The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-05-07
The State Republican Committee
THEIR REPLY
FERENCE OF ANTI-BOURBONS IN
RICHMOND.

AT meeting OF the Executive and
State Committees on the 30th day of
April, 1885, at Richmond, Va, the pro-
ceedings of certain conference held in
the Executive Mansion at Richmond, on
the 10Th of March, 1885, and which had
been assembled on the Governors invita-
ton, were duly considered.
Annexed. and marked "a. - is COPY of
one OF the two OF more classes of invita-
tions on which the undersigned are adj
vised that this conference was assembled /:
and annexed. marked sB. - is a COPY of its
proceedings with which they have been
served.
A copy of these proceedings, we are
further advised, has been very generally
sent out through the State, with a note
from the Governor, asking each person to
whom 1t is endorsed if he approve it to
endorse his approval thereon and return
the paper.
Thus promising, the Executive and
State Committees, in justice to themselves
and the subordinate committees, which
together make up the organization of the
party. the delegated trust of which they
hold, submit this their formal response to
the matter before them for the informa-
ton of the Republicans of the State. They
confidently venture the belief that the
Judgment of the party, when it comes to
consider these proceedings of the Execu-
tive conference, under the light of attend
ing circumstances. will be, that there was
no real cause for the conference nor its
action that both were ill-timed, and can
be of no benefit, either in the direction of
harmony or success, and ought to be re-
GREETED by every Republican who has at
heart the welfare of the party.
The subscribers to the proceedings of
the Executive conference declare that
they represent the sentiments of large
element OF dnti-Bourbon voters of the
State, but nowhere does it appear that
they have been delegated OF appointed to
speak for such an element, if any such ex-
lists. If there really is such an element in
the State, would it not have been more in
accord with the pretended desire for
greater liberty of political action for the
people, as expressed both in the invitation
and the proceedings, to have eft the mat
ter with them to formulate their own
views in their own way, and at such times
and places as they for themselves might
select? Why undertake to organize dis
turbance inside Of the party, OF appear so
to do? for whatever the intention, the
convocatiOn at the Executive mansion,
and the proceedings there formally adopted
will be generally so construed, and must
have the injurious effect of an attempt in
that direction. Why the vigorous eXer-
tlon to secure endorsement of the pro-
ceedings of the Executive conference if
not to organize an element of the party for
some purpOSe-Shall we say on the line of
the declarations set forth in the proceed
ings of the Executive Conference, or to
carry out some certain projects and poll
cies" on which the promoters are said to
agree? Certainly such proceedings must
operate to produce the impression in our
ranks that the party is in some way, and
for some reason, seriously divided. They
cannot fail to inspirit the opposition, and
lessen the confidence of our friends out
side OF the State whose active moral sup
port we need.
the rank and file of the organization as to
some feature of the existing policy
These are not specified, but certain things
are stated to be desirable, in manner
intended to convey the impress
sion that they have not been practiced,
while other things are represented as I'M
desirable in a manner calculated to convey
the impression that they have been per-
mitted. Thus. by inuendo and by state
ments certain to create false differences.
the party organization is attacked, and
charges are made against the State and
local committees which are manifestly I'M
just because wholly unfounded.
Here are the suggestions" of the Ex-
ecutiye conference to remedy the dis
content las to some features of the eX
listing policy:'.
First.-That the State Central Commit
tee shall be convened at the earliest prac-
tlcable moment to consider the call for a
State Convention.
From this it would naturally be inferred
that hitherto some delay in assembling the
Committee and issuing the call had been
The subject of complaint. Yet not a Re-
publican can be found in the State who
will say that there has ever been any such
lelay, or any reason given for apprehend-
ing it in the future Always the call has
Deen issued in ample time to afford the
masses of the party the utmost liberty OF
,ction, and the fullest representation in /
he Convention. The ''discontent" of the |
Executive conference will therefore have |
o seek some other cause.
Here is the
Secoad.-That the county chairman shall
give reasonable notice of the State Con-
'ention call, and that 1.-THE mass meetings
leld in pursuance of this plan shall be con-
idered valid. !" Ample notice has always
,een given of Convention calls, and mass
meetings of the people, held in pursuance
# the plan ordered by the State Conyen-
ion of the party, are valid. without any
eclaration, either of the State Committee
II of a conference IF an s.alement y The