, John 5.
| Barbour, Harris, and others equally popu.
| lar aud influential in the Bourbon ranks,
either one of whom could poll 10000 more
| votes than Massey, yet the necessti les OF
| the case-some occult understanding or ar
rangement, prevented the necessary steps
being taken to bring one of these favorite
consultation OF delegates fresh from the
people was allowed TO consider the situa
ton. The small bosses usurped the rights
and authority of the constituent body, and
nored the popular voice and treated with
contempt the will of the people. They
even did not have the courage to directly
endorse Boss Massey. Instead OF bravely
marching up to the issue, and openly an
nouncing Mr.. Massey as their candidate
they abandoned the field of contest with.
out recognized representative, and :acitly
assented to his candidacy and impliedly
pledged him their support. Ir is certa nly
humiliating position for what was once
great, defiant and despotic party to occu'
py. 1t excites the commiseration of even
ITS enemies, and invOkes alternate dis.
gust and pity that any political organiza-
ton should deliberately assume a relation
to an important political contest, that places
it beneath decent respect. Its Wanted de-
votion to principle is exemplified in sub
hitting to a leader who has actively and
bitterly opposed every measure of pub
lie policy it has ever proposed or ad
vocated. 1t takes up Il man who has
not for years entertained a single thought
on State affairs in sympathy with its
declared faith. 1t enters upon a can.
vass without formulation of principle
without a candidate, and virtually without
an organization. 1t courts defeat and
ruin, in that it seeks not to win or retain
the confidence of the people,, and exposes
itself to every charge that could be framed
against political force that is devoid
Of every element OF courage, conviction OF
high public aim. .i' irf a fan43f5tt
The canvass will expose in what light the
great mass of the people view such COW
ardly abandonment of proiessed principles
such a craven desertion on the eve of battle
and witness a rebuke such as has new
er before been visited upon political
power. Not only will Wise defeat Massey
by majority unparalleled in the history
of the state. but the action of the Gen.
trail Conservative Democratic Comm ittee u
will jeopardze every district in the State,
if it does not defeat every candidate Of
that faction that offers for Congress.
1.-The mills of the gods grin slowly, bul
very surely" e