The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-03-01


read out of political Fellowship" all who
do not admit themselves 10 be slaves TO
the chairman. This is consistent with
the administration of the affairs OF the
party under it's present management, and
is consistent with The plan Of organiza-
tion. 1t is simply proposition to en-
plastic and endorse the dogmatlc meth
DDS which which have rent the party in
twain and driven from active c0-opera-
ton some of it's ablest and most popular
advocates. AS it is, thepower lodged with
the chairman is extraordinary. He is
clothed with authority to make and I'M
make county chairmen, to call county and
district conventions. to determine all IS
sues and differences which may arise in
the party, and to play the autoc1at gener-
silly. The people have no rights which
they can assert, unless they accord with
the views of the chairman. They are not
to be consulted as to anything relating to
party interests in their own district even,
without the chairman gives his sovereign
consent. He IS the party, his will is law,
and any who dare to question the expediency
or the right of this. are those whose po-
litical fellowship is to be renowned.
Under the plan proposed in the secret
circular, the Republican party OF Virginia
is to be constituted only Of such persons
as are willing to become parties to the
plot. The scheme is to be digested and
l,,t ta fai n,
full are to be consulted. In the county
conventions the game is to be played With
a rush. Delegates to the district conVen
tions are to be listed those in the secret
are to be present, ready to act in concert,
and thus ratlfy the cut ard dried arrange
ment, in conformity to the orders Of The
boss OF course the plan is to select 30
one who is not willing to surrender his
manhood and individuality obey orders.
In this way it is expected the sentiment OF
the people will be suppressed, and
pledged delegation sent to Chicago Tor
Senator John Sherman for President. so
confidapt is the chairman that this secret
game will be carried out, that it has been
given OuU tudo v III lHld WIN po oVliu Ava
Sherman at the Chicago Convention. A
week or two ago, the Cincinnati CONNER
ciaI. Gazette, Sherman's home organ. an
nounced that, under Malone, such would
be the case. 1t is to accomplish this that
Fellowship with the 'kickers" and the
! sslaggards' is to be renowned and little
cabal of conspirators against the great
mass of the party. take it in hand and run it
in conformity with this pre- conceived and
pre-arranged scheme. 1t. was for this the
secret circular was issued-it was for this
the resolutions prescribed are to be
adopted The county and district conven-
lions are to be simply formal meetings to
record the will of the boss; endorse the
plot, stifle the will of the people and
bring defeat upon the party in the State
ard Nation.
The cheme could only be carried out in
the manner presented in the secret cIrcu-
lar:
First, Mr.. Blaine had to be villified and
slandered. for it was known that his was
the most popular name with the people:
and ii was further known that no plan
could be executed under his administration
that did not recognize all members of the
party upon their merits.
Second. Those who are not willing to
| blindly follow the Chairman, subscribe to
his methods and obey bis commands, are
| to be read out of the party, so as to make
the following unique, harmonious and
pliant-a compact mass to act upon sign
and without a murmur.
Third. To in this way select solid del
egation to Chicago for Sherman; to be cast
as unit, regardless Of the sentiment OF the
great mass of the Republican voters of
the State.
Of course this scheme does not contem-
plate the possibility Of carrying the State
for the Republican nominees. Every in
telligent Republican knows that this can
not be done unless we can get out full
vote-that it cannot be done by reading
out of the party either the CHECKERS" or
the 'laggards, as those who do not
subscribe to the methods of the Chairman
are designated in the secret circular, and
that the only result would be the forma-
tion of little ring. claiming to represent
the Republican sentiment of the State,
without the power to aid in the election
of Republican President, or to do more
than prefer claim to the spoils of office,
should the Republicans succeed.
But it is not probable that the secret
plot, as formulated in the personal and
confidential'' circular, will be attempted
to re carried out 1t is not likely that
any Republican who respects himself or
his future, will choose to declare that he
is the willing depository of this insidious
scheme to assassinate the party-that be
is masked conspirator against his fell
low Republicans, and that under the guse
of friendship he would deal a fatal blow
not only to the party in the State, but, if
the plot were carried out, to the party in
the Nation.
The Republicans of Virginia are not
ready for this. They prefer. an open,
manly contest, a friendly rivalry, and will
frown down all such desperate and despi-
cable resorts as those suggested in the Sc
cret circular to Dragon the people into the
the scheme, Suppress a fair expression
of opinion and bring reproach upon the
party.