The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-01-05
Some Facts and Figures.

feared in the VIRGINIAN in relation tothe
of the Republican party OF the
,tate. holds no public position and does not
spire or desire to do so. lie is not now nor
mas be ever teen a candidate before the
people for any office. What has been Said
in the publications which have appeared
in the V1RGINIAN had reference to the
interest of the party, and was not designed
to promote the ambition OF any Individual
or 70 personally assail any one. Those
holding official relations 10 the party are
opep to criticism in that capacity, and II
there Is anything in that condition which
can reasonably be construed to operate
against party success, we regard 1t pup
lie duty to say SO. We have not been
considering the fate of any political aspl-
rant, but the welfare of the Republican
party, for personal ambitions dwarf into
insignificance where they conflict with |
party unity and success. The writer
of these lines has never classed himself |
among the enemies of Gen. Malone. He
has supported and never opposed MS
friends when presented by the Republican
organization for public position, ana
even before that. lie has ia0ored as
earnestly and unsel6shly for party sue
cess, in every contest, it mattered not who
was the nominee. as those who profess TO oe
the peculiar and exclusive representatives
of the chairman. But we have not been IN
different to the growing dissatisfaction III
the party with the management, nor TO
the disheartening effects of successive
defeats, because of this DISSATISFACTION
1t is impossible to ignore the fact mat
some of the abIest men in the party are
estranged from the chairman Oh account
of his arbitrary methodS-that diners
abandoned the liberal movement, before 1t
was crystali2ed into its present form, for
the same reason. ard that there has not
been State contest since that OF 1851,
when the party's strength has not shown
impairment. attributable to the same
causp. Cameron was elected Governor
in 1881 by 12.0 900 majority, and Legisia-
ture chosen in sympathy with his political
views. That victory was. in part, thrown
away by a revolt against the methads 9! the
chairman. In 1882 this majority was re-
duced TO COCO, in the election of WISE for
Congressman at large, although his oppo-
nent. Mr.. Massey. was not supported by
many of the opposition. In 1883, we lost
che Legislature by inhuences when the
Republicans could not eGntIoi. ~ ioo4
the electoral vote was given to The i}eniG'
cratic Presidential candidates. and all pat
two of the Congressional districts went
against US. In 1885 the Democrats car
ried the Legislature by an overwhelming
maioritg, and elected successor to Senator
Malone. as well as Gov. Cameron. In all
these contests the Chairman was IN active
and unchalleDged control OF the ofgan'fd-
tiop. In 1885. when he was not knoWn IN
the direction of the canvass, except proo-
ably in The 4th district. The kepuolieahs
elected six of their nominees. and one IN
dependent, out of the ten congressman
and carried the State by a popular major
isy of over 10000 In 1887. when the
chairman virtually announced himself a
, candidate for the United States Senate TO
succeed Senator Riddlebei ger-a position
he was not entitled to by reason Ut LOCALITY
and that the Valley and the Southwest mao
prior claims the party was again defeated
| under his control. when it should have
? been. and We believe would have been.sIc
cessful, had it not been that the Chairman
| bad preferred his own pretenslons to the
Senatorship as an issue.
It may answer the purpose OF those who
, desire to consider the Chairman as the
} embodiment of the party, to assail the
: VIRGINIAN for making plain statements
about the management Of the party. and
the causes which have led to its various de-
feats, but they cannot get around the colo
and stubborn facts and figures, which
each contest has exposed. Take the twt
elections, when nearly the full strength o.
o the party was brought out, and compare
= the results with that of 1887, and it may
convey an argument in support OF ou
! views that cannot be easily disposed of.
In 1885 Wise received for Governor
q 1850. In 1887 there were cast 1855
Republican yctes-a difference of 1870.
In 1884, Blaine's vote was 1886. Il
1887, Republican vote. VITA Gen. Mahcnl
! as q candidate for the United States Sen
ate. 1880. Difference 1876. In thi
last election it is believed that not les
= than 1000 former Democrats cast thei
first Republican votes. 1t this surmise D
correct then there were about $4,000 lie
pubieans vic dig not vote.
In 1856. when there was bQt little excite
ment. and comparatively no bitterness IL
the discussions between the two parties
: for the reason principally that the Chair
J., man was not factor in the contest. NO
: was his name scarcely ever mentioned
:. the Republican vote was l22. 43l. and tn
= Democratic vote 10l ,S90-Republican ma
: jority 20 ,54i. IN this election the Repub
d lican carried Senatorial and Legis!atlv
q districts, which would have given IA Sena
= tors and CT members of the House-tota
IS 81 In 1887, We elected 10 Senators and )
d members-a loss as compared With ]S8
of 80 districts
II Take the two Congressional districts i
= which the Chairman s influence is pre-
It suaed to be greatest, and what do W
l. find?
r SECOND DISTRICT.
IS In 1887, Republican vote. ...........t3 %
n Democratic vote. lib
u Republican majority. -. 2,s5S
In 1854. Libby's VOTE. lis, OS3
" Republican vote 'S7. $50
Republican loss in 81. ~ .5QS
9 1856, Bowden's majority .......... 5,a5
d 1887. Republican majority. ..... 2'3s
a Republican loss. ........,. 8,O6
IA FOURTH DISTRICT.
IS 1857, Republican vote. 1918
al 1" Dem &C. ratio vote, counting
II Lees vote in counties where
q there we're no Democratic ma
Is IOriteS. ,sss..s...:... .'...... 9ol
Republican majority. ,....s..- 3.AA
1884, Rep. vote for Congress. II $50
d 1887, Republican vote. $500. .12,757