The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-10

Editors VALLEY Vngn1an AT the head
liits y"n ga. The challenge of Colonel
Parsons Is answered." ard under it you
publish IA long letter from W. +. Craig,
Who writes as he ntxt f'lend OF General
Malone ii most l-InaI kable letter. Ii
conftsStS he statement 10 be 1alse Dut
does lot relr.ct ard apologize, but 1t
makes reNplat Ion.
A plot Was suspected. ] had dlned with
Mr.. Blaine. Several gentle men had dlned
It m, house. An anopy letter mad
mildly criticised Malone.
Another cam Il. d a command To de-
cipher tie handwriting. A report that
there were in the thirty counties of the
Valley Only three men who could write a
letter. that Lewis would not Yost dared not,
and that Parsons dared and did.
Gen. Malone issued sectet and confidential
circular in which ne charged a conspiracy to
the a.aium lets and. as he believed, al tne m
stlRalion of Mr.. Blaine, and that BIalnes
henchliitn we've preparing to overthrow tht
state organization.
| am not surprised that Gen. Malone trusted
the statement ard made II his own. had not
written or ED the letter, ard did rot know
its cont. mis-. Eut convinced that he had been
led into error. let The statement 90 unnoticed.
1t was CONVENE nj 10 his purl ose. and II gave a
needed and .ons sought pr-ltxG tor an assault
upon MIR. Balm. line 1ribi.ne. however TOOK
occasion to say editorially that l was not the
author Gen. Malone issued a public address
in " hich he repeated the ASSERT ion and offered
To prove it's truth before any trihunal or UNI,
pire accepted his chale' &c and he who had
mode and +. pealed HE false sla,tinehC iorSoI
even the courtesy OF a reply. His attorney,
however, III hts behalf cont.sses Judgment ana
then pIupuun,is inle, rosatories
need moi hesi'air", haltin my 'epl..
l. with Gen. Mahones democratic methods
have no s> mpathy.
q win the "keadjuster move ment' that
brought no usands OF brave amt s!nc.te men
into the Republican parry. have me strongest
BY mpahY. 80,
3 Viii any and. very movement TOW Il, DIS the
liberation or e'valioh OF Tie poor men u ms
State have the htaitiesL ny mputly.
4. No one ~ Yer "ffe I'D me The clalf"'ahshlp
of the state uiuinitI..1n any event, - ever
mentioned Il, xcepi Frank II Ing, and ne dio
not Mention 1t II second tlnt am inysel sur
prise al the suggesLlon. Ia We Yer oeeii d
chairman or II menb.r OF any political cohl-
m1ttee III NY HE. and my ihLltol' "a es ho'
draw me Il wal dis the Ciiail uianh1lp OF the III
vided committee OF defeated a 10 dieroruant
party. Nothing could induce III, TO con lder IL.
/ am not u: the confidence III either the
"kicker or the kicKtd'' and cannot ieil you
who will he canuIdte for cnaii :nai.
=. Your quest ion bears It's own regulation:
You ask way "a champion of Bn) e announced
that Blaine III not desire carry ing virginia
when his fortunes treinuied in ti'e balance ana
our electoIa .ott might have tfeh "eeisi We
Blaine was ankle us I" carrv> Il Sinia IN 1851
| as Gen. Malone MAS " carry The Petersburg
District.
And now, having fully answered. let me
| make our mutual under. tanoing perfect.
For twenty -t'ile Yeas nave held my place as
| plain citiz-l vi " est Virginia or Virginia.
have never held or soughta polit cal ofllce.
have always voted the Republican ticket an
through the dark day of rebellion and recon-
| structton and of accomplishment. have never
| asked the past political record OF the man who
voted at my side or of The candidate tor Whom
we voted together. 1t hes been enough to know
| that he claimed 10 be Il Republican.
did not approve Mahune's methods (nelthef
did oppose him) when he WAS IA better Dem
ocrat than Rem Hill, or wien he came into the
Republican part, t. continue his threatenln ~.
and slaughter. or when he s.ruck down ms as
| sociates or issued from the "ttooms OF loe
State Republican committee" an ADDRESS
charging Mr.. Haine with having sold OUT the
| Republican party Tor IL price, or Tor revenge, IN
1851; with having fttno lntrr' 81 III 1ls success
in 1881. ing 1spired 10 ITS defeat III 1901
| But let lIiIE That because Ihey were
silent the friends # Mr Blaine saw tne uaSsei
| without indgna 10. s'lthough the piow leli
| short. Never answer ~, Instant ana COM
| plete as In the parallel coiiuii Oh our Ssa W.
| press which publish. II on The same gay Ma Ma
homes secret and e hfdenti"l ciieular da
| Blaines letter of d. liua.,"n 1ii'. doonle
| charge of sell ing and treason sti 90 over
| against the unset fish, the loyal, The ehdtai ing
| and enduring words of HIM who wrote from
Florence.
