Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-01
Party Organization.

AAS ono hyhOADuiS AUOUHC6 Well says,
political parties are like armies. To be
effective there must be perfect organization
and good discipline. For the general good
and to insure success there must be SUBJ
mission to individual wrong and many
mistakes, sometimes blunders nearly as bad
as crimes. Many general never deserved
lieutenant's straps. Often a commander
deserved criticism where he got praise !;
sometimes cashiering, when he was not even
rebuked. In war and politics you must
fight the enemy, not your friends nor allies.
You would not select lead-horse
that would kick the wheel. horse in
the face. Often the commander of an
army must make the most of present cir
cumstances, keep his own counsel and pass
by derelictions of duty. At some times he
must only encourage the weak, at others
curb the foolish. The first defeat of the
enemy sometimes proves the destruction of
the victor, and more skill, courage and wis
dom are often required to secure the fruits of
victory than to save from the destruction of
defeat. Managing a party is much like
handling an army. Paper-generals often
make poor show in the field. Still, Or
der, obedience, discipline, must be kept up.
Just now the Democratic party needs advice
on this subject in every State, and in none
more than in Virginia. Just now absolute
acquiescence in party caucus rules, support
of all party candidates, obedience to party
rules and regulations, cultivation of the
good will and encouragement of the rank
and file-the masses must be the aim of
every party man and the teaching of every
party leader. We have battle before US
this fall in which this programme must be
carried out. Every move, every effort,
every speech, every dollar, everything for
the cause and the party, never mind the
man nor who is the candidate.
Federal affairs have four years to run,
and that is plenty of time to correct affairs,
turn all the rascals of the Republican party
and all the inefficient drones of Democracy
out, and inaugurate policy acceptable TO
the people, and with justice to all classes.
This fall is all that is given us, and all we
need, to finish the cemetery improvement
and close the funeral obsequies of Malone
ism. 1t does not matter who is on their
ticket, nor who runs for or with them in the
Convention-let them be buried in Novem-
Der. Nor does it matter who IS on our
ticket, put there in July, nor who is nomi-
mated in the counties for the Legislature,
vote and work for them and elect, support
and sustain them. We cannot all be salts
fied-cannot all be rewarded at once. Some
Soldiers must draw rations last, and some
will draw none at all, but all must for the
present submit, and all must fight
The loss of Virginia to the Democratic
party would be a greater loss to us here
and to Democratic success everywhere than
the defeat of Cleveland would have been.-
Mistakes have been made in Federal pa
tronage, perhaps more will be; they can
and will be corrected mistakes will be
made in the State convention and in the
conventions in the counties; for Gods
sake let there be as few as possible
and let them be as insignificant as they can
be. There is a great grand truth standing
guard over the Democratic hosts, it is that
there are hundreds and thousands of intelli-
gent patriotic men, disinterested seekers for
nothing but truth and honest government,
who will come to the polls because they be-
lieve they can serve their country best by
voting the democratic ticket. Let the Demo
cratic party rely On the people. The masses
must then legislate for their rights, for their
protection against oppression and monopo-
lies and unjust taxation, and when we secure
the confidence and trust of this great body,
the effects of the corrupt will of Arthur and
the bargaining and trickery of Malone will
fall before this power as the grass before the
scythe, and wither and die in the blaze of
an honest constitutional Administration,
Clear the decks for square party fight,
without reference to preferences or reward"