The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-02-23
The Secret Circular-1ts Propositions

THURSDAY. February %, 1888.
The Secret Circular-Its Propositions
The secret circular issued from the State
Executive Committee of the Republican
party which we published last week. bears
evidence of conscious distruSt OF the peo-
pie as to the propositions enumerated and
the manner of endorsing them, as they
appear at the close Of the document. Had
there been desire to consult the sentl-
ment of the party, to promote its inter-
ests, and harmonic any conflicting views
that may exist, there would have been,
naturally aud properly, direct appeal 10
the Republican masses, and an lnVltatlt
for fair and manly discussion OF tie
questions raised, to the end that result
rejecting popular opinion might have
been reached. To our mind there could
not have been suggested a method to ac-
complish result. in connection with the
efficiency Of parry organization or the OBJ
jects for which party organizations are
formed more repulsiye to an inherent sense
of fairness and right than that which was
invoked in that remarkable paper. There
never has been known, in the history OF
parties in Virginia or elseN here, for au-
thority to he assumed by the chairman Of
committee to devise secret plan to de-
termine important questions affecting the
party. aud to propose an insidious plot
TO disintegrate il, TO crafty the am.
hilion and satiate the revenge of one
man.
1t would be well enough to look at these
several propositions, and consider their
character in view of the manner suggested
TO dispose of them. Says the secret cir
cular:
would advise that each Convention pass
resolutions instructisg its TIRE delegates and al
tersates to cote in the National Republican Conren
ton at Chicago in June neqt, upon all questions
and Nominations, as a majority Of the Delegation
from the STATE shall agree In addition to such a
resolution would advise the following
Resoiued. /. That the Delegates and altern-
ates appointed as District Delegates to repre-
sent the Republican party of the
Congressional District at the Republican Ma
tional Convention to be held at Chicago on the
18th day of June next, be, and they are hereby
instructed TO vote in such National Convention
upon all questions and nominations, as the
delegates from the state. by majority. shall
agree.
IL. That this Convention cordially endorse
the manifesto laid before the National Com
mittee at their meeting in the City of Wash
ington, ID. c., on the Sth December last signed
by the Hon. Messrs. Bowen, Brown, Bowden
Browne, Gaines, Elan, HUBBARD, Hodges, Gee
Martin and Treat.
III. That we renounce political fellowship
and repudiate the pretended Republicansm OF
the certain kickers and laggards to whom that
manifesto obviously refers
" That we endorse the organization of the
parry and its administration, and denounee
the insidious attacks made upon it as an un
manly pretext for serving the Democratic par
ty. and as The prompting of a self-conceit born
of an ambition which had no foundation i'll any
service rendered the Republican party, no
greatly overpaid.
The lirstsproposition sis in direct con
flct with the purpose of the Nationa
Committee, both at its meeting in 1o8;
and at its meeting IN 1887. to secure al
expression Of popular sentiment through
district representa- ton. Theeunit rule wal
expressly repudiated in 1888, and that re
pudiation was enlarged and emphasized
last December, when the Committee or
dered that the District Conventions. t.
send delegates to the National Convention
should he held as conventions to nominate
candidates for. Congress are held, within
the district, and not by subdivision of the
delegates from the districts at the State
Convention, as heretofore. The object
was to secure minority representation il
the National Convention, and give to eacf
candidate the strength in the Convention
that he might have " it'll the people. Th
action of the National Committee wa
designed in this order to reach the pr
mary source of political power and give t.
the people in each district the right to b.
represented. through the delegates the.
might select, in the nom ination of can
ddate for the Presidency. 1t was for
NAL and emphatic protest against the ma
chine and boss rule. made necessary by thu
attempt to exercise arbitrary majorit,
power in State delegations. out Of which
contentious and GissensiOns had grown
and defeat the will of the people. 1t wa
substantially declaration that the fou
delegates from the 4th and 81 district
should not control the two delegates from
the 10th district-that each district SHOULD
voice its own choice of candidate through
its delegates. as the only proper wa,
to give expression to the wish of the peo-
pie II was TO effect these objects. tha
the rule was adopted by the national com
mittee, in December last. requiring thu
delegates from each district to be cho
sen by Convention held within the dis
trict.
The proposition of This secret crcula
is to repudiate the highest authority il
the party, to nullify its. commands, ant
enthrone the chairman of the irgini;
Republicans Committee above it end in de
liance of it. And for what? That he. as
chairman of the delegation. as he hopes t.
be. might have the power to cast the TWEEN
tyfour votes of Virginia solid for Johl
Sherman. regardless of the wishes O
the Republicans Of the State, and re
ceiye the plaudits of the organized
clackers, who may be present to punctuat
Vie piUS less Vi TIC utitObluS ny dppi0uo
for their favorite. The whole purpose il
this recommendation is to stide the will o
the speople. magnify the chairman. an,
force nomination that will not represen
the predominant sentiment of the party
We have on several occasions alluded +
the manifesto" to which reference i
N ade in the second proposed resolution
We shall,at the proper time, give it to GU
readers in full. reserving until then appro
pirate comments. 1t is sufficient to say tina
the address, ''as it has been called does no
represent the sentiment OF some Of thos
who signed it-that it was signed under
misapprehension of its purpose and the i'm
preston that 1t was designed to promot
harmony in the party. and not to dlsln
tegrate it, We have the first Republican
to meet. who has read it, that does no
condemn and repudiate it, and conside
that it was unfortunate such pape
should have been read before the Nationa
Committee, both for the gentlemen who's
names are attached to it, and for the par
ty. for it will be heard of in future cam
oi.,i1