The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-05-08
Virginia at Chicago.


rance of the actual facts Of the political
situation in Virginia. 1t assumes, too,
that the Chicago Convention ought to re-
cognize the Straightout Delegation of Re-
puhlicans and reject the delegates sent by
the April 23d Convention. 1t further
coarsely and yiciously arraigns the admin
istration of President Arthur, because of
the aid extended to the Liberal cause in
this State, and concludes that it would be
a disgrace, if not disaster, for the dele
cation headed by Gen. Malone to be ad-
mitted to seats in the National Conven-
ton, for the reason that it represents re-
pudiation of public obligations, while that
headed by Maj. Dezendorf and Gen. Wick
ham speaks for honest debt-paying. g i'7'
1T is true that the Coalition party did
not assume the name of Republican until
it was formally announced in the Conven-
ton of the 23d ult. The reasons for this
were obvious and conclusive. Its contests
in this State since 1881 have been over
State questions and State policy, and war
fare against Bourbon methods and pro-
scription and in defense of the rights of
the people, under the laws and constitu-
ton, against the violence and despotism
which have marked Bourbohism since it
had history in Virginia. There was no
authority outside of State Convention
for it to change its name, and there was no
necessity OF expediency for doing SO. SO
long rs its controversies were confined to
State questions. But from 1881. inclu-
sive. to the present time. it has been
fighting Republican battles, contending for
Republican measures and policy and win
ming Republican victories. 1t has restored
a free ballot, abolished the whipping-post,
rescued the public schools from the verge
of ruin, stablished public credit, and
faithfully collected the revenues and wisely
and successfully administered every inter-
est of the Commonwealth. 1t has fur
nished two United States Senators, who
have voted with the Republican members
of that body on every party question, and
five members of Congress who have done
all to sustain a Republican administration,
that the same number of Republicans
could have done. While the Senators
have not been known as Republicans, nor
the party in the State passing under that
nominalism, they have done for Republic
can measures and for the Republican party
that which it could not do for itself. 1t has
been the means Of giving to the United
States Senate Republican organization !;
of electing Republican Speaker OF the
House; of enacting laws which the Re-
publicans of the State had declared for
and regarded as essential to citizen rights
and Individual justice, as well as to State
prosperity. For all the purposes for which
parties are organized, the Coalition party
of Virginia has been practically the Re-
publican party, while the Straightout Re-
publican organizationhas been simplyan an
mex to the Bourbon party, directly and in
directly aiding it in every contest since
and including 1881, where the issues have
been Republican demands and Bourbon
wrongs. Its delegates will go to the Ma
tional Convention backed by from 10000
to 150, 900 of the popular vote, two United
States Senators and four members OF Con-
gress. 1t will go there with achievements
in behalf of liberal laws and liberal senti-
ment, attained through difficulties and dan
gers ISLANDERS and villification, never before
encountered by any political organization
known to the country. twill go there with
trophies in the interest of the Repub-
publican party, that a Republican party
in Virginia could never have won. 1t will
go there rejecting the sentiments Of the
great mass of the Republicans of the
State, pledged to support the nominees OF
that Convention and withIthe strength to
give the electoral vote Of Virginia to it's
nominees, if a free ballot land fair count
can be had in November next. go
The right of the delegates representing
this party to seats in the Chicago Conven-
ton will be contested by the delegates ap-
pointed by the Straightout Convention OF
the SOth-an organization that has never
cast more than 5000 votes for Republican
candidates at any election since 1880
which has given aid and comfort to the
Bourbon cause both directly and indirectly,
and is responsible for the election ma
chinery of the State being placed in ABour-
bon control, which will be the only obsta-
Gle to the twelve electoral votes of Vir-
ginia being cast for the Republican candl-
dates for President and Vice President.
While we did not support the Riddle
berger bill debt settlement, because lot
antecedent action of the Courts on former
legislation, yet the formulation of the
obligations of the State in that measure
has never been and cannot be successful
ly assailed as an equitable adjustment
of the debt question. 1t is the only prac-
tical debt-paying measure that was ever
considered or enacted by the Legislature
Of Virginia. 1t arrested certain repudia-
tion, which would have been the inevita-
BILE result, had Bourbon domination con
tinued in the State, and has given to the
world fair and equitable settlem emit OF
the debt complications, such as the Bour-
bons themselves have accepted, as well as
the recognized leader of the Straightout
organization. iaoas iaAl'
1t is of very little moment whethir the
Republican party organized and proclaimed
at Richmond on the 23d Of April, was
known before by the name of Republican
or not, SO that all it's legislative acdys are
in the interest of the Republicans of the
State, and the votes of it's Senators and rep.
resentatives in Congress sustain Republic
lican policy and measures and a Re
publican administration. 1t was fight
ing Republican battles, while the Straight
outs were fighting Bourbon battles. 1t
was confronted by Bourbon ostracism and
denunciation and ISLANDERS. while the
Straightouts were cheek by jowl with the
Bourbons in their vindictive and desperate
work. 1t was Straightout influence and
votes which again placed the State under
the Bourbon yoke, prostituted legislation
to the vilest and most corrupt purposes,
violated the Constitution of the State,
virtually abolished the Executive branch
of tha government and established a no.