Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-06-20
TO the editor of the Aleranlria 0azeHe :

1t is to be hoped your Washington cor
respondent is not correctly informed as TO
the Hon. Waller r. Staples. The nomina-
ton of this able and eloquent gentleman
would determine in advance, beyond all
question, the result of the election in No
vember. The danger, and the only danger
the democratic party has to fear, is from the
agitation of the debt question. Mahone's
success and that of his party in 1879 and
| 'Sl-'S2 was due wholly to the debt issue.
| Thousands of rs loyal democrats az ever
cast ballot were forced from their party
then by the short sighted policy it pursued,
and as many more, who returned and CO.
operated with their party after its pledge
to stand by the Riddleberger settlement III
| 1883, will again, next fall, if they find that
the democratic party occupies doubtful or
an equivocal position upon the debt ques
tion, while they orculy damn Malone,
quietly vote his ticket, whether it be
| Wise or Blair Opposition to the coupon
| feature of the funding bill of 1872 IS stronger
| 10 dan than it ever was before, and it would
| be supreme folly topresent,as the democratic
candidate, any man who has been Identified
| conspicuously with the championship OF that
measure, and whose record has been that
of an unyieldng opponent of the Riddleber-
ger bill, which the party, to secure Alahone $
defeat and return TO power, pledged Itself
to support. The pathway to victory is SO
blazed by the experience of the last five
wears that the failure to recognize and walk
in it, would be blunder that in politics is
worse than crime. Waller Il. Staples Of
all men, not simply because of his high
IL, ,,I has in
aud again by his own countymen, by his
election to the Legislature, to the Confed
crate Congress and his elevation and dis.
tinguished service for twelve years upon the
Court Of Appeals but more especially be
cause of his well known and able opinion,
in which he took issue with his associates
upon the bench and held, that "Ilad Of all
our woes" the funding bill, )" to be uncon-
stilutional, is the man to lead US 10
victory. His nomination would ei1ec
tually spike the enemies only dangerous
gun, for his opinion above referred TO
would be the platform of bis party uuas.
sailable by readuslers and in harmony
with the pledge TO stand by the Rid.
dleberger settlement. Is the nomination oil
such man as Waller r. Staples, who as a
juriSt an orator and man of commanding
intellect is, if not without his peer, certainly
without his superior in the Commonwealth,
too high price TO pay FOR certain victory?
| think not, and, in the interest of sue
cess, would earnestly urge his nomi
nation, which, if rendered, / am well
persuadeds he would accept. AS for his
playing the part OF jeremiah Sneak and
laying low, hopeful that in the election of
Senator, controlling ambition may excite
contest that may deprive the Hon. John S.
n w No, l,o,
ward 80 Justly his due for recent democratic
victories, he is not the man take him to
be, if he would consent to play any such
part. / write in the interest OF no man,
bnt of the State and the party. If,
however, I am mistaken, and Judge Staples
should absolutely decline the nomination,
then give us General George Washington
Gusts Lee, beloved by every Virginan,
who has no record to be assailed upon the
sensitive debt question, or General William
Henry Fitzhugh Lee, a man Of brains and
great practical good sense, whose modesty,
like that of Gusts, his brother, i5 worthy
the sons Of Robert f. Lee, and equaed only
by their merits. General Rnney Lee, it will
be remembered, as a member of the Senate,
voted to submit the debt settlement to the |
people, a proposition which, if adopted,
would have disposed of this dangerous ISSUE |
| am not the advocate Of the nomination of |
any extreme man-of Massey, Lybrook,
Fulkerson, Newberry, or any man ever
with the readjuster party. Such
a nomination would be most impolitic; bur,
on the other hand, let US take care not TO
place at the head of the ticket any one
whose hostility to every measure looking to
the REIMBURSEMENT of tho State debt is pro-
verbal. SUCCESS.
Tc-murrow will be the longest day in The