The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-02-16


lot box would show it in an overwhelming
majority of the popular vote. There are
conditions more to be deplored than party
defeat, and wrongs and humiliations to be
suffered more intolerable than an apparent
triumph of false notions of goyernment,and
but for these reasons thousands OF voters in
Virginia, who cast their ballots for the
Democratic party, would be heart ard
hand with the Republicans. We cannot
expect success with such spirit and such
a greed for power as are manifested in
these anomalous utterances from those
who claim to represent and reject
the sentiment of Virginia Republicans.
Nor can it be expected that harmony will
prevail where the edct of one man has to
be accepted as the law and the gospel OF
the party and all who may question the
policy or the wsdom Of such arbitrary as
sumption must reDounce their party rela-
tions at the orders of the boss. 1t would
result no doubt in bringing together a
chosen and congenial few, poweress for
good, and only effective for harm. WHO,
forming mutual admiration society,
might rail at the outside world and vaGnt
their own virtues, but could never win
victory except for the enemy. OF COM
mand the confidence of free and indie
pendent constituency.
| The movement, as outlined in this cir
cnIar, tc pack q solid Sherman delegation
from Virginia, is part OF scheme t0con-
troll the delegations from the Southern
States in the same direction. 1t is a plan
to nominate Republican candidate by the
delegations from States that viii not be able
to give him an electoral vote, under snch
auspices. 1t VIA be notice to f:le RepaDli-
cans of the North and West that a solid
South means to dictate the candidate
they will have to accept. and that whether
they like it or NOT small Republican con-
tingeut in those sections and the united
delegations from the South, mean to rule
or ruin Whether the programme can be
carried out remains to be seen. We do not
think it can be in Virginia. We know it
cannot be, if the sentiment of the party
is consulted. But this circular discl0ses
the methods that the organization relies
upon, and unless the people enter their
protest, and teach the despotic autllorl-
ties lesson, it would be rash to attempt
to foretell the result. If Mr.. Sherman
should be the choice of the Republicans OF
Virginia. after fair expression OF pubic
sentiment, we would have no regrets tC
| hut hot bpy NJ =
not desire to receive the vote of this State
or any other. if it had to be secured by Sc
cret circulars and gross and indetensl
bic Misrepresentation OF any ore OF his
2 competitors. A nomination under sucf
: circumstances would be worse than use
less 1t would prove disastrous to him ant
TO the party. and forever close the polt
cal career of those who would be the prin
cipals in effec ing it.
] We have favored the nomination q
/ Nh. Blaine in Difference to what we be-
lIeve to be the wishes of a large majorit,
= OF the Republicans Of the State. 1t is no
t known whether he desires the honor ant
0 the burden. His most intimate friends
7 are utterly ignorant Of his views an(
g purposes. He has given no intimatior
/ either private or public that he wonld
+ accept the position If rendered him. HI
D | is making no effort in that direction, no.
are his friends. If it comes to him il
1 must be the free will offering of the del
egations from the States that are able tC
t assure electoral votes. and in that event
e all the scheming and plotting to defea
the popular will in the Southern States
: would amount to nothing. If he should
5 not be the nominee, his friends Woul(
probably have the power to indicate {
! choice, and it certainly would not be man
e ifested to crafty those who may hayt
+ conspired to misrepresent public senti
ment and pack delegations against him.
e AS to the plant about failure to cleo
! majority of the present Legislature
! there is nothing in it. 1t was due to tht
chairman himself. His crushing ou
' process pursued ever since the first victory
of the coalition in 1881 and 1882 TO The
} present time, has brought defeat after de-
, feat. The party nominations received
{ loyal support from the Republicans in tht
Valley. except where his recognized
I friends bolted the organization, OPP
r posed the chosen representatives of th4
r party and effected defeat. In his owl
, section it may be that prominent Republi
cans reyolted against his dictation, no
. choosing to lex the hand that had smitteI
$ them. But many of the able and fearless
/ men who had assisted in achieving TIN
Q triumphs of 1881 and 1882 were in avowe(
S opposition or listlessly Indifferent to The
] result. Massey and Fulkerson. NewGer
s ry and Hale, and others, were forced OF
f of the organization. Cameron, Hooper
Brady, Libby Blair, Frazier were refused
Y the gracious Fellowship" and are con
f sidered skickers.'' All over the State
q men of influence and talent who left tht
Democratic party and contributed to th'
, political upheaval that overwhelmed tht
opposition in 1881. are among the kick
, ers.
! THE PUBLIC ROADS, Parties coming
' i'll from every portion of the county report
the public roads in a deplorable condition
in many places impossible for a Wagon
with an ordinary load, and in others al
most impossible for empty vehicles. Many
of our farmers are anxious to bring theii
produce to market, especially the hay
crop. for which there is active demand, out
are unable to do so because of the condi.
tion of the public highways. One farmer
was approached to sell a Car load of hay.
for which merchant had an order. He
said be had the hay and wanted 10 Sell it.