The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-06-21
NO. 10


Mahone's brigade marching down ON one
common enemy and uniting ID one grand
charge that Will carry CONSERVATION into
the ranks of the free trade, anti Blair bill
Democracy.
But will not be misunderstood. I am
now, henceforth and forever opposed to
bossism or one man power, and | shall not
rest until the foul blot is wiped off the Re-
publican party.
We can never succeed with it, and
should we, our success would be our dam
nation. We have gone from bad to worse
SINCE 1881. True, we won the Congress
sional campaign in 1886, but it was a cam
palgn when Malone let the people alone
We have been adding rev recruits every
camp align, but as rapidly as we add to one
end Gen. Malone chops off at the other,
and he chops off faster than we can add
on. Where is Massey, Fukerson, Ly-
brook, Newberry, Hale, Cameron, Wick
ham, Brady, Riddleberger, Slmms, Lewis
all men once high in the councils of the
| party, and each in his turn recommended
for the position he held by Gen. Malone,
and counted worthy by him of our support
which we freely gave. Now we are COM
manded by him to scorn them with con-
! tempt and to brand them as kickers, dis
organizers and deserters To that array
are now to be added over two hundred of
as true and tried Republicans as ever cast
a ballot, including John S. Wise, Groner,
Libby, Dyson, Houston, Edgar Allen,
| Causey, PendletOn, I oSts, Browning, and
host of others who have ever been in the
| thlckeSt of the fight. He talks of stray
| gers, as though this was an army bent on
blood. death and destruction. Why, this is
| a political army OF freemen that does not
have to fight, bat to Uote, and what he calls
| a straggler can vote and influence others
to cote, and you can't hang him either.
His 'sagacious administration reminds
me more of Napoleon invasion of Russia
1t was disastrous retreat from Moscow.
The bones OF his best generals and soldiers
marked his route of retreat. all sacrificed
to the ambition of one man. Our battles
in 1913, 'S4. 'S5 and '07. were like the charge
at BalaklaVa-as an old soldier expressed
1T when viewing the slain: This is mag
nificent. but it is not war;" Mahone's ''sa>
gaciouS administration is magnificent,
but 1t is not politics.
We are going to Chicago. We are going
to be heard, and believe seated. certainly,
those who were elected by our district
conventions. But seated or not we are
going to win the presidency; if not before,
we will after that, settle the question of
bossism IN Virginia, finally and forever
Now, fellow Republicans. [ am done. I
have honestly and faithfully represented
you. | have told you what occurred. and
[ want your approval. If by my action
have lost your confidence, which is so dear
to me, want to know it. If by my action
| have misrepresented you, am incapable
of being a representative, and L have
studied politics in vain, sirs. Every
instinct of honor, every instinct of justice.
every instinct OF patriotism, every instinct
of honesty and fair play impelled me to as
sert my manhood, and to place the seal OF
your condemnation upon this browning
outrage. Should l tamely submit to these
wrongs | would not have the audacity to
meet my honest constituents face to face,
and with them condemn the wrongs and
OutrageS committed by Southern Dem
ocrats upon Southern Republicans. when
| had submitted to a wrong to my own
people, that would make Louisiana bull
dozer or a South Carolina ballot box stul.ay'
blush for shame. Sirs, if you appror1 81
action let it be heard in thunder tJnes
you condemn me, say so, and | s'lli sno '
and be set up as sanother Monument
Mahone's ''sagaGious adpa inlsCratlon'
Fellow Republicans ior Sl6 Is 10 yoi
am addressing mvsciI, do not know
to stop. NV whole heart and soul is
our canse when | think of the gra
doctrines of our party when l see H
tiielr adoption we are to take old Virgin
from the slough of despond and place her
on the high road OF prosperity; when L see
by the policy of protection our grand
Southwest section is to bud and blossom
as the rose; when l see the national treas
ury overlooking with tremendous sur
plus and our children growing up in igno-
rance; when L see our farm products
taxed and no relief from the Democratic
administration, and then to think that in
stead of the grand Republican doctrines
being advocated, they are sacrificed to the
ambition of one man, my heart sickens. Sirs
the doctrine that the people were soyer-
eign. and that it was right to throw off
the yoke of kings, priests and emperors in
the war for independence, and then see
the Republican party subject to the will
of a dictator, [ would be worse than a
traitor did not raise my voice against it
and sound the alalln. plead with you to
assert your manhood and to return to the
doctrine that all power is derived from
the people-the foundation of American
ism and of the Republican party.