Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-04-18
AGAINST MALONE.
The ADDRESS ISSUED BIZ REPUBLICAN
KICKERs

The ADDRESS ISSUED By REPUBLICAN
KICKERs.
To the Republican Voters of Tiroinia:
The time has come in the affairs of the
Republican party in the State of Virginia
which calls for the exercise of all the wis.
dom, all the courage, all the prudence and
all the forbearance and mutual oonsidera-
ton that can be found in its membership.
1t is well known that for years a division
of opinion has existed as to whether the
present plan of organisation is the best. and.
indeed, whether it is either in accord with
the wishes of the majority of our party or
consistent with Republican principles.
During that period several Intellectual efforts
have been made to effect change in certain
features of the present plan of organisation
which were felt to be arbitrary in their
workings, and which had as il
was contended neutralised the vitality and
sapped the energy of many who have been
foremost in defence of the leading principles
and active policies of the party. It were
idle to indulge in retrospect and such a
review can only tend to recriminatiop: but
we cannot refrain from saying, in this con.
nection, that while man after man who won
our early successes has retired, we have
gained but one victory since 1882, and that
was when the people took charge of affairs
in their own congressional districts, and
having nominated their candidates went to
the polls and elected them with almost
absolutely no interference by the manage
rial policy OF our party, as now organised.
1t is absurd to say that the victory in the
congressional campaign of 1886 was due in
any way to our party management. The
facts are too fresh in the memory of our
voters.
We may be wrong in our Judgment as to
what is best for our party, but it is our
opinion that q change in the present plan
Of organization whereby more liberty shall
be accorded to the people il essential to its
| future success.
Popular liberty, which Is the basis of Re-
publicanism, can never be preserved by the
establishment of autocracy; and history is
without an example of any individual en-
trusted with absolute power whose patriot
ism has proved strong or high enough to
resist the temptation to abuse it.
When people seeking to justify means
by an end once surrender their rights and
privileges to the keeping of any individual,
the conclusion is foregone. All reason
prophesies it; all history verifes it; the de-
pository of such power Invariably comes to
believe the delegated powers to DO his own,
and finally to dispute all objection and eriti-
cisn as disloyalty and treachsry. Unlimit-
ed discretion cannot be safely given to any
man. It would destroy the political equili-
brium of the best poised patriot.
We earnestly suggest to all Republicans
who sincerely desire the supremacy of their
party to join with US in asking for an altera-
ton of methods in the party organisation,
SO that the people themselves shall have a
controlling voice in the selection of their
representatives and nominees, and the right
to the untrammelled choice of all commit
teemen and officers of the party ORGANISE
ton.
And in pursuance of this view we join in
solemn protest against that commercial
system of politics which would be illustrat-
ed and enforced by the adoption of the
"unit rule"
We appeal to the men of Virginia who are
Republicans through conviction aud by
principle to join us in electing delegates to
the State convention, to be held in Peters
burg May II, 1888, who will vote to eman-
cipate the rank and file of the party from
the injustice and dangers of the present
plan of party organisation.
JOHN F. LEWIS,
VIM. e CAMERON,
J. YosT,
JOHN s. WISE,
V. D. GRoNER,
J. A. FRAZIER,
]. D. BRADY,
D. F. Houston,
s. M. YosT,
W. G. 'PENDLEToN,
G. K. GILMER,
G. G. CLARKE,
Com rnittao Of Gonfaranca