National Republican., 1883-09-18
"a CoppER1rEAD LIE.s

Ah Olu Letter OF SenntOT uhhhNiAUH DpO-
torcd Up for Poiitlcnl Purposes-A spicy
Communication from uio President OF
the Virginia Coalition Association.
The publication in the Siar ola recent date
of an article headed Political Circulars to
Government Employees" and chbodying n
garblod letter from Senator Malone, the date
of which was omitted, and n circular from Mr..
John U. Sobroll, president Of tho Virginia
Coalition association, has called forth the
following letter from Mr.. Scbboll:
10 nc Editor.
When the article appeared in the EConiug
Siar Of the fourteenth instant wo noted its
false deductions, the bitter spirit of its COM
ments, and the very cvidCut attempt to do SER
vice to the DelendOrf- bourbou- Wickhnm com
hiuatiun inNirghia. Still we had ANA yet have
such abiding faith in the fair dealing of tho
American public that we were prone to pass
il by with contemptuous indifference. We
see, however, that the article has received
editorial notice from the bourbon organ here,
and other assistants to bourhonism. This
iact and a hope that n truthful statement of
the whole matter will spare the public u
repetition OF such learned, astutc, and
unusually long homiics as those recently
vouchsulcd itby the star in its construction
of the civil service bill impcls inc TO make
stantiatcd in every particular:
|. Tho circular published in the STIR over
Senator hahoncs signature is not tho
original circular sent by him. but has been
perverted and altered eitherb by the SiHr news.
paper or the party who caters to its wishes
IL. The true circular was prepared by Sena-
tor MahOne at the special request OF an au-
thori2cd committee of tho Virginia Coalition
association nearly twelve months ago, before
the civil service bill was reported in either
branch of the national congress, and its pur-
pose was to aid in the organization of an as
socation similar in its salient points to those
existing here among citizens OF other states
of the union.
III. The original circular was issued when
the association was in its infancy, and those
who Lad charge Of its dcstiniCs recognized the
imrOutHnCo of the CountCnanCe and good
viii # tho great Virginia senator. In
that circular tho word campaign does not
appear, and his assertion that its purpose is to
promote as well as il may properly the sue
cess of the party, &C. is not susceptible in
the minds of unprcudiced, dispassionate per-
sons of any inferences as tho stars article
seeks to convey.
". As to the resolution of the Virginia
association, and the circular following, over
my signature as its president, the charge that
it was ISSUED upon the strength of MahOnc's
letter" is unqualihedly false. The resolution
literally means that all members who do not
pay past dues and attend more punctually
will be summRrily dealt With G., sus-
pended or expelled as the association shall
ORDER and this action will be had without
consulting the star newspaper. This is what
it means-nOthing more, nothing less. And
as president of the association / shall do what
/ may to see that the resolution is strictly
and rigidyl enforced.
No impccuniousS, refractory, or trnitorous
member shall shield himself under the plati-
tudes of the star or the symputhies of Dczen-
dOrf and Barbour. They have no more to
do with us than with the Light Infantry,
the Knights Of Pythias or any other society
in this city. We have broken no law, and
court the fullest investigation of our actions.
Only diseased imagination can find Il
decided hint to Nirginians that if they
value their places they had better obey the
call upon them"
'Tis true that the president and secretary
are clerks in the pension office, and We be-
lieve that the pension Office has no cause to
bo ashamed of us. s...Me have endeavor red to be
faithful, efficient, and law abiding. Our rec
ords are in the hands of the chiefs of the bu-
reau, and to them we refer tho public as to
whether we deserve any such insnuations rs
are conveyed in the scnsoless vaporings of
the star newspaper 'Tis true we have our
political opinions, and we cherish them
rs We do our religious opinions.
We do not conceive that the civil service bill
abridges or denies US any right of free cti-
zenshp, and when we announce undying
opposition to bourbon democracy and our
purpose to do all We can properly" to com
pass its defeat, we are satisfied the candid,
unsubsidi2ed press of the whole country,
irrespective of party, will agree that we assert
nothing moro than an inherent right. We
promise however, Mr.. Editor, that we will
not intcrpolate or misreprcsent the utterances
of others, whether United Stutcs senators or
pension clerks, in order to secure that much
needed result--thc eternal overthrow of
bourbonism and intolerance in this country.
Very respectfully, j. U. SEBRELL.