The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-30

would ScOrn ourselves could we be brought
to advocate a policy against the public
veal, with view of winning the negro or
white vote, and for partizan advantage
solely. We favor the present school policy
because we believe it will operate for the
public good. We oppose that proposed by
the Lynchburg Convention because it was
the offspring of partizan desperation. con-
ceived in sin and brought forth in iniqui-
| ty, and its adoption would be a potential
leverage for the destruction of the schools,
a result devoutly wished for by at least
one-half of the ''best people, who con-
stitute the Bourbon party.
Some Political History and its Pres
emit Bearing.
| The regular and only legitimate republican
party of the state of Virginia held state CON
vention at Lynchburg in 1881, which convention,
| after due deiiberation, adopted as its own the
readjuster ticket already in the field headed by
republicans of Virginia acted in full accord with
the republican party of the nation as far as the
views OF the party could be known me coal, COAL
dent Garfield and majority OF his cabinet, and
of all the thirty-seven republican United States
4 by a two months contest, participated in by
them all, to elect HI. II. Riddleberger (now Il
refusal OF squad Of republicans to support the
coalition, and their ridiculous attempt and its
failure to put third ticket in the field, formed
an amusing chapter In the political history OF
| that year. The coalition was supported by the
New York Tribune and Times, the Cincinnati
| Gazette, Chicago Inter Ocean, Boston journal,
| Providence Joarnal, Hartford Courant, Philadel-
| phia Press. and the republican press generally
throughout the country. The reealc1trant Vlr-
ginia republicans made up what they called re-
publican state committee, and nominated can
didates. who promptly declined The puny lit
| bourbon democratic candidate for governor, and
did all they could to throw the legislature into
bourbon hands, although senator was then to
plainly visible. 1t was to create faction which
could send delegates to the next national re-
publican convention in the hope that they
might be allowed a few of the seats OF Virginia
| in that body. with the influence appertaining
| thereto.
| The above extract is taken from a
lengthy editorial in the Washington Re
publican of the 23d inst. What is ex-
pected to be gained by that journal by
provoking discussion of the political
history of 1881, so far as it relates to the
Lynchburg Convention, and the action of
the Republicans on that occasion, we can
not just now understand. 1t is not the
| first time that the Republican has mis-
stated the facts involved in this matter,
nor the first time that it has chosen to
sneeringly refer to those Republicans who
constituted the Holcomb Hall Convention.
If it's only object was to make an assault
on ex-Secretary Blaine. it would have
been more becoming to have based
it's criticism upon facts that could be
sustained, and not misstate occurrences
and pervert motives, to justify the conclu-
sions it has reached. With it's controversy
with Mr.. Blaine we have nothing to do.
That is a matter which MI. Blaine's
avOwed friends can choose their time to
discuss /: but we propose to have few
words, and very plain words, as to
those Republicans in Virginia who did
not participate in the Convention which
the Republican claims was the only truly
representative body of the Republicans of
this State at that time.
The Lynchburg Convention of 1881 was
called by the regularly constituted chair
man of the Republican State Central
Committee. Holcomb Hall was secured
by parties acting under authority of that
Chairman. The Convention was regular
ly organized, and it's accredited delegates
represented, us we believe, at least two
thirds Of the voting strength of the party.
All the regular delegates were invited to
participate in its proceedings, but q part
of them did not do so, apprehensive that
the scheme of defeating the nomination of
a Republican ticket would not succeed if
they did. The revolving delegates met in
another Hall, organized, and admitted to
its membership a number of persons as
delegates who had no authority to repre-
sent the constituencies they appeared for.
Committees of Conference were appointed
from each of the bodies, to ascertain
as to aplatfOrm upon which both could
unite, and thus bring the delegates to-
gether. While subcommittee of two was
discussing resolution on the debt ques-
ton. and when ready to report, a messen-
ger came to the full committee and reported
that the Opera Hall body had finished it's bu-
siness and was about ready to adjourn
plainly showing that the appointment of the
Committee of Conference on it's part was to
gain time and mislead the representatives
Of the Holcomb Hall Convention. After
this the Committee appointed by the Hol-
comb Hall Convention to recommend can
didates for Governor, Lieut.. Governor and
Attorney General, and the committee to
frame resolutions made theirreports. The
gentlemen who were chosen to constitute
the ticket, were notified Of the action of
the Committee and its ratification by the
Convention, and their acceptance asked.
Only two of them were present, and after
consultation and calm discussion of the
situation they determined not to accept,
knowing that with divided party there
was no hope of success at the polls, and the
only result would be the overwhelming
election of the nominees of the Democrat
ic Convention of a week before. This
conclusion was the more readily reached
for the reason that neither of the NOM
inee for Governor nor Lieut.. Governor
desired his name to be used in that con-
nectiOn, even under the most favorable
circumstances. Had the Convention been
a full body, composed of all the accredited
delegates, acting in accord, they would
have insisted upon other nominees than
themselves. Under the conditions then
existing they did not believe their accep- |
lance would assure harmony and they
not to become the instruments
Of causing more bitter feeling and pro-
estrangement between those pro-
Tossing common faith than had already
been manifested.