The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-21
Meeting of the Committees.

and plans of the selfish plotterS for pO-
litical favor.
Meeting of the Committees.
We publish the proceedings of the joint
committees of a wing of the Republican
party and the Readjuster party of Vir-
ginia, which met in Richmond on the 10th.
1t will be seen from them that there was a
fusion of the two committees for the occa-
sion, and that call was issued for State
Convention to be held in Richmond on the
23d of April, to appoint delegates to the
Chicago Convention, and select Presiden-
tial Electors to represent the parties thus
unified in the Presidential contest. The
Convention, we presume, when it assem-
bles, will also appoint new Central Com
mittee, and indicate whether the campaign
is to be fought under the Republican ban
ner Oh not.
| We assume, as a matter of policy, as
well as principle, that the Convention,
when it conyenes, will be prepared to take
a bold and decided s and in behalf of the
Republican nominees for President and
Vice President, whoever they may be, and
that the colors under which the canvass is
to be prosecuted will be in strict accord
with that understanding discarding all tenn
porizing as to past party names, and unit
ing under that Of Republican. The great
mass of the Liberal forces in Virginia are
ready, aye, anxious for this, and any other
course would not only be popular disap-
pointment, but have the effect to dampen
the ardor and neutraliZe the efforts of
those who will assume the active work
and bear the burdens of the campaign.
There is much popular discomfort through
out the State, and nothing will allay it ex-
cept positive declaration that all mere
local nominalisms be discarded, and the
name of the party assumed in behalf of
whose nominees the contest is to be made.
| An important consideration connected
with the Convention which has been Or
dered, will be the character of the dele
gates who may be chosen to speak for the
people in that body. There never was a
time in the history Of the Liberal forces
in Virginia, when the best men among
them were so pressingly demanded to re-
fleet public sentiment. A mistake made
in this respect, would be followed by even
a graver blunder, in the measurement of
the delegates to be chosen to the National
Convention. 1t is absolutely essential, in
order to reflect the better sentiment of the
party and satisfy the public yearning, that
the people should be consulted in the del
egates chosen, and that machine methods
and mere personal desires should be ig-
nored, as necessary and indispensable
precedent to harmony and united action.
Any attempt that might be made. to fore
stall public opinion to ec0erce an ex-
preston Of preference for any one aspi-
rant for the nomination of the National
Convention, would not only be a fatal mis-
take, but would bring into ridicule and
contempt the body that would assume the
responsibility destroy the influence the del
egates' might claim, and subject to criti-
cism. those who would consent to appear
as mere automatic, on great national
theatre, where, it is presumed, the primary
object to be considered will be the success
of the party, irrespective Of individuals.
| We cannot too earnestly remind the
people, thus early in the preliminary pro-
ceedings, thatit is with them to deter
mine the character Of the delegations they
will authorize to represent them both in
the State and National Conventions. If
they do not take an active part in the pri-
mary meetings and see to it that their SEN
timents and wishes are. represented and re-
| Elected, they will have no one else to blame
| if unfortunate and regretful influences
shall prevail and other than the public well
fare be consulted. If they manifest con-
Germ in the incipient steps which are to
be taken, there will be but little danger of
mistakes, and to the degree that this is
done will the result of the primary meet
! ings, as well as the result of the delibera-
tions of the State Convention, be accepta-
BILE to the Liberal voters of the State. Or
ganization is necessary in parties to
achieve results, but organization and
the fruits of it, must recognize the equal
rights of all, and have for its object the
public good rather than the promotion of
private ends. 1t is only by aiming to do
right and promote justice that the people
are obligated to submit to it's determine
tions. If it should be perverted from this
primary object and used as an enginery to
subserve selfish schemes, it fails Of the
purpose Of it's formation, and in that de-
gree should be rebuked in the most ex-
pressive manner that the emergencies Of
the case would suggest. The policy should
be observed, the State over, to evoke the
llntrammeled and unawed sentiment Fof
the people, that it may find expression in
the public bodies to be convened, and all
| efforts to contravene this should be met
by courageous resolution to throttle and
crush them. The machine must be kept
in it's proper place-be employed only for
it's proper uses, and any attempt to divert
| it's operation from the legitimate ends it
was designed to subserve, should be con-
fronted by determined negative, let the
cost be what it may.
| We have not referred to the irregularity
.of the call of the Republican Committee,
and the palpable discourtesy to its Chair
man, because we have not deemed it vital,
inasmuch as majority of the members of
it were present, and by that presence en-
dorsed the CALL Capt. J. H. Rives was
chosen Chairman of that Committee at
Lynchburg in 1881, and is yet holding that
relation Ito it, although he was not re-