The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-03-08
[Wytheville Patriot and Herald
Impudent and Unjust.

We were astonished and proyok ed at seeing
in the Valley Frgtntdn OF last week letter
and circular both 'conTidenti0t,' which were
sent out by Gen. Mahone To special friends,
who were expected TO do as he requested or die
tated. We were not provoked with the pu9in-
IAN for making them public: but with the chair
man of the Republican party in the State for
doing a thing that was SO indiscreet and unjust.
1t has been our eGdeavor for some time past to
aid in harmonizing the factions the Republi-
can party in Virginia; and we had been assur-
ed by those who were near Gen Mahone, ana
who assumed to speak for him, that he was dis
posed to be more conservative and was anxious
for the restoration of harmony in our ranks
Our feelings can. therefore. be well imagined
when we perused the impudent and unprovok-
ed utterances made in his confidential commu-
nieations. which, we suppose, ne tnousnt would
pected TO follow his foolish and selflsh dc
lates,
The objects of the communications are too
plain to be misunderstood. 1t was determined
by the National Committee that delegates from
all the States should be selected IN a uniform
manner: and in its call it directed that each
congressional district should hold convention
and send two delegates and two alterrates TO
the National Convention and that each state
should hold Convention and send four dele
gates and four alterDates at large. Whatever
may have been the intention of the National
Committee. it was seen That thls plan coald
prevent the packing of the delegations III any
State to go for some certain man who was not
the choice of the people OF the state anu Woulo
prevent the enforcement of the unit rule, where
all the delegates OF State were not unit in
sentiment
We must infer that this did not agree with
the plans anu purposes of Gen. Malone, who
has been charged with contracting with MT.
Sherman to deliver for him a solid delegation
from Virginia. Whether such bargain was
made or not il is manifest that such is the de-
sire of Gen. Malone. Seeing that he would not
have the opportunity Of doing this by the
means of a State Convention. he has worked
out the plan that is laid down IN ms connden,
tiaI circular addressed to his chosen friends and
strikers in each of the Congressional districts.
The independent and true men of the Republl-
can party in the State cannot but condemn this
action the Slate chairman as unW1S0 ana Qn-
Just. To follow its directions would Dflng just
disgrace and defeat upon our party IN the state,
The plan is arIfully laid to stife honest senti-
ment and secure delegation to Chicago that
will submit TO The arbitrary dictations OF Gen.
Malone To say the least of il. the Republican
party is under obligations to the gentleman
who gave these communications 10 the pGgtn-
ian. The people having been forewafned are
now forearmed and can prevent such Migrant
outrage upon their rights.
The bitter attack made by G. II. Mahoue up
Mr.. Blaine is foolish and in the worst taSte,
Occupying the position the party does in Viz
ginia what could be more unWlse than 1or oul
Chairman to indulge IN such TRADE against
the idol of the Republican party at large fol-
this is what Mr. Blaine uDdouotedly u.s. was Gen
Manone stupid enough 10 think that such doe
ument could be circulated, even cOnFdenttdu3
without finding its way to the puDic ana call
ing down wrath upon its authors head But
if the thing had been kept secret until the Con
gressional Conventions assembled, ana the q J.
rections of the circular had been followed ii
could have accom- pllshed nothing else but de-
feat in Virginia in 1888, the very thing Gen, Ma
hone pretends to be seeking TO prevent. VIII
any Republican with thIee grains of common
sense say that his State can be carried Tor our
party without the active aid and cooperation
of the men that Gen, Malone asks the Con-
gressonal Conventions 10 read out OF the par
Iy? The men he calls kickers and laggards are
those who do not agree with him IN The man.
agement of the party, and who nave CHOSEN 10
make their views known to the PUBIC. he
would have III the important contest OF this
year drive the Lewis, the YOsts V. ID. Groner,
Cameron, Hooper Riddleberger, King, Parsons
Houston, Hansbrough, Conrads and others who
are popular and lnhuentlal, from our party
ranks by the adoption OF resolution which he
has prepared himself at headquarters. Does
this not look as if Gen. Malone wishes TO DO
what he accuses the kickerS OF seeking TO do
that is get control of the patronage in Virginia
If there is to be any patronage, regardless OF
the success OF the party III the state. In recent
years the party has been guilty of the foolish
policy OF driving men from its ranks under tn
ADVICE of Gen. Malone and others. The DIS
aster that followed is too well known to be
even referred to. Can Gen. Malone lead the
party in to the commission of another such folly?
We have confidence in the intelligence and In
tegrity of the Republicans of the Ninth dis
trict and OF the State, and cannot believe that
they will be so recreant to duty.
If Gen. Malone intended TO serve Mr.. Sher-
man by his scheme he has failed. Mr., sherman
will have to disapprove OF it in the most publlc
way retire from the contest as candidate
for the Republican nomination. The Repubil-
cans at the North will not tolerate such move
ment as that made by Gen. Malone, and Mr..
suffer along with Malone in the eyes of the
Republicans of the Nation.
Gen. Malone has made the mistake CT ms lie,
and can no longer claim to be a successful and
wise leader. The worst of il is that his party
Will suffer by his mistake.