The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-03
Drift of Sentiment.

We have received number of private
letters recently in reference to the reor-
ganization of the Republican party for
1884. in addition to those intended for
publication, which will be found selse-
where. AS these were not designed to
reach .theseyes of the public, we forbear
giving the names of the writers, but in
order to show the drift of sentiment make
short extracts from several.
A prominent Readjuster of Democratic
antecedents. from east of the Ridge, dis
sents from the plan indicated in the VIR-
GINIAN and proposes a substitute, which
we should be glad.to have considered. He
says:
have read with close attention your
leading. editorial OF Dec. Goth, 1888, 1.-The
Necessity for Reorganization. y | agree
with you i'll this, that every effort should
be made to unite in one compact Organlzl-
tion all elements opposed to Bourbon De-
mOcracy, and who will support the nomi-
nees of the Chicago Convention whoever
they may be. AS to the best method of
accomplishing this differ with you. 1t
seems to me that it should be accomplished
by and through existing committees. My
idea is for the existing committees to
unite in call for Convention from the
people of all those who will stand upon the
simple platform Of opposition to Bourbon
ism and support of Republicanism. There
is but one difficulty in the way of this
method that | can see, and it is in the at
titude OF the two Republican committees,
if we may consider that there are two, to-
oa01, nfhnr tn mn fhat
the Readjusters should have these differ
ences to be settled by the parties them
selves without interference on their part.
To make myself more clearly understood
Ii am correctly informed, the facts are
these The last Republican Convention
divided. one part being in favor of coali-
ton with the ReadjuSters and the other
opposed to such coalition. Both parts
chose committee and effected an organi-
zation for the campaign. The people of
the Republican party certainly by their
votes, nearly one hundred to one, endorsed
the course of the former party, and in my
Judgment the committees chosen by them,
of which Capt. Rives and Mr.. Brady are
the chairmen respectively of the Central
and Executive committees, are the true
Republican committees. But be this as it
may it seems to me that the Readjusters,
of whose committee Gen. Malone is the
head, might signify their willingness thro
their committee to join with all opposed to
Bourbon Democracy, invite the Republic
can committee, of which Capt. Rives is
the head, to join with them in such call
as | have indicated, and leave it to this
committee to extend or not an invitation
to the so-called straightout Republican
committee. Should this invitation be re-
fused by the straightont committee, then
the other two committees could join in
the call and have such q Convention as
you have indicated in your editorial
Should it be accepted by the straightouts,
then all could join together in the CALL
Certainly this would be a fair proposition,
and all would go into the Convention upon
the common platform of opposition to
Bourbon Democracy and q pledge to sup
port the nominees of the National Repub-
committees, &c., could be effected by this
Convention, and we could go into the cam
paign of 1884 united and strong, with the
feuds and chickering's Of the dead past be-
hind us, and the common cause of good
government and the maintenance of human
rights before US. | have not given This
matter as much consideration as you and
others perhaps, but l sincerely desire a
united front in 1884, and am willing to go
as far as my manhood will allow me in the
direction of compromise to accomplish it.
IT Il conference OF leading men of the
various factions could accomplish ny
thing. it seems to me that it could only be
in the way Of advising the committees. If
such advice would do any good, and |
think it would, then such q conference
should be held by all means. | would like
to hear from you on this subject.