New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-02
THE PARTY IN VIRGINIA.
Fed OF THOROUGH RECONSTRUCTION.


JOHN s. wIsE's CIRCULAR rosTHE REPUBLICANS OF
THE sTATE-A REVOLT AGAINST THE UNIT RULE
AND THE LEADERSHIP OF GENERAL MALONE
-INTKRvikws WITH THE STATE pELE-
CATION IN CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, March 2s.-Many Virginia Re-
publicans of the opinion that action must be
taken to secure q reconstruction Of the party ma
chinery and party organization In time for the
approaching campaign. As the time approaches
for holding the State Convention this becomes
more and more apparent Dissatisfaction with
General Mahone's course is more and more loudly
expressed. In q recent circular letter written by
ex-Congressman John S Wise the reasons for this
dissatisfaction are very clearly set forth. 1t is
due to feeling, he declares, among the voters
that the present plan Of organization does not
give them any rights or voice and that II places
too much power in the hands of one man. General
Malone, as the chairman Of the State Committee,
this way he has managed to stifie all free ex.
ISs s0n Voter, OF Ren@bca she pa paTs
IL records its vote at the polls, is Malone
It is plan which might have found some ex-
for existing ss s0 ta sS
ton is too military, and adds that II might be
effective were war going on in which 1T was
necessary to conscript soldiers: but he suggests
to cOnscript voters The organization Of the
party, n other words, is topheavy. There Is TOO
much head ard too little body.
ALL GENERALS AND NO COLONIES.
We are says Mr. WISE rapidly becoming
like Confederate arny-all generals and no
privatNs."
lie cites, too, the reasons adduced by Senator
Chandler in a recent article in ] he North Ameri
con Review TO account for the strength of the
Republican party in NewIlampshire as applying
with equal force to Virginia.
The merit and success of the Republican
gani,at;on," Senator Chandler wrote, arise from
It's completeness and from the soundness OF th'
principle on which it is based, namely. that poti-
cal organization should be at the bottom with the
voters in their prlii"iy m"''ngs ana proceed up,
few high Ulcers, attempting to secure organia-
ton by issuing 'r.'crs downwari'
In accordance with the principle lad d0w s ny
Rorganizing the party III Virginia The dliier-
ence between the plan he proposes and the one
take away the unlimited power now lodged in
the State Cha nan un'er the na,ne Of the TX
.cutge Com%i,tee and places it where i belongs sT
will secure harmony in the Republican party
restore the right of local selfgovernment, the
loss of which has CALLED the voters ana add ms my
approaching convention he Will oppose the unit
rule, as destroying all freedom of individual ac
tcn making of the twenty-four delegates from
Virginia as he expresses it, twcnty-three pupnets
and one important man. namely the chairman
Of the delegation. Sent as unit, the deiegatoni'
Mr.. Wise thinks, would go as one OF the ordl-
nary job LOTS from the Southern rotten h9r-
oughs that have been of no Importance IN Ma
tional Conventions since the war II. on the
other hand twenty four of the best men, unln-
structed and ungagged and unbound by any unit
rule sent, they would command the aten-
ton and respect pertaining to really representa-
tive delegation
THF QUESTION or UNIT RULE
Mr. Wise admits that the confidential circular
recently published by Senator Malone urging the
adoption of the unit rule gave corntenance TO
The idea that he was trying to pack the dcleg',-
ton for Sherman. Mr.. Wise, it is understood;
has earnestly endeavored to convince Generu
Malone Of the folly Of insisting upon ,lie adGEp
tion of the unit rule. but it is doubtful wnetner
he has succeeded. The feeling OF virginia ~, |
publicans on this important matter, OF Ueherai
Mahone's recent secret circular and the general |
situation in the State, is best reflected, perhaps
by interviews which lEIBIlNt correspondent mas |
secured with Republican members Of Congress from |
Virginia and which are given herewith:
Senator Rlddlebergcr is opposed to the unit RUE |
and in the last State Convention ne used all DIS |
influence in favor OF an effort TO modify the system
of patty organization which virtually places an
The power in the hands OF the chairman OF inc
State Executive Committee. The effort lailed'
In ss4 Mr.. Rddieberger had been u aan,. 20
bpt he refused to do so IL he was TO ne bOuhd pS
the unit rule which General Malone and his FRI ndS
tried to enforce for the oenent OF osnd to tbc
nomination of Mr.. Sherman. On tins subject he
said ,,,,, ,or Wan
uons which you can find in most of the Repnbllcan
journals Of the country lie has mad9 nso1 10 he
|
entire foreign clement 90 the surviving soldiers OF
the Union and to the South. 1t is not worth WINE l
gnia would give Overwhelming majority against him
believe Virginia on the issue of PSHtsGton with
ssiriy acceptable man, Will go ltepuDhcah
MIR. RIDDLEBRRGER HAS no CHOICE.
In reply to a question to his personal prefer
ence Mr. Riddleberger said
have no choice among the many Republicans
named. do not think that General Hawey, II nOml
hated could carry Virginia. be elected and the Re-
publicans have no idea Of bestownS complimentary
domination to make Democratic President
Representative Iost who represents ono OF the
q white, districts, and who is an ardent Blame
man. discussed the situation as follows:
The letter OF Mr.. Wise may not have an I'M
porant influence the political situation In virginia
lie has started out In the right direction, Dy deciaS
his opposition to the present plan OF organization ana
as a substitute therefor plan as far I'D.
eral and such as Is not repugnant 10 lnuepehuoht
voters Under the existing plan all power is lodged
with the executive committee; AS the chairman 9i
power lodged in No county can select its
In this way no man ooleclonaoie III any ny
sense the State chairman Is permitted to have inc
of comfy cannot elect they can only recommend. /
mention this specimen of the working OF the pres
snt plan. But want something more than a new
plan. We want thorough reorganization We want
at the helm. and II could control the seiec-
u those who have kept aOof from faconal fights II
Wise proposes TO follow up his plan by change OF
men in thorough and hearty sympathy with the plan,
40 will succeed In putting the Republican party IN
position 10 ftSptOi VI CiSos~s-
,oe of the State IT, the other hand. he proposes
o contend for his plan and then select General Ma
ione carry out its provisions the result Will DC +
ookcd upon by the Republicans OF Virginia as the !
appointment of Mr.. Higgins to Illustrate the beauties
N Civil Service Reform was regarded by tho Mug !,
gunns of Massachusetts, The moment personal issues
md appeals to prejudice are eliminated that moment
Virginia. safely Republican There has been but one
pportuntys TO present Republican principles fairy
md sqnarcly to the people of our State That was IN
1856. when IL publicly announced that Genera
dahone going to the Pacific slope, and would have
lothing to do with the canvass AS matier OF iact c
e did nothing that campaign, certainly not IN The
district / represent. What was the resultf Demo o
rats could longer shelter behind the cry OF Ma
onc--ther party shibbOleth for years past they =,
yere forced TO meet the issues of protection. of the
,lar Educ b and to discuss the principles and
olIcies OF the parties. The vote given In NO. ii
embcr was a verdict upon these issues IL showed S
here the people Of Virginia stand That vote in round