The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-21
The Situation.

the determination of the result of the
Chicago Convention. 1t cannot be denied
that the party has drifted from the moor
ings which held it higher above the cor
rupting influence ofrings and place hunters
in its early history and it is manifest that
the popular consciousness is awakening to
this fact. 'Booms,' manufactured to or
der and literary bureaus are not so much
in demand as they have been, and the in
dicatiOns point to impartial deliberation
and thoughtful conclusion in the proceed
ingS of that body. While we see some
signs in some of the Southern States of
purpose to resort to the old Office holder
machine methods to control public senti-
ment in the selection of delegates to the
Convention, we think it will be only ne
cessary to warn the people of the scheme
to bring it to defeat. Weare sure no sa-
gacious statesman who is an aspirant for
the nomination of a great party, would
wish that a labelled delegation, secured
through the manipulation of a ring of
Federal office-holders, in States where
electoral votes cannot be assured, should
effect his nomination. Nothing would SO
offend the aroused sensibility of the party,
or more surely operate a disastrous result
to the choice that might be made, than
forthe Southern States, through delegates
chosen by packed Conventions, to deter
mine or dictate the selection. AS we view
it,the nominee of the Chicago Convention,
in order to achieve success, will have to re-
ceive majority of the votes from Repub-
lican States, and in this way have the en-
dorsement of the electors, who would be
able to give votes in the Electoral College.
Any scheme that locks to the concentra-
tion of the delegates from the South on
any one man, will be and should be fatal
to his nomination. For should a frag-
ment of the delegates from the Republic
can States, united with the pledged dele
cations from the Southern States, deter
mine the nomination, then defeat would be
as inevitable as the method of accomplish
ing the selection would be indefensible. The
prevailing ambition in the party is for a
Convention and a nomination free from
the predominating influence of the ma
hine, and if this sentiment is not con-
suited and respected it will assert itself in
a rebuke at the ballot box that will be
neither temporizingno of doubtful import.
No aspirant who would be acceptable to
the people would court the favor of dele
cations, manufactured to order, and arbi-
trarily chosen to crafty the selfish purpo-
ses Of the local politicians, who measure
every political movement by their own
hopes Of reward and subordinate the high
er aims and mission of party to greed for
office.
There was never time in the history of
the Republican party when the. controll-
ing feeling more earnestly invited the Re-
publicans of the South to improve on the
methods of the past and vindicate their
own devotion to principle in the manner
of selecting their delegations and the di-
rection to be given to their votes in the
Convention. 1t is the boast OF assumed
leaders that they can control results in
State Conventions and make choice of del
gates who will follow the dictation of those
who may happen to fill Federal offices,
without a protest or even. the assertion of
an individual, independent opinion. That
this has been the case in the past, is true
to great degree. But to concede that
it is to be so again is to assume that there
has been no improvement in the constitu-
emit body-no advancement in political
knowledge, and no development of indi-
vidual character that broadens the -concep-
tion and inspires sense of duty and
right. We trust the time has come
when the colored people, especially, will
have the courage to declare their indie
pendence of the mandates and the wiles
of party manipulators and slavish OBJ
servance of the commands of those who
happen to be in brief authority, and by
their action show that they appreciate the
privileges of citizenship, as well as meas
ure the Importance of the campaign upon
which we are about to enter. Should the
nomination of candidate for President
by the Chicago Convention be effected
through delegations from the Southern
States, pledged in advance to vote for any
particular aspirant, without consultation
OF comparison of views with the delegates
from the States which will give electoral
votes, the result will have been decided be-
fore the contest really commences, and the
government virtually surrendered to the
control of the Democratic party.
1t is fashionable. for selfish politicians to
seek the favor of prominent Presidential
candidates, by the assurance of votes in
the National Convention, but the history
of such Conventions show that the best
laid schemes of the professional manipu-
lators generally come to naught, derang-
ing the plans and crushing the hopes Of
those who are inspired by no higher con-
sideration than personal advancement in
official favor. The one great object for all
true Republicans to seek to accomplish,
should be the nomination of the most ac-
ceptable man to the country at large,
that success may be assured and the prin-
ciples Of the party vindicated by the peo-
pie at the ballot box. 1t should be mat
ter Of Indifference, whether the nominee
be one aspirant or another, SO the selec-
tion shall reflect the better sentiment Of
the party, dissipate discussions in Repub-
lican States, harmonic all influences and
command success. ~
1t would be the baldest presumption for
the managers of any State or District
Convention to assume to foretell the result
of the deliberations of a National Conven-
ton composed of delegates from thirty
six States and seven Territories, and it
would be folly only equalled by such pre-
sumption for States which cannot assure
electoral votes to- go into that body
pledged to candidate, whether OF not he
should be acceptable to the States which
can give electoral votes. 1t would be. nat
ural for delegates tohaNe personal prefer
ences, but the necessity does not follow
that pledge should be given to such pref
erence, regardless of the influences that
might be developed and the prevailing
sentiment that might exist. To be pledged
in advance would be to surrender the priv
ilege and the duty of consulting the true
interests of the party-a compromise Of
manhood and individuality that Would in