Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-05-02

noon, and offering him the pistol he had
purchased to kill himself with, proposed
that bygones be bygones. The doctor, OF
course, readily consented. "-Ransas CITY
Times.
ADDRESS OF THE STRAIGHTOUTs.
At the close of series Of political events
that have been misunderstood aud misrep-
resented it is fit and desirable that fair
statement be made to the public, and an APP
peal to the calm judgment of the great party
with which we have been connected for
nearly twenty years, and into whose council
we have been always invited. The conven-
ton now meets, as it has met four times be
fore, to appoint delegates to a national con-
ventiou. II has been regularly called, is fully
attended, and fairly represents large ma
iority of the white men in this State that
voted for Garfield and Arthur, and large
percentage of the colored men who have
not been reuched by the direct influence Of
Administration. We are republicans from
sincere conviction, and have proven our
| faith under adverse circumstances. We
| have carried this State in one national cleo
ton, and have steadily elected from two to
| During the last four years our efforts have
been thwarted by interference from outside
republicans.
! In the winter of 1879 'the Ross Hamilton
bill" republican measure satisfactory to
the State creditors, was upon its passage,
and the balance of power was in our hands.
A faction Of this democratic party becoming
| alarmed, made an appeal against US, and
George T.. Gorhum and others, protesting 10
! be or to represent republican leaders, came
into the State and set influences at work
| that defeated the bill.
| In the winter of 1881 it was within the
! power of the republican members of the
| Legislature To have elected United States
Senator. The members withdrew into
separate caucus, and refused to vote
for one of the democratic candidates until
hey were advised by the Administration
that it was not desirable that they should
support candidate of their own party. In
the general election of 1880 there were three
| electoral tickets in the field, aud the repub-
licans had a clear plurality of the votes of
the State. After the contest was practical
| ~ won, call was made upon our candi-
dales for Congress by the secretary Of the
national congressional committee, Mr. Hub
bell, to withdraw in favor of high-tariH
came into the State accredited with letters
from members of the national committee,
and from its secretary, Mr.. Dorsey, calling
upon our State committee to trade Oft cleo.
| toral votes aud to aid the election of certain
democratic candidates for Congress. The
committee refused.
These agents assumed authority and dis
tributed thousands Of readjuster Hancock
and-Englsh electoral tickets throughout
the State; but in the face Of this discour
agement we were defeated by less than II, 900
| votes.
Previous to our last general election in
1882 the republican party still held plu-
| rality of votes, and could have elected its
entire State ticket and forced fair adjust
| ment OF our State debt. But agents of the
| Administration came into the State; urged
| the republican party to disband and 10 form
| coalition with one faction of the democrat
| ic party, giving as reason the statement
that democratic Senator would give his
casting vote to the republicans for this con
sidcralion. We did not and do not now OBJ
ject to a cooperation upon any honorable
basis with any party that promised to aid US
in the unequal conflict, But this faction
demanded more. 1t did not profess to agree
with US on any cardinal principle.
1t declared that it could not accept the
"odious" name republican. 1t did not pro-
pose to allow that name to be printed upon
| its tickets. 1t announced as the sole reason
for Withdrawal from the regular organiza-
ton it's unwilingaess to pay the State debt
and its hostility to corporations. We were
in serious difficulty. The cry that this was
good opportunity to break the solid South
was popular. Many Of our own party here
advised and acted against u.s. But the issues
were then purely local. They affected our
business interests and State pride As re-
publicans, we had been taught
| That public faith must be kept inviolate.
That vested rights must be res 2ected
| That every man should vote according to
| his convictions
| That public Offices are public trusts
1n the principles rs then announced the
readjuster and republican parties made no
common declaration. We took the full re-
sponsibility of independent action.
When President Arthur came into Office
u system of pressure and persecution was
inaugurated. He permitted it to be an
nounced that the patronage in the State
had been given to democratic Senator.
He permitted large assessments upon office
holders. He dismissed from Office nearly
every man who voted for Garfield and re-
fused to support Malone in this State The
internal revenue and the marshals' offices
were crowded with deputies assigned to par
tisan work. Az result of the forced coali-
ton we find: That we have gained nothing
in local government or in national affairs
that the State debt has not been adjusted
that the material interests of the State have
not been advanced, and that straight dem
ocratc minority of 10000 has been changed
Il
now enter national campaign divided and
discredited. The location and material in.
terests of Virginia do not leave her perma-
nently in the democratic column.
1t would have been better for the readjus.
ter party if we had been asked to cooperate
and not to coalesce, and infinitely better for
the republican party if we had been allowed
in the old way to assert in its simplicity and
purity the cardinal principles upon which
great party has five times appealed trium.
phantly to the nation. War and recon-