The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-03-08
A Present Duty.

of the Republican party in Virginia and
5he causes which have lead to its defeat
Of recent years. there are some who are
giving currency to the false
hood that there is a personal issue between
the editor Of this paper and the Chairman
Of the State Central Committee There |
is nothing of the kind, SO far as We are
We are anxious to see the |
full strength of the Republican party
brought into harmonious and effective Or
ganization. We desire to see the people
who compose it properly recognized, and
the foundation for the party S future ac-
ton, and we hope success, laid in the con
tidence. the earnest purpose, and active
work of those who do the voting. The
statement that the editor of this paper de-
sires to be chairman of the State Central
Committee IS utterly unfounded. Nor is
there any more truth in the assumption
that we have a candidate for that or any
other position to present. 1t is matter
of the supremest Indifference to us who is
chairman, if he will administer his office
of the men who constitute the party, and
SO plan the campaign and conduct its in
terests us to inspire the confidence, COM
mand the support and stimulate the active
efforts of every member of it. Instead of
reading out. we should like to read in
every voter III Virginia who believes III
r publican principles as applied to the
ADMINISTRATION OF government, and 10
crystalize and unity the organization. to
the END that the full strength of the party
may be shown at the ballot box. lndl-
vidually we aspire to no office or official
recognition. There is no place in the gift
of the party that we ask, or would accept
if rendered US and we have no one to pro-
pose for any such position. We want the
people to determine such matters for
themselves aud not be forestalled in their
wishes by combinations and plots for this
or that man, regardless of the popular will
and the common decencies OF political re-
lations We know that good and true
men have been driven either into condi-
ton of Indifference or absolute neutrality,
by the arbitrary methods of the Chairman.
We have the prominent fact before us that
the men who lead the victorious fight of
lS8l-Cameron, Lewis and Blair are not
i'll accord with the chairman. and are
classed among the kickers, whose fellow
ship is to be renowned. We know
the fact that many others of the able and
brilliant young men who contributed largely
to that triumph, are also under the ban of
the chairman-not for any intidellty TO the
Republican cause, but because they do not
recognize in the plan of organization or
the management under lit, the Influences
which are calculated to promote the wei
fare of the party. 1t is for reasons arts
ing out of these facts that we are opposed
to the present regime. We are well salts
fed the party can never succeed under it,
aud that it is the duty of the people who
constitute the party to demand change.
More especially is this necessity press
ing since the infamous secret circular was
made public aud the plot exposed 10y which
the people are to be gagged-popular
sentiment suppressed and the party
organization ptostituted to the selfish pur
pose OF one man No man who could con-
coct such a plot is fit to direct che desti-
MES of a party, or to dictate its policy,
nor can he command its confidence.
Controlling the columns of Republican
journal we have felt it to be a duty to the
party to criticlse and expose the unprece-
dented and intolerable despotism which
has been the ruling influence in its man
agement, and endeavor to arouse the peo-
pie to the fatal mistake they are making
of keeping silent for fear of being charged
with being "kickers" against the auto
cracy that has been permitted to rule and
govern and dominate all the party's 10
terests. No party can live and grow
under such conditions. 1t is not entitled
to live, if it should complacently submit
longer to one man power, and the meth
DDS which have been forged to crush
out the manhood of those who consti-
tute it.
Believing we are right, we shall not weary
in well doing We have no favcrs to ask,
except the approval of the independent
thinking. manly men of the party, who
believe in its principles and are ready to
labor for their success. in their application
to government. We seek no preferme Mt,
would accept no position and have no one
to present for either the craftsmanship or
delegate to the National Convention. or
for any other recognition. We want to
see the prevailing sentiment of the party
respected in both relations. We desire
such an administration as will bring into
active cooperation all who have heretofore
been with us and helped to achieve Re-
publican victories. This cannot be done
under the present management. and for
that reason we believe it would be for the
best interests of the party to have change.
We will not allow ourself to be provoked
into personal controversy through the
columns of this paper. We have higher
and more commendable aim in view and
that is the success of the Republican
party in Virginia and the Nation. as a
means of promoting the public welfare.
To accomplish this the people must be re-
cognized and consulted. and not the secret
orders and despotic DEGREES of one man
who has presumed upon the tolerance
the people have shown under great provo
cation. to magnify himself INTO the pro-
portion of Il party and demand implicit
obedience to his dogmatic and tyrannical
edicts and orders. concocted and issued
in the dark and intended to be concealed
from the people.
We venture nothing in saying the Re
publican party in Virginia under its pre-
sent management will never win a
victory We venture nothing in say
ing that if the pIais and plots OF
the chairman are carried out, Vir-
ginia will give a Democrat majority
of 10000 this fall, and send, if mt a full,
very nearly full Democratic delegation
to Congress. 1t is this we would prevent,
and it is with the people to say whether it
shall be or not. We have done and mean
to do our duty, as We understand it. 1t is
for them to do theirs.
The Sherman Boom.
We see IN the Washington Star that