DO not think that any dispro.f of The author,
ship of The Tribune letter implies any ulssent
| from lis statements. have only seen 1T re-
Gently and Tor d moment, aud II sstint d an eA-
cellent and ra'riotlc ieIter Neither lhagi !,
| that the cha. se OF being "Biaihe 3 henchman
| greatly dsturbs me. have been fortunate IN
| knowing Mr.. Blaine Intimately, and since MI.
| favorably. have seen his spotless Integrity
his sobriety, his sincerity, his love OF home, ms
|
| sympathy for the oppressed. his hatred o.
| wrong his scorn of "secret and conndentlal
methods, his might in argument, his MASTERY
| of men, and look upon him as the fgAtiui
leader OF the Republican party, but Inc sup
! port of Mr. Blaine does not imply. vassalage. !
| am one OF tens of thousands. He has no need
| of a champion or his words of an interpreter
The I'M that hurled the JaVelln nom Parls
| that tranhfixed the masq cradiLg Democracy
to the only honest declaration, save state
! rights. 1t has made for halfa century. qua not
| trempIe at the ssealthy tread on the shores OF
the Appomattox.
| SO far as l am advised none of Mr.. "BlaIne s
| henchmen" are working to secure delegations
to Chicago. Knowing the seriousness OF ms
| declaration. that he does not desire the homi-
nation We are doing much To make Ills nonil
| nation impossible. Notwithstanding our beilel
| that he Wouid be the strongest candidate be-
| lore the convention: that he is Stronger than
his party. and that the days are Fastening IL
the great election that may he 1.-The turning
point of the century, i'll the affairs OF thai
party and of the nation, We desire beyond the
| EXPIRE sion of words that the con, ention may
select some i. ader for victory. We remember
the noble 81, port that was given 10 blaine IL
the last contest by sherman and Harrison, Al
| lison and Hawley and Depew, and look to the
nomination OF ther without Jealousy OF
| shadow of regret. The farty cannot endure
too much that saddens Four times we haV'
! contested ational conventions. The list OF
| the contt siant Is The roll OF The dead. OllVei
P. Morton. Carpenter. Chandler, Washburne
Gal field. Grant Arthus, 'osan, Conkllhg are
rememDt red no more ill our caic'ilatlons, ano
whether Blaine has been spared i'll his strength
to lead, or to serve, he cannot cross the ocean
without great sense OF duty 10 the party thai
honOred him with its gre atekt endeaVor anu
trusted him to the uttermost, and whoever Is
the candidate, victory will largely depend upon
the personal canvass that Blaine shall make.
Upon Blaine, sherman and Edmunds, the
survivors OF a race OF political siants, respon
sibility rests they may not escape Upon theil
| supporters rests se!emn prohibition from the
| ordinary contests that precede d Natonal con
| vention.
And may say to Gen. Malone, speaking moi
for Wise, Groner. and his other recent asso
ciates who now differ with him on matters o
| detail but for the straigh out Republicans Wht
have differed with him more widely, that IL
! State affairs we have learned patience under :
dictatorship; we have recognized Inc gtea
| ability and the grea ter authority OF the STATE
| Chairman; we have seen him change his pollt
ical convictions in an hour; forclbIy seize ms
| state organization; demand admission 10 a Ma
tiunal convention /; require The removal OF al
the Federal officers in Virginia, and receive
the patronage Oi state. we have seen nm
concentrate party organization in three men
invested with absolute power to conuuc cam
| paigns, nominate displace candidates, and
even to appoint or remove the chalrinen o IL
County committees. We have Seen him sen
manifesto before the National ,ommittee de
nouncing as unworthy OF fellowship his able
and essential associates who protested against
ais management. We have seen him, in def
ance OF the rules of the last National ConYen
| tiOn call eleven Congressional district cOEVen
lions to meet in one place, forcing travel o
from 400 to 500 miles upon ma lily OF The del
egales in a country where men are Loo poor IL
| travel lar, under conditions thai make IA fail
representation Impossible.
| But why should we attack n power so en-
trenched and applauded? Why should not Gen
Mahone hold t,e craftsmanship that no one
seeks? Why should he not receive the party
support? Why should the ne-v triumvirate
bear heavier than the last? If in our despite
Blame should be nominate d he Will find
| chairman declaring no greater hostility thar
ii in 1891. If he should be elected Mr.. Craig viii
| be able to prove his Invaluable services. ant
we shall all have acquired u lesson In 'pract
Cal pollties." may hope, however, that ON
|