The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-04-05
Immediate Action Demanded.

immediate Action demanded.
The action of the Republican State Cen
trail Committee. al its recent meeting III
Petersburg, in practically ignoring and
multiplying the rule of the National Com
mittee, is attracting attention outside OF
the State, and invoking unsparing condem-
nation from some of the ablest Republican
papers in the country. We publish else !
where pointed and timely editorial from |
the Washington Republican. aud also one |
from the Philadelphia Press, in which our |
chairman is notified that his arbitrary |
and revolutionary methods will not be en-
dcrsed by the Republican, party or by the |
National Convention. The audacions
usurpation of Gen. Malone, and his
utter disregard OF the highest law of the
party. should meet with stern rebuke
from the Republicans of the State. For
him to assume authority TO prescribe the
manner of electlng delegates to the Ma
tional Convention. when the National
COMMITTEES has plainly laid down the law
to govern in such elections is palpable
revolt against the party, and flagrant
usurpatiun OF power such as should not
be tolerated for moment, But this is
consistent with his whole course as Chair
man. He respects no authority. no rule,
and no precedent, except his own will. He
distinctly defes the National Committee
He boldly affronts the National Republi-
can party. He insolently proclaims him
self the law, and demands obedience to
his orders and edicts. Such daring usur-
patton has never before been known out
side of Virginia. What surprises us is
that so many of the Committee should
place themselves in the humiliatlng po'
sition OF endorsing his high handed and
| indefensible course. They certainly could
not have been aware that they were in
glaring defiance of the highest authority OF
the party and that these acts OF assumption
cannot be recognized or tolerated by the
| National Convention. 1t is, indeed, char
liable to assume that they had never read
the call of the National Committee for a
| National Convention, and that they were
not cognzant that the committee had pre-
scrbed the method of electlng district
delegates Of course the law of the party
will be enforced. Delegates will be ap-
pointed in consonance with it, whether
the Assem- blages which select them shall be
regularly convened or MT. With the pri-
mary object of rejecting and carrying into
effect the purpose of the law. informall-
ties growing out of the necessities OF the
anomalous situation, will be overlooked.
and those delegates chosen in obedience to
the spirit of the National Committees call
will be recognized and seated.
1t is the duty of the Republicans of
each Congressional District in the State to
take immediate steps to have their rights
respected, an1 the order of the National
Committee enforced. They should let il
be known that they are not the truculent
slaves of the chairman, to defy the ma
tional authority of the party, at his com
mand; but that they mean to proceed
within the spirit Of the call of the com
mittee to elect delegates to represent the
Republicans of the State in the National
Convention.
The spirit which dominated in the &C
ton of the State Committee is the rule or
ruin' purpose, which has been the con
trolling influence in the management OF
the party heretofore. 1t is the spirit which
prompted and prepared the recent infa-
nous secret plot to assassinate the party.
1t evidences that the Chairman cares
nothing for the party except as it may
be made to serve him his selfish aims. Ii
he cannot rule he will do his best to ruin
it. But we hope it will be demonstrated
that he can do neither. The Republicans
of the State who are not willing to submit
to this gross usurpation should at ono
consult together and formulate q plan :
action to meet the emergency to TN
that delegates may be appointed to Chlca
, 90 from the districts in the manner pre-
scribed by the National Committee. Such
delegates will be seated by the Convention
ant. recognized as the rightful representa-
ives of the party.