New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-02
READING OUT MALONE.
THE REPUBLICAN SPLIT IN VIRGINIA.
AN ADDRESS TO TIKI PEOPLE INTENDED TO CIR
cUMvEST "oNE AMBITIOUS AND MALICIOUS

AN ADDRESS TO THB PEOPLE INTENDED TO CIR
cUMvEST "oyE AMBITIOUS AND MALICIOUS
MAN"
Petersburg June 1 (spec taD.-The Committee Of
twenty-five appointed by the Anti-Mahone Republican
STATE Convention, held in Petersburg on May II, to
prepare an address TO the Republicans of Virginia. have
performed the duty assigned them, and to-day the adj
dress was given out for publication 1t is signed By
John S. Wise, Ex-Governor William T. Cameron, ex-
congressman James d. Brady, General v ID. Groner,
and other prominent antiMahoDeites. Tho address
IS lengthy gotten up in pamphlet form for dis
tibution throughout the state After referring to the
split which occurred I'm the Malone State Convention
and tho subsequent action of the the adj
dress says:
Ever since ifs adoption 1t has been apparent thre
the plan Of organization under which the Republican
party of this State has been conducted
since 1854 is such as to render
1t capable of gVeat abuse and to place II in the power
OF the State chairman Of the party to ignore the VIII
of the people I'm selecting county and city chairmen
and committees Other powers vested in the state
chairman under the thin disguise Of grant to an ex-
ecutve committee composed of himself and two otners
and the power vested in him to organize all state con-
ventons and thor temporary chalrmen, have
really placed party for years completely IN the
hands and power G. its chairman whenever he might
fit to exercise III the functions with which he was
invested
publican party in Virginia for the last four years,
with a view to showing whether the chairman has or
has not brought into full play the extraordinary
powers conferred on him by that plan Of organization
so as to manipulate party action according TO his WILL
The PRONUNCIATION Of secret crculansent out by the
chairman Of party in January last brought all this
growing discomfort moro distinctly to head than
ever before and displayed moro glarngly than ever
before 10 the Republicans Of Virginia the dangers to
the popular viii from the abuse OF the powers en-
trusted under the plan Of organization 10 its chairman
This circular had been sent out in honorable conf
dence to few trusted friends. 1t came to the light
OF day By chance 1t showed 10 the Republican voters
Of Virginia that while they had been awaiting tho
time when they should meet and confer and choose
delegates to Chicago TO vote for the candidate
OF their choice, the chairman of the
party had been secretly arranging TO secure delegates
to Chicago to vote for the candidates Of his choice
1t is difficult TO exaggerate the effect of the publ
cation Of this secret circular upon the Republican
masses Of Virginia. Not only did 1t discover a de-
nberate secret plan the Virginia delegation
to Chicago, according to the views of the Chairman,
and to use the whole party machinery to that end,
but at tho same time II did this it showed the people
the danger OF bis doing 1t with the powers they had
given him. Even the friends Of the Presidential
candidate in whose interest he was attempting 10 Sc
cure the Virginia delegation did not approve
his method Of accomplishing it. and the
friends of the other eligible candidates were
Justly indignant especially those Of the Hon. James
c. Blaine who arc numerous in this State, for the
circular secretly assalcd Mr. Blaine in the most vio-
lent way
1t moreover placed the charman's adversary IN the
unit rule upon grounds rejecting upon tho honesty OF
the Republicans who might be selected as delegates
to Chicago. The unit rule, in our Judgment, has
been repudated beyond question by the Republican
party. Why it should be revived here, and made
condition OF loyalty, at fUss TO conceive un
less DO for the purpose Of delivering our whole vote
by contract The course insisted upon OF demanding
t all district conventions DO held first In Petersburg
| beyond the limits of their district was violation
| OF tho party law. Bat while both OF these
things relate 10 National politics rather
than to State they have Influenced our action to this
extent: they show I'm our present party managenci.s
a roc liess seisuflciency which cares nothlhs whh-
ever for precedent or authority; that pauses at MOTH
! ing which 10 wishes TO do by any consideration OF
what any ono else has brought, or what the feelng
! OF any one else may be, and that Is depefmned 10
! Elle or RUIN tho Republican party OF virginia
This being apparent I'm these as wei as m all olner
things we despalred OF accomplishing anything undeP
the plan OF organization and It's present maagement,
! and encouraged by the cOVntenapce given TO Tsur-
gents In the convention from which we retired wa
resolved 20 express our convictions by lndependent
| action rnti> these things are pcrhTried there can
be no united party in Virginia and we appear 10 az
| Republicans to Join With as against The plan OF
organization complained Of believing as we 40 tnat ~
enables designing ones to sink the principles anu
| policies Of RepublicanISm and subopiinate them 10
| the wishes Of one ambitious and malicious man.