The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-11-15
The Campaign of 1884.

The Campaign of 1884.
The call, published elsewhere to-day, of
the Secretary, for the National Committee
of the Republican party to meet in Wash
ington city on the 18th of December is the
first note for the campaign of 1884. The
duty that Committee will have,to- perform
will be simply to fix the time and place of
holding the National Convention to nom-
mate candidates for. President and Vice
President to be voted for in 1884 The
real direction of the campaign will not be
commenced until after the, Convention has
madesits. choice.
The political events of the past three
years and the elections which have taken
place, have had Statutory effect upon the
Republican party. They have clearly
shown that the masses of the party mean
to control its policy and determine results,
and evidence that if success in 1884 is to
be achieved it must be through other
methods than those which have marked
the course of the Bosses. Packed Dis
trict and State Conventions, in the interest
of this Or that candidate. will only have
the effect to revolt the public conscience,
and to assure the defeat of any one whose
nomination might be secured by such
means. The influences now pervading the
party and which will enter into the nom.
mating Convention, plainly announce that
the higher sentiment of the people must
be consulted in the selections, if success is
to be desired. The schooling which disas.
ters have impressed within the past three
years cannot be disregarded The parti.
Zans of men must give way to the patriot.
ism which is the outgrowth of principle
and the methods which spring from mer.
cenary motives and selfish ambition, be
subordinated to sincere conviction for the
welfare of the country. The history OF
the Republican party shows how capable
it is of grasping the needs of the Nation
Its craftsmanship. its sagacity. it's cour.
age are exemplified in the administrative
policy which has brought such marvellous
prosperity to the people, established the
credit OF the government, diminished
public burdens, encouraged industrial en-.
terprise, and broadened the field of intel.
lectual and physical endeavor. This
widened theatre Of activity still invites its
labors in the consummation of still great
er results in the shaping of our national
destiny. And the Republican party will
notprove true to itself and its grand record
if less than the nations good shall con-
troll its action in the approaching cam.
paign. ~
The way is open for another grand
triumph and the perpetuation of Republi-
can rule for four years longer. if.the.prin.
ciples and measures. of the party shall be
regarded as higher. than selfish schemes
and specious expedients discarded as I'M.
worthy of a great. organizatie whose par.
| amount claim to public confidence is
its..deyOtion to well-defned and well-pro
ven principles.
| If new fields O. endeayor are to be sue
cessfully invaded, it must be. through the
attrition of the ideas which gave birth to
and the principles which have distin.
! guished the progress..of the party.
The symmetry of the organization must
be maintained. Its principles must be as
serted and proclaimed. for upon these, and
these alone, can confident appeal be made
to the intelligence and patriotism Of the
people. Shifting expedients, to reach
direction by indirection catering to the
] whims of presumed local necessities alb.
sence of courage to embrace and acknowl
edge the party and it's principles and COM
mend them to popular acceptance, can
have no other effect than to inspire dis
| trust and invite defeat. Let the party
name and the party principles be blazoned
from one extreme Iof the country to the
other, and all invited to rally to their sup
port who have the courage Of their convic-
tions and are brave enough to declare fol-
the right in the face of all opposition. 1t
is only by such...policy that the morale
Of the party can be maintained and it is
only by such means that it will deserve
and achieve success. Such course will
require no apology OF explanation. 1t will
explain itself and place the party in an
aggressive attitude to proclaim its princi-
pies and appeal to the popular judgment
for approval, whether in the North OF
South, the East or West.