The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-04-19
DISTRICT Representation.

District Representation.
We see it stated in a telegram from
Lexington, that a meeting was held in
that place on the 18th, of the district
members of the Republican State Central
Committee, to take action Oh call for
District Convention to elect two dele
gates to the Chicago Convention. The
district committee is composed OF three |
members of the State Central Committee
from the district, viz James A. Frazier,
of Rockhridge; W e. Craig, of Augusta,
and Caesar Perkins, of Buckingham
Messrs. Frazier and Craig were present,
and Mr.. Perkins by proxy, held by Mr..
Craig The result of the meeting was
that the District Convention was called to
meet in Petersburg, instead of within
the district. as the positive rule of the
committee requires. Mr.. Craig cast his
own vote and that of Mr.. Perkins, for
this proposition Mr.. Frazier voting
against it.
Mr.. Craig is gentleman of more than
ordinary ability-has we'll balanced mind,
and when he chooses 10 deliberately exer-
else it is generally safe adviser. We are
therefore surprised. knowing the terms OF
the law as laid down by the National Com
mlttee, as he does. that be should have
thought it wise and polite to disregard it,
Instead of conforming his action to the
supreme authority of the party, he must
have merely consulted the wishes and
obeyed the request of the Chairman of the
State Committee. Certainly. if he had
conformed to the plain letter of the rule
of the National Committee. he could have
reached but one conclusion. and that was
no where else could legal District Con-
Yention be held except within the district.
We regret this. because it is in open de-
Gance of the National Committee. and
will necessitate contrasting delegation
from this district to the National Conven-
tion. 1t will be the plain duty of the
Chairman of the District Committee and
those Republicans who do not recognize
the right of the Chairman of the State
Committee to nullify the law Of the party.
to proceed to call Convention, at some
place within the district, as required by
the rule of the National Committee. to
elect two delegates to represent the dis
trct in the Chicago Convention. That is
the only way in which district delegates
can be properly appointed, and those
only who are elected in conformity TO the
law lai1 down by the National Committee
will be admitted to seats if the matter is
brought to the attention of the National
Convention.
1t involves the paramount question
whether the people constituting the Re-
publican party have any rights that the
State Chairman is found to respect, and
whether the National Committee has the
power to prescribe a method for the cleo
tion of delegates. The power was con-
ferred upon it by the National Conven-
tion of 1884, and the duty imposed of pre-
scribing the N inner in which delegates
should be chosen. There was never any
doubt expressed about the regularity of
the action Of the National Convention or
the National Committee. The primary
object was to secure. as nearly as possible,
a reflection of public sentiment in the
choice Of delegates. But the State Chair
man had predetermined that the delegation
from Virginia should vote in certain way
and for certain candidate, regardless of
the wishes of the people. and 1t is to carry
into effect this predetermination that
usurpation is to be the rule and disobe-
dience to the orders Of the National Com
mittee the law, which are to govern in the
election of district delegates from Virginia.
1t IS whether or not one man is to rule and
control the party, regardless Of law, scorn-
ful Of public sentiment. and in defiance
of every consideration of wise party pol
icy. If majority of the Republicans OF
Virginia are ready to tamely submit to
such gross and glaring usurpation, then it
will require no prophet to foretell the
result. Defeat, more overwhelming and
disastrous than ever yet has been encoun-
tered, will as certainly come as the day OF
election rolls around. While the Republi-
cans have, we believe, a decided majority
of the popular vote in the State, there are
thousands of them who cannot be induced
to submit to such inselent despotism. We
will not only have to undergo this humil-
iation at home. but will justly invite the
distrust and contempt of all fair minded
Republicans elsewhere. 1t is difficult, we
know. to contend against the compact ma
chinery of party, engineered by skillful
hands and an iron will. But the people
owe it to themselves TO assert and yindi-
cate their own rights and their own man
hood. by presenting firm front to the
usurpation, and demanding that the law
of the party be observed and delegates be
appointed in conformity to it. The Ma
tional Convention could not do otherwise
than approve it. and the great mass Of the
Republicans of the country would COM
mend the courage and party. devotion that
it would emphasize.
The true policy for the Republicans of
the State is to hold district Conventions
within the districts, aud elect delegates to
Chicago, in obedience to the rule Of the
National Committee. ard we hope in each
district such action will be taken as will
advertise to the world that the Republi
cans of Virginia are not the subservient
slaves of one man.