Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-05-20
Formal Dissolution of the Readjuster Party.

Since the meeting of the convention,
which was called as a convention of read
justers and republicans, and adjourned as
the convention of the republican patty of
Virginia, it is well asked by some Of our
contemporaries, "What has become of the
readjusters who entered. that convention ?''
We would ask the question, what will now
become of the members of the readjuster
party, since its formal dissolution by Ma
hone ?'
In the presidential campaign of 1880 the
readjuster party placed a separate electoral
ticket in the field, professedly with the view
of maintaining intact their party organiza-
ton. This ticket was headed, ''The Dem
ocratic Readjuster ticket" and, through it,
the party supported the nominees of the
democratic party. The voters Of the party
thereby recognized themselves to be demo-
Gratis in national politics, and that the title
of readjuster only signified their position III
State political issues. They thus admitted
that so far as national parties were concern
ed, that the organization of the readjuster
party hid no significance.
In the purely State campaigns, which fol-
lowed in 1881 and 1883, in which the prin-
ciples of the national parties were not in is
sue, this party was known only by its dis
tinctive State appellatiop, ''The Readjuster
Party" In these State campaigns, the
State committee of the party formed coali-
tion with the republican party through its
State committee. This coalition was intend
ed to procure the success of the distinctive
views of the readjuster party on questions
of State policy, certainly not with view to
maintain the principles of the republican
party, either State or national.
This coalition was never sanctioned nor
l. x1Gxl !
party. 1t was not, therefore, the formation
of a distinct party by the amalgamation of
two political organizations. It was merely
an understanding, as it were, between two
separate commanders to cooperate with
their several forces for the purposes of the
campaign, not the merging of the distinct
organization of The two forces into one. The
campaign ended and its object accomplish
ed, the understanding as to concerted action
was at an end.
Hence, no coalition convention was called
to prepare for the approaching national
campaign. None could be called There
was no condition chairman, no coalition COM
mittee, no coalition party.
But by concerted action, without author
ity from their respective parties, the respec-
tive chairman of the readjuster and repub
lican parties called their conventions to meet
at the same time and place.
This duplex convention met in Richmond
on the 23rd of April.
BY the continuance Of these same party
chairmen, a resolution was adopted, declar-
ing that ''the Coalition party shall hereafter
be known as the republican party of Vir-
ginia, &C., &C., This when there was no
coalition convention, no coalition party
What, We ask, then, has become of the re
obi tu 9 If nartv
ognized itself as an integral part of coali-
ton party; therefore there could be no au-
thorlty for any action on the part of the con-
yentions of April 23rd, as the convention of
a coalition party. On the other hand, the
readjuster party, which in the last national
campaign was democratic never authorized
any convention, nor any man to declare it
dissolved, and bind itsmembers as adherents
of the republican party.
The individual voter can change his poll
tical allegiance at will, but fora lot of dele
gates to the convention of an organized par
ty, called to prepare for a pending campaign,
to assume to themselves to dissolve that
party and deliver over its individual voters
in body to another party, and that par
ty to which, in all previous general cleo
tions, its voters had been opposed, is an
idea, the novelty of which would be anus
Ing, were IL nOG revolving 10 every sense or
manhood and independence.
The readjuster delegates to the conven-
ton Of April 23rd, could forsake their party
and align themselves with the national re-
publican party, if they chose, but they could
not, and did not deliver single other read
juster.
The democratic readjusters will simply
remain in the national democratic party,
where they have always recognized them
selves as being, and laugh at the presump-
ton of few hundred former readiusters.
who were ignorant enough to suppose that
they could deliver them to order. like herd
of dumb cattle in the political MARKET
Woodstock Virginian.