The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-04-12
Gen. Mahone's Pronunciam ento.

Gen. Malone has published reply to
be recent address of Hon. John S. Wise
0 the Republicans Of Virginia. In it he
eeks to taunt and satiriZe Mr.. Wise be-
ause his communication first appeared in
he Richmond Dispatch, a Democratic
aper But this, to intelligent men, Is
rery inapposite, if not peurile way III
which to discuss serious question. MI.
Wise desired to reach the reading pubic,
md as the Dispatch, as newspaper, is reao
w Republicans as well as Democrats, and
here beng no Republican paper OF state
published in that city, 1t was
natural he should avail himself OF the
of the Dispatch to insert the ao-
tress. The first paper in which We saw
Gen, Mahone's reply was the Frederlcks-
burg Free Lance, an independent Jour-
nal. that processes no utilization with !!
the Republican party. The PROOF sheels
were furnished the editor of that paper,
as announced they would be in previous
number. The spirit Of the whole OF TINS
part of Gen. Mahone's paper is contempt
ible. and will have precisely the reverse
effect, to what was designed, with all intel
ligent Republicans. Persons who have
anything to say that is worthy OF pelng
read. ana intended for the public good,
do not Sickle about the medium through
which it reaches the public. They would
prefer that it be published in the papers OF
both political persuasions, so that an i'm
partial Judgment might be passed upon 1t.
But this is mere affectation on the part
of Gen. Malone. 1t is hollow and lnsln-
cere. as the whole article is. He does not
assume position that is not deceptive,
untenable and iDdefensible. His argu-
ment on the unit rule is fallaclous from
beginning to end. He ignores the primary
object of district representation and per
verts the whole theory and purposes OF
parties in the incipient provisions for
national nomination aud national con-
test AS We have stated in another article
the paramount and controlling OBJECT IN
the preliminary steps to constituting del
egated convention is TO secure popular rep
resentation-an expression OF the people
by districts, of their preferences and
wishes, so as to reflect popular sentiment
and Partially all over the country. When
that expression is crystalized into a nomlna-
ton then all should accept it, and unite in
its support The Difference Gen. Malone
affects for the popular will is the merest
pretense. If it were not he would not be
planning and scheming through the des-
potic organization he controls, to suppress
popular sentiment. To encompass his aim
he boldly essays to ignore the law OF the
party. applicable to the election of district
delegates. While pretending to desire
district representation. he secures the
adoption of methods which will deny this
under the rule of the National Committee.
Under the State plan Of organization. he
or his executive committee is alone en-
powered to call the District Conventions.
The rule of the National Committee re
quires that such conventions must be called
on twenty days notice, and the Conven-
tion held and delegates elected thirty
days before the meeting of the National
Convention. He has issued no call for Dis
trlct Conventions in conformity with this
rule. He merely provides that delegates
appointed to the State Convention shall
either subdivide at that Convention to
elect district delegates, or at their option,
may meet in the districts for that purpose.
But this would be impracticable, as only
two days would intervene between the
time of the State Convention assembling
and the thirty days in advance of the Ma
tional Convention, when delegates must
be appointed under the rule of the Ma
tional Committee. This. too, would ig-
more the order of the National Commit
tee for twenty days notice. for no one will
seriously contend that the method adopted
by the State Committee is in conformity
with the law of the party as laid down by
the National Committee. The whole
chapter presented by Gen. Malone on this
point is the most transparent jugglery. Ii
he were sincere about respecting the Will
of The majority. why did be not order that
District Conventions be held, as was his
duty, or that of the Committee which he
controls, to comply with the demands OF
the Nationol Committee The only reply
to this is that be is afraid to trust the
people. The State plan of organization
devised by himself, as we have been in
formed. makes him autocrat. and the des-
potic power it confers, he yields with re-
lentless tyranny. And all his affected
Difference for the majority and respect for
the popular will is the shallowest pretense.
His studied phrases and rounded sentences
will deceive no one who knows him, and
has knowledge of his course as Chair
man of the State Committee. He does not
respect majorities whether of the people
en- naasse, or OF Conventions. His arbitrary
will is his only law. and the Republicans
of the State have been weak enough to al
low il to be so.
Gen Malone carefully omits to mention
10 stating the increased vote of the Re-
publicans IN the State, the removal Of the
capitation-tax restriction on the ballot in
19S2-an impos ition for which be was as
much. if not more responsible than any
other man in the State. In 1876 when the
amendment to the Constitution which
imposed il was adopted. he was autociat
of the Democratic party, as he is now OF
the Republican. He made Governors and
Senators at will, and framed tickets and
issues to suit himself. His paper, the
Richmond Wing. was one of the most per
sistent and consistent advocates Of that
amendment. It's editor was Chairman of
the State Executive Committee which
had the tickets Autographed "for the
amendments" and voted by the party,
not knowing or caring what the effect
The Democrats obeyed his orders then as be
would have the Republicans donow, and as
they have been doing, and when the Dem
ocrats refused to make him Governor. as
he demanded. he kicked out Of the party
and set up for himself. Not until then
did he manifest any concern for the reno
val of this restriction on the poor mans
vote. When he was looking about for an
other power to WELD, he fell upon the pol
lev of undoing the work that he had been
greatly instrumental in intiicting, and in
that way he became identified with what
was called the liberal movement" in
hot off