The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-06-07
Republican Address.


The address of the Republican Com
mittee of twenty-five, appointed at Inc
Petersburg Convention, is puollsheo else
where 1t is calm review OF the 1acts
connected with the separation OF the Con-
yention, and the organization of the Re
publican party of Virginia, as dlst1n-
guished from the Malone faction. 1t pre-
sents, in moderate terms, and in delib-
crate spirit, the reasons why self respect-
ing Republicans can no longer recognize
Gen. Malone as the head of the party. Ii
there were nothing else To invite this con
clusion, the personal and confidential"
circular he issued in January last would
be sufficient. No man capable of indlt-
ing and uttering such paper should be
entrusted with the control Of the party, or
be recognized as person qualified TO
speak for any portion Of the Republican
voters of the State. 1t evidenced that he
felt no concern for the welfare of the Re-
publican party. and that he was identified
with it primarily to use the power 1t
might confer for his own selfish purposes.
Instead of seeking to suppress, by con-
ciliatory methods and rational appeals,
and to harmoniZe any discordant elements
that were apparent. with view to the so
lidification of Republican strength in
Virginia, he devised plot for the ex-
press intention of renouncing the fellow
ship and party association of every man
who was not willing to bow submissively
to his orders, and wear his collar.
That of itself was enough to disqualify
him for the chief position in the Repub
| lican organization OF the State, and to for
felt the confidence aud respect OF Repub
| licans everywhere. Apart from that cor
rupt plot, however, there were other and
equally detestable acts and cOntrivances
of the chairman to estrange the sympa-
thies and REVOLT the sense of right OF she
Republicans of the State. His removal
of efficient county and precinct chairmen
for the sole cause that they were not
Malone men," and the appointment OF
others who would be .subservient to his
plans; the overt effort Of his henchmen
to defraud the people out of their right
of legitimate representation in Conven
tion; to prostitute the machinery OF the
organization to suppress the honest will
of the voters, and to convert the entire
organization into vehicle for the ex
preston and enforcement of his lmperious
will, constituted an array of offenses and
a catalogue of usurpations. that no self
respecting people could or would tolerate
The necessity was thus forced upon the
Republicans of the State to assert theil
manhood and independence, and to formu
late plan of organization that is expires
sive of popular feeling and responsive tt
popular aspiration. 1t is an appeal to thu
conscience OF the party, to its sense O
fairness and Justice. 1t recognizes thu
voters as the proper depository of power
and that in all things pertaining to part.
organization and party discipline, the.
shall be consulted and their sentiments re
spected. 1t is protest against one-mal
power-sgainst usurpation and the petit,
despotism that has perverted Republi
canism in Virginia into a "Mahone fac
tion," intolerant, vindictive and revenge
full, indi fferent alike to the welfare of tn
party in Virginia and in the Nation.