Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-04-13
with is, to say the least, sadly mistaken

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with is, to say the least, sadly mistaken
and miscalculated for the purposes 1t
avows. The suspicion inevitably becomes
of graver character, and approaches the
point of positive proof, when, in addition
to the hearty reception accorded the doc
ument by the Democratic press, it is also
found that its author sought that channel
as the most appropriate through which his
views should reach the public.
Hence, though greatly surprised to learn
that Capt. John S. Wise had published
letter. or an address. to Virginia Republic
cans in the Richmond Dispatch, was not
surprised at all that, in allegation and
tenor, it correspondent strictly, and with
careful detail, to the prominent Demo-
cratic place it sought, and which was so
cheerfully may, hilarously) given it. The
eternal fitness Of things was never more
APPLY and distinctly satisfied. Yet Cap
Wise, with perfect confidence. gives this
supreme effort of his, to allay Republican
discord and to achieve victory ''by thu
united aud friendly work of all the voters
of Virginia who are opposed to Democra-
cy.'' to the
CHIEF DEMOCRATIC ORGAN
[ In the Commonwealth ! His confidence is
rewarded fully, but whether through CO.
| incidence of opinion as TO the tendency OF
his effort to help, or harm, the Republican
party, is matter for rational conjecture.
/ Claiming to have hitherto kept aloof
| from the tactional and personal controver-
sizes that have distracted the party, he de-
scends from that self-asserted, non-com-
initial and equivocal position, and at once
announces that he takes the lead of the on
| ~ factional and personal array against the
party organization and administration
| when, up to the moment of his announce
ment. he has been recognized as cordial
supporter of both organization and admi-
nlstration. Certainly these lad vigorously
supported him, and upon the reasonable
assurance that the support was reciprocal,
without the remote5E suspicion that he
| meditated
JOINING THE DISCREPANCIES
to promote organization, and reinforcing
! the malcontents to appease and quiet dis
sension. Denying very properly that the
party has Mascot, or mlracleworker, he
. Immediately volunteers to play this role,
with unhesitating assertion of his potency
and infallibility.
| Capt. Wise disclaims any personal feel
| ing against the chairman of the party as a
| motive to the course he is pursuing; but
! why be should make and relterate this dis
claimer does not fully appear; for surely
| he. of all men, is under no personal or po-
| litical obligation to shape his opinions or
| his conduct by any consideration for OR
| against the chairman in affairs that ap-
| peal directly to ones intelligence and pa
| triotism, especially when las in this case)
| it is so apparent that even self is made a
| free Offering at the sacrifclal altar J OF
| course, at this precise juncture, there are
| circumstances in the situation that might
betray weak, short-sighted, unstable and
| aspiring man into
THE BLUNDER
| of accepting the noisy demonstrations of
! few Republicans, chOrussed yociferOusly
! by the Democratic press and the Demo-
| cratic lungs, as the voice of the party;
but Capt. Wise is so self poised, so perfect
a master of equilibration, that he is in no
danger of that ''vaultlng ambition which
overleaps itself, and falls on the other side. :"
| Having maintained heretofore judicious,
| if not judicial attitude toward our con-
troYersies and the persons engaged in
them, he now merely pronounces judgment
| from high sense of duty, and in absolute
faith that it and he will be accepted on all
| sides as this true solutions of all difficult
| ties and differences, Whether as to men or
methods!
| Ou6 CduuOU dfClu 1COtiuS VI oCutC
| sympathy for Capt. Wise 10 seeing him
forced by his conscientious convictions to
declare war against system of party
government OF which, throughout its
! whole administration, he has been
A PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY.
If this system had antagonized him-bad
| baffi3d and sacrificed him-We might see
| how easily he could turn upon it and en-
deavor TO destroy it; but as it is, iC is left
to our tender imaginatioDs to conceive
! the agoniZing thrGeS he must have under
gone to have reached the conviction, after
eight years of cumulative honors and
emoluments, that he must break with all
/ his former associates and associations aid
| 6ght against the plan of party organiz,-
ton, against the unit rule, and express
the stern resolution that these must down
at his bidding, or he will "go into some
other party"
y \
! It is remarkable that Capt. Wise states
positively that at the next State eOnvene
ton Of the party he aUlu move to change
the present plan OF organization and urge
the adoption of another plan which he
prints. Why did he not add that be would
also adopt or pass this plan of his Is he
permanent or
LIFE DELEGATE
Ii not, then he has no more right to say
that he will move or urge anything. than
he has to say that he will adopt it, or have
it passed. But more remarkable still is
bis expressed willingness to amend bis
plan to meet the uieWs Of the naGjority,
when it Is in evidence that his plan is pro.
| posed to meet the views IF minority,
and when the present Plan, originally
| a n1 hu o majority hao bapn 6ptpnhA6
and sustained through various State con.
ventons By undimlnished majorities: Ii
as Capt. W Use says, the majority heretofore
has been actuated by Insufficient reasons,
still he must admit. on his own logic, that
| it is the WilJ of the majority and not its
| argument that is to rule. Nevertheless, it
is
GOOD POLICY
to let we'll enough alone. and the damage
may BIZ irreparable, If, to escape the Ii S
and impertections Of thu pres INT plan, ne
fall on others of much worse kiuG.
1t occurs to me that it would have been
wiser to have left the matter of party or
ganiZation, its defects. if you please. to
the calm consideration of the convention
where every view of it may be Intelligent
ly discussed by a committee Of the most
thoughtful and prudent neE OF the party
selected for the purpose, avoiding an ap.
peal to the thong htless prejudices of colon
and the low ambition of persons who make
trade of political influence, and without
amusing our adversary with our own dis
sentlons and inspiring hi;zl to promote
them.
The moment is not a felcitous nor propit
iouS one for an experiment of this eXtls
haZar- Gus nature. The white demagogue
and the man who follows his race and col