The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-04-03

ours that it is not so. We have, however.
arrived at point where decision has to
be made and position taken. We pro-
pose to meet the exigencies frankly and
announce our purpose to support the April
23d Convention, which we believe will rep
resent the great mass of the Republicans
of the State, as well as large vote hereto
fore known as Readjusters-al marching
under the colors of the National Repub-
lican party and exerting their every effort
for the success of the nominees of the
National Republican Convention which
meets in Chicago June 8, 1884.
It is upon this condition, and that it's
action shall comport with what Republic
can Convention should do. that we will
give it our earnest support. And if we
are not disappointed in this. we think the
way will be open for all Republicans, who
wish to see the electoral vote of Virginia
given to the Republican Presidential nom-
inees, to aid in such contamination.
We have no personal feeling in this mat
ter to restrain from or spur to action. And
if we had. we think we could bid it obey
ance in the presence of interests so impor-
tant to the country and State. We prefer
not to resurrect past differences and revive
past antagonisms. They belong to the past
and we are willing to forget them, if present
auspices promise results which past con-
flicts defeated. And whatever may be the
relation of the political forces in Virginia in
this contest and our connection with them,
it is not intended to justify methods which
we have heretofore condemned, or COM
promise any conviction we may have enter
tanned. We have heretofore dealt with facts
and conditions as they were present with u.s.
We shall deal with facts and conditions as
they are now present, and endeavor to
evolve from them reasons and arguments
for the consideration of our readers and
the guidance of those who aim for the
same results that we do. Did we not be.
lieve that the interests of the Republican
party would be advanced by the course we
commend, we would not hesitate to re.
nounce it, nor will we allow any other
lesser influence t9govern our action.
=
The first letter of Gen. Wickham was
addressed to us on the superscription of
the envelope, and on the letter itself, as
"Editor of the VIReINIAN,' y and we nat
urally concluded that it was for publica-
tion. We would have preferred to have
had no controy ersy about the matter in its
present form, but we deemed it due to
him to give him notification of what our
remembrance of the conversation to which
we alluded was. in advance of any public
statement. NoTefereAce would have been
made by us to a private conference, but
for the mention by him of the remark we
made about accepting the nomination for
Lieutenant Governor, ii he would accept
that for Governor. Both conversations
were Of the same nature, and a reference
to the one by him, justifies us in the men,
ton of the other.
As to the difference in the form of stat
ing the conversation, we are not prepared
to state the exact words used. But we
think the facts as ascertained in the
examination of the credentials of dele
| gates will bear us out in the version
we have given. If we remember COR
rectly, Col. George Bowden made that
examination, and we would be perfectly
willing to leave 1t to him. whether there
was a majority Of properly accredited del
Eegates present in tie Holcomhe Hall Con-
vention or not.