Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-04-20
AGAINST MALONE.
A Circular Address to the Virginia
Republicans.

~ W' HtP""ttW OttIo gf FNgihW
The time has come in the affair
Ofthe Republican party in the Stat,
of Virginia which calls for the ex
ercise of all the wisdom, all The
courage, all the prudence and al
the fCrbearance and mutual c0nsid
Grafton that can be found in il
membership. 1t is well known tina
for years a division Of opinion has
existed as to whether the present
plan OF organization is the best
and, indeed, whether it is either il
accord with the wishes of the ma
jOrity of our party or consistent
with Republican principles. Dur
ing that period several ineffectua
efforts have been made TO effect q
change in certain features of the
present plan of organization which
were felt to be arbitrary in theiI
workings. and which had as it was
cOntended neutralized the vitality
and Slapped the energyOf many who
have been foremost in defence OF
the leading principles and active
policies of the party. 1t were idle
to indulge IN retrospect and such a
review can only tend to recrimna.
ton; but we cannot refrain from
say ing, in this connection, that
while man after man who won our
early successes has retired we have
gained but one victory since 1889,
and that was when the people took
charge of affairs in their own con
gressional districts, and having
nominated their candidates went to
the polls and elected them with al
most absolutely no interference by
the managerial policy of our party,
as now organized. 1t is absurd to
say that the victory in the congress
sional campaign of 1886 was due IN
any way to our party management
The facts are too fresh in the mem
DRY of our voters.
We may be wrong in our iudg-
ment as to what is best our par.
ty, but it is our opinion that a
change in the present plan of or
ganization whereby more liberty
shall be accorded TO the people is
essential to its future success.
Popular liberty, which is the ba-
Sis OF Republicanism, can never be
preserved by the establishment OF
autOcracy; and history is without
an example of any individual en-.
trusted with absolute power whose
patriotism has proved strong or
high enough to resist the tempta-
ton to abuse it.
When a people seeking to justify
means by an end once surrender
their rights and privileges to the
keeping of any individual, the con-
clusion is foregOne. All reason
prophesies it; all history verifies
it ; the depository OF such power
invariably comes to believe the del.
egated powers to be bis own. aud
finally to dispute all objection and
criticism as dislOyalty and treach.
cry. Unlimited discretion cannot
be safely given to any man. 1t
would destroy the political eq1ili-
brlnm OF the best poised patriot.
We earnestly suggest to all Re.
publicans who sincerely desire the
supremacy of their party to join
with us in asking for an alteration
of methods in the party organlza.
ton, so that the people themselves
shall have a controlling voice in
the selection of their representa-
tlves and nominees. and the right
10 the uutrammelled choice of all
and officers of the
party organization.
Aud III pursuance of this view We
join in solemn protest against that
commercial system of politics which
would be illustrated and enforced
by the adoption OF the "unit rule"
We appeal to the men Of Virginia
who are Republicans through con-
viction and by principle to join rs
IN electing delegates to the State
to be held in Peters
burg May Il, 1888, who will vote to
the rank and file of the
party from the injustice and dan.
gers of the present plan of party
organization.
JOHN +. LEWIS,
WIN. L. CAMERON,
j. YOsT,
JOHN s. WISE,
V. ID. GRONER,
j. A. FRAZIER,
j. ID. BRADY,
ID. +. HOUSTON,
S. NJ. YosT,
w. G. PENDLEToN,
q. X. GILMRR,
G.. G. CLARKE,
Committee of Conference.