Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-08-01

hon. A. FULKERsoN-fxPREssEs HIS
VIEWS on TIE VARIOUS POINTS
% rouchINd THE sITtATroN IN vrR-
hrGtxIA. VT ,H
TT sirn z - .l.
% The folio Wing opsn letter las been
sent US by The writer for publcatlu. AS
we fully endorse the views set forth
by Mr.. Fulker,ou, we surrender it our
edltoril space this week:
u .'1 BRIsToL, June 27, 1888.
Major II. ". Holdpoy, Est'llrilte, Va.:
Dear Sir,-Your favor of 2lst Instant
duly received, aud am obliged for the
information it contains. [ nole your
reference to politics. and beg to say
few words in reply.
You refer to the Colonade caucus,
do not regret that you were there, see
no reason to abandon the good aud
wholesome views on readjustment you
tanght me-" sc. l was 10 that caucus,
am proud of 1t. entertain the same
views on the debt question | did then.
l pro6ted by the sensibl1 and wise
suggestions made by you at that time.
My recollection is that we proposed
then 20 fight the debt question inside
the Democratic party. This was not
ny notion. | never thought the debt
question could be settled inside the
Democratic party. always thought
it would require a separate organlzl~
ton TO settle that question. Hence
the origin and purpose Of the Read
iuster organization. If the Democrats
ever divided on any other question l
am not aware OF it.
l always held that a man might be
Democrat and a Readjuster at the
same time; that he could be a Funder
and Democrat at the same time, and
that lie could be a Republican and Re
adiusler at the same time. Now that
we have settled the debt, and removed
the only difference there was between
Democrats, we fud that the Funders
stick to tie Democratic party, and the
Republican Readjuslers and Repu5ll-
can Fundcrs all adhere TO the Republi-
can party. But. strange to say. Ma
hone and bis set aud kind Of Readjus-
ters now say that they are ashamed to
say they are Republicans, while, in fact
they are the meanest kind of Republl'
cans, because sneakiDg.
You know very well that Malone
has gone into the Republican party, and
gone to stay, provided they will pay
him 10 stay. You know as we'll as any
one that he seized the Readjuster or
ganizatlon, aud without the shadow OF
authority from the party united and
consolidated it with the Republican
organization last year. You know
that the Readjuster party is not in ex'
istence as a separate organization; that
that it has effected the object OF its
formation, and now that tie debt is
settled, that It could not be maintained
as an organized party separa te from the
Democratic or Republican party. Why.
therefore. do you talk to me abou ut the
Readjus.er party and my loss to it
l stood by readjustment from its
origin 10 its final consummatlon, the
passage of the Riddleberger bill last
winter, aud shall oppose any effort to
disturb that settlement, come from
whatever source it may.
The only Convention Of the Readlus-
ter party ever held to fix its relations 10
national politics was the July Con-
yention of 1880. That declared for
Demo cracy and said the election of
Hancock aud English would promote the
best interests Of every man 10 Virginia,
and especially the Readjusters. Was
that fraud and deception, or was
it the honest expression Of honest men?
We never had another Convention Of
the party. How, then, can Malone
and his followers be Republicans and
escape the charge of desertion from
both the Dem Dcrllic aud Readjusler
parties?
l canvassed this district IN 1880 as a
Democratic ReadjusLer, and declared
from every stump that the Readjusters
were better Democrats than the Fun
ders. You endorsed me then. l was
honest then. meant what l said, and
have not changed my position, nor
has our party by convention changed
its position. Surely then, as | claim TO
be an honest man, honest people will
not expect the TO desert my principles
aud my party and follow Malone into
The Republican party.
Now that we have whipped out all
opposition 10 the settlement of the debt
passed the till which we declared
would settle the debt, and cur settle
ment having been sustained By two
Funder courts, it Is our duly to secure
the Acqmescence of the opposition
This done, as 1t will be done IN the
Lyuchburs Convention Of the united
Democracy, there will be no one to
complain OF the settlement, and The
settlement will thon be had.
If We can accomplish all this without
laying ourselves liable 10 the charge
that TO settle the debt We have 10 sell
ourselves and the State 10 The Radicals,
we will be held In high esteem by pos
terty; hut if We follow Malone, pOsteli-
~ will condemn the Readjuster party
or betraying our people and selling
out 10 the Republicans, and readjust-
ment will be stencil IN The nostrils Of
honest mtn.
| Van ca, ron Lavo bnor1 tho crv nj