Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-17

A committee OF conference" con-
tisting OF Messrs. JONI L. LEWIS, VIII
LIAM r. CAMERON, JACOB Yosr, JoHN 5.
WISE. V. ID. GRoNFR. J. A. FEzIEn, j.
D. BRADY, ID. I. HorsroN. S. VI. Yosr,
W. c. PENpaEroN. G. X. GHMgR, and
{. c. CLAEKE. has issued an address to
the Republican voters of Virginia which
does not indicate that the members of
the committee feel strong in the
strength of a just cause, or con
slider themselves able to contest
with General MALONE the election
Of delegates 10 the Chicago Convention.
Indeed, we are puzzled to understand
what policy the committee intended TO
recommend. After stating that "the
time has come in the affairs Of the Re
publican party in the State Of Virginia
which calls for the exercise Of all the
wisdom, all the courage, all the pru-
dence. and all the forhearance and
mutual consideration that can he found
in its membership the committee go
on to state the condition of things that
has been known to exist in the Kepubli-
cen party Of Virginia for years, but IN
consequentially add that lit were idle
TO indulge in retrospect. and such
view can only tend to re-
Cancellation. They 60 on TO say that
the Republican party Of Virginia has
gained but one victory since 1882, and
that WAS "when the people took charge
Of affairs in their own congressional
districts. and having nominated their
candidates went to the polls and elected
them with almost absolutely no inter
ference by the managerial policy OF the
party as now organized Here was an
excellent opportunity TO call upon
the Republican voters to follow
tie precedent Of 1856. and call congress
eional-district conventions to elect dele
gates to Chicago; but for some reason
which is not apparent upon the face Of
tie address, the committee abstained
from drawing the obvious moral Of their
statement. They content themselves
with modestly expressing their opinion
THAT a change in the present plan of
organization whereby more liberty shall
be accorded to the people Is essential to
future success.
The committee next complain Of eau
iocratic rule. They also protest against
1.-the unit rule as commercial sys-
tenn Of politics"
And what remedy for so many wrongs
IS proposed? We quote:
I'VE earnestly suggest 10 all Republicans who
sincerely iesire tfe supremacy OF their party 20
Sin with US in asking for Al alteration OF me-
thpd- Ia the party organization, so ina' the pep
rir themselves shall hate controlling Nelce 10
me selection Of their representatives ana nomi-
nee4 and az night n the uniramnslled clocr Oh
all committeeman and onlcers Of the party or
CaLlZauOn.n
We appeal 70 the men 81 Virginia who are
Republicans through conviction and 10y priucl-
DE % Join US in elortiDg delegates 10 the state
Convention 10 be held in Petersburg May y
las who will vote TO emancipate the RANK and
Gle II the party from the Injustice ana dangers
OF the present plan OF party organization
We may be mistaken, but 1t strikes US
that the large advertisement and small
performance Of the committee cannot be
regarded as anything else than sur
render to General MALONE. Why were
not congressional district conventions
provided for? The only plausible reply
is that the committee did not wish to
place themselves previous to the assem-
bling Of the Petersburg Convention
in the attitude OF boilers They
and all their adherents might have
been excluded from that convention
if they had called local conventions be-
fore it met. But after it meets there
will be only few days remaining of the
time which is allowed for electing dele
gates by the call for the Chicago Con-
vention. We await further develop
menta