National Republican., 1888-05-25
THO Nirginin Situation.


the state which is honorcd by his birth and
residence. lie is a gentleman Of the highest
standing in the community a writer Of the
most distinguished ability, aud patriotic
citizen, from whom we are always glad to
hear aud whose good will we seek to re.
tain.
In his letter MIR. Elan asks a question:
lie says "Whlt law allows ur authorizes
these men to pursue this course Of ractiols
disscnson and disorganilation in defiance
Of the regularly constituted representatives,
of the people and partyW
We answer, The law laid down by the
National Convention Of the party, which j.
the supreme Law Of the party, ana to which
all state organizations and laws must give
heed and must obey. That law we have
already quoted more than once. 1t Is plain,
distinct, and mandatory, and requires the
district delegates. Ito he selected in the same
mamcr that candidates for Congress are
selected
MIR. Elam does not claim ,lmt this law
was complied with when delegates for tile
various districts of Virginia were selected Ut
Petersburg, hut to Justify the action cites
similar action on the part Of other states.
Mr. EMm knows this Is no justification.
Two wrongs, or half dozen wrongs, do not
make one right, and, 50 far as we know, no
Republicans In the states spoken Of objected
to the methods adopted. But in Virginia
they did object. Mr.. Elan shows that the
motion was male IL the eighth district con-
-, Il Il IA, Il
uict, as he national iaw required.
This mds sufficient. The rights Of The
minority must BE- respected or juSticc fails.
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, has written
of the conduct of affairs in Virginia In no
factious spirit. 1t has not sought 10 eSalt
or dobase any one in the party ranks. 1t has
been evident for some time past that there
was discomfort and dissension within the
party lines. Some of the ablcst leaders Of
the party were dissatisfied. This dissatis-
faction eliminated when the convention was
called in the manner it was The NATIONAL
RErlBIlCAN has endeavOrCd to allay
the di,scnsiOn and restore harmony IN the
ranks by showing that by the Observance of
the supreme law Of the party all cause for
dissatisfaction would he removed, and
should any one after that refuse to obey the
will of the majority he might Justly he
called "a Kicker or "mugwump" or any
other term of opprobrum.
The advice Of the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
tn obey the law was not Needed, aud the re.
suit has been serious split in the party.
The majority emlcavorel to bind the po.
litical action Of the minority-to rule the
political conscience 10y the enforcement of
the unit rule. Each congressional district
Is law unto itself so far as the selection Of
congressman and delegates to the National
Convention is concerned, AMI no number of
districts, assembled either in district or state
convention, have the right to bind another
district This principle has been distinctly
established by two National Conventions Of
the party.
All that the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN has
cOltcnled for is the observance Of the law
and the freedom Of district delegates from
the dctatiOn Of Others and the attempt 10
enforce the unit rule. 1t is the failure TO do
these things that has caused breach in the
Republican party of Virginia.
The whole question must now he settled
by the National Convention. Every Re
publican in Virginia should Loyalty abide by
that decision, whatever II may be-as 10y
ally support 1t as they will the candidates
the convention may nominate, The Ma
TloNAL REPUBLICAN, pledges itself in ad-
vance TO stand by that decision, and sup
port the rulings Of the coming convention,
as II has supported those of the last one.
Let every Republican In Virginia do the
same thing,
OF course the National Convention or
whatever committee Of that body the sub.
ject Is referred to will insist that there shall
lie hut one electoral ticket in Virginia.
Should it select either Of those now nom.
mated. or take some from each OF suggest
an entirely new set of men, the NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN will work with all its power 10
secure to that ticket the majority Of the
votes pollef in Virginia.
We give Mr.. Elam's letter in full. 1t Is
courteous and manly letter. We know
nothing as TO the number Of delegates who
withdrew from the convention, nor rs to
tile number whom it is claimed We're i'm.
| properly excluded. We have allowed Mr..
Elan to make his statement, and We shall
allow replies to 1t written in the same
spirit and without offensive personalities,
which we neither indulge IN ourselves nol
permit IN our columns.
Here Is Mr.. Elam's letter:
EDlTOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: was very
| much pleased to see, IN your issue Of yestcr
| day, tie following expression rs tO Mug
| wumps and disOrganizers Ooi,ide Of fugt"id
when all Of them have spoken, Republicans
| should do the opposite of what they desire.
| That Is good and right. But In the sam,
editorial column You have a paragraph o
| commcndatOn and encouragement for th,
| Mugwumps and dsorganl2crs of Virginia
| Surely we are not strong enough TO have hc'
Republican parties in this state, even 1t tha
of the Mugwumps and disorganzers is a very
uiy little one. You say nay propose "to ig
| more the action At Petersburg, and follow TN
law laid down by the party."s What Law
| allows Or authorizes these men to pursue thei
| course Oi laCtious disSCnsOn and disOrganiza
tlon, In defiance Of the regularly constituted
representatives of the people and party
supported by the almost unanimous voice 0
| our Republican yOtersf
! bUl you HEtuNllS recognize lhtSt men dl
their conspiracy as the regular organization
OF the Republican party Of Virginia when yO
say as you do that tile Republican cOnsres
slonal committee Of the eighth Virginia dis
trict lave called a convention 70 meet Il
| Alexandria, NG, Looking 10 the alleged call
| see the names Of Ncs,rS. Lewis Mckenzie
Henry LightIoot and Yardcy r. Brown ap
| pended 10 IT, when these very ,igncrs particl
| patcd, with all their syinpathizing associate
from this district, In the regular convention o
the eighth district At Petersburg ON the 1871
instant, which elected MoS,rs Montague, Per
kins, and Baldwin the congressional commit
tee of this district In fact, none OF then
lett until Hon. john ;, Wise, with IS delegate
out Vi Ce!, withdrew from the state aonven