The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-17

| JusterS had taken off, as they claim. Al
least 80, 900 Democratic votes. yet leaves
the Bourbon Democracy with about four
thousand uotes more than they erer befor,
cast /?
That is to say that the Democrats. afte,
losing about fifty thousand votes, as the
Readjusters claim they did when they left
the Democratic party, are still able tc
| bring to the polls more votes than ever be-
| fore What does this show? Some will
argue from it that the Straightouts so
called are not so weak as representa-. by
the writer. Others will argue that il
shows that the Readjusters of Democratic
| antecedents do not begin to number what
they claim.
At any rate tits no argument against ;
a reorganization
| Now as to the intimation made by "a
| Republican from 1865 to 'S4'' that if there
| should be contesting delegations eacf
claiming to represent Virginia in the
| Chicago Republican Convention, there
would be no doubt about which would
be admitted. and that the Readjuster,, del
egati0n would be recognized. have only
| to say that if it ever comes to question
! between the $4,000 Republicans who voted
| for Garfield and Arthur in 1880. or the Re
adjusters who voted for Hancock and Eng
fish, rathea think Republican Conyen-
ton would recognize those delegates who
represent the $4,000 Republicans.
But right here let me say that had
supposed your chief object in urging har-
mOny and reorganization, was to prevent
this very state of things, which would
bring about conflicting delegations and
thus engender such bitter state of feel
| ing as to insure the loss of the State to
the Republicans.
| l entirely agree with "A Republican from
1865 to 'S4'' when he says parties grow and
are not built up like a house-that party
lis not an artificial aggregation of plastic
material" But this undisputed fact is
| surely no reason why the members who
OuSly and judiciOusly organized.
| The Republican party of New Y ork was
not ian artificial aggregation of plastic
| material in 1882, when it was defeated by
nearly two hundred thousand majority,
and it was defeated principally for that
very reason, viz That it was not plastic
| enough to suit the party managers. who
| thought that all they had to do was to hold
on to the old organization and force nOmi-
nations to suit themselves.
Yet ina5SS3 the Republican party of
New York effected a reorganization. :"
Discomfort elements were brought into &C.
cord. TheircOmmittees were reorganized,
and behold the consequence in the Repub-
licans bringing to the polls about 1855, 900
more votes than in 1882, and actually car
rying a State achach they had lost the ye0r be-
fore.
If the men who compose political par
ties were under military discipline, and
could be forced to keep in ranks and fight
whether they wanted to do so or not, then
there might be more reason in talking
about refusing to reorganize when wide
spread dissatisfaction peryades the party.
But we know that political parties are not
under the military rule, and men ecW claim
the privilege of at least being dlloaoed to hare
some sag 5ia the election of their leaders.
And. by-the-way, let me remind the
writer that there has never been an organ
ization of the Coalition party as such.
Some years ago, | think in 1879, Gen.
Malone was chosen as chairman of the
ReadjuSter party and he has been con-
tinued as such ever since that time.
In 1881. Capt. ]. II. Rives was chosen
chairman of the Coalition wing of the Re-
publican party, while J. W. Cochran was
chosen, chairman of the Straightout Re-
publicans.
There has been no Convention called by
either wing Of the Liberals (Readjust ers.
Coalition Republicans or Straightout Re-
publicans) since 1881. There has been DO
organic ton OF the Coalition forces be-
cause the people have had no chance to eff
feet one.
In this state of affairs who would call
the opposition together to send delegates
to the Chicago Republican Convention
Who would call a Convention to select
the Republican electors?
Is not an organization of the Liberal
forces QbSOLlLteLU neceSSnTu
Now | wish to say that | agree with "a
Republican from 1865 to '84' in consider
ing the Readjusters practically good enough
Republicans.
l believe that they are true, honest and
determined, and that no power either of
coercion or persuasion, will ever again in
duce them to vote with the Bourbon De-
mocracy which has heaped such vile abuse
upon them.
But what has this to do with the queS-
ton of reorganization
Again, agree with IA Republican from
1865 to '84' in denouncing the abuse of
Gen. Malone as disgraceful. It is in fact
mean, low and cowardly, but yet only
fair specimen of the Democratic mode Of
warfare. Have they not subjected every
man who dared to oppose their nefarious
political schemes to this same sort of
abuse
Have not you, Mr.. Editor, been maligned.
abused. and misrepresented/ because you
had the sagacity to see, and the holiness
to expose their purposes?
Was not Judge Hughes man second
to none in this State in ability and culture
-slandered and traduced to an almost IN
heard of extent when he was the Repub-
lican candidate for Governor in 1878 ?
Was not the Hon. John F. Lewis, though
elected to the U. s. Senate as a known and
declared Republican, denounced as atraitor
to the Democratic party. because he had
the courage and honesty to vote with the
Republican party in the Senate 2
Was not that able, pure. and upright
judge, Hon. Alex. Rives, villified and abused
in a shameful manner for rendering jul
dicial decision in which he was afterwards
triumphantlv sustained by the Supreme
Court of the United States
Then, why should we be surprised at Bour-
bon abuse of Gen. Mahone. who has done
SO much to overthrow Bourbonism in Vir-
ginia
But all this, it really seems to. me, does
not obviate the necessity for reorganiza-
ton, or rather for an organization.
1t seems to me to be perfectly clear that
there must be reorganization and a more
perfect" coalition formed or there must
be areorganizationo Of the Republican party
so that it can more effectively cooperate
with the Readiuster party.
One of these two things must be done.
If we intend to make a bona fde fight to Sc
cure the electoral vote of Virginia for the
Republican nominees for President and
Vice President. Respectfully.
A REPUBLICAN EVER SINE HE HAD A
VOTE, AND A CoALITIONIST EVER SINCE
COALITION WAS ATTEMPTED.
For the VIRGIN AN.
HARRIsoNBURG, Jan. 18th, 1854.
Editors VALLEY Vuyinaan Il have thought
much about your plan for uniting the OPP
nnsitinn to Rnnrh0niSm in this State. and