Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-03-02

that the purpose Of It's preparation
was to barmOnize the party in the
State, and present reasons why Vir-
ginia might he counted on TO cast
her electoral vote for the Repubh-
can Presidential nominees, if proper
assistance should be rendered.
When It was found that the effect
was just the reverse, and that it
was not a reflection of the senti-
ment Of the party in the policy and
purpose 1t outlined, three of the
Mlners, certainly, expressed their
dissent from it and regret that they
had given their sanction to it, with
out the careful consideration such
a paper should have had, and the
fourth, as we have been Informed,
is now satisfied it was q serious
mistake. Even ii all the signers
were now in accord with 1t, they
simply would represent themselves,
and be entitled only to such con
slderation and influence as should
he accorded to a similar number of
intelligent members Of the party in
their individual relations, inasmuch
as they had no right to speak for
the organization or for the Republi-
can masses, in a matter that was
not discussed or passed upon in
their election to Congress and the
Legislature. In fact there Is not
one of the five members OF Con.
gress whose names are attached to
this "address," who could have
been elected had he Indicated to
the public that such a paper would
meet his approval, and there is not
one of them who can be returned,
with this address as an expression
of his sentiments. Two of the
members signing were nominated,
after a fierce contest, by influences
directly a1tagoDistic to the purpose
and policy Of the "address,D and
did not represent the views of a
majority OF the constituents, as
made known in their nomination in
giving their sanction to it. Nor
would three. fourths of the Republi-
can members of the Legislature
have been chosen, ii they had made
it known that they would endorse
such a paper as that which the
several Congressional districts are
asked to approve and sustain, when
they convene in formal convention
to appoint delegates to Chicago
AS to its effect upon the National
Committee it can he expressed in
one wOrd-disguSt.
II Is remarkable in that the
policy is urged Of suppressing the
honest sentiment of the party. ~
to Presidential nominee, and by
addpting the unit, place Virginia
In the Convention at the disposal
of one man to manipulate az his
ambition may direct. We have no
unkind wO,d to say of Mr.. Sher.
man. We shall give him an earnest
support should he be the nominee.
He is eminent in ability and ex.
perience, and Republican to be
trusted. but he is not the choice of
a majority of the Republicans of
this State. for local reasons. There
is no doubt that Mr.. Blaine has
the largest following among Re.
publicans in Virginia; next to him
Harrison, and then Foraker, If our
judgment, based upon an extensive
correspondence, is not at fault
But whoever may be the nominee,
the Republicans of Virginia want
no more bargains-nO more auto.
cratic sway and despotic rule, by
which one man would be invested
with supreme power, and control
the policy of the administration,
should it be Republican, not only
in Virginia, but throughout the
South. That is the programme
now, and that is what this circul ar
and the purposes it disclOscs,
mean.
SO far as the "kickers" and the
fellowship of the Chairman are
concerned, he can exercise his
volitlon. He can make his choice
of his personal associates, but he
cannot kick any body out of the Re
publican party. 1t is not for him
or his willing and plastic associates
to determine our political relations.
We expect to be advocating Re-
publican principles and supporting
the Republican nominees when he
is either sulking in his tent, or de-
vlsing schemes to bring about de.
feat. This remarkable circular adj
mits the possibility of this, in the
forward look to 1889, should the
Republican party not succeed in
1888. 1t comedies no lasting force
and virtue TO the principles of the
party, nor that it would be tOler.
able to fight for them under the
shadow Tor repeated defeats. Re-
publican principles are as certain
to predominant and be recognized
10 the policies OF government as
that the progress and prosperity of
The country are dear to American
people. Virginia to-day is Re-
publican in sentiment, and but for
the methods and aims such as are
given ont in this remarkable letter
snd the "address" it asks to be en-
iorsed, the balloJ box would show
t in an overwhelming majority of
he popular vote. There are con.
litions more to be deplored than |
party defeat, and wrongs and
lumilIatlons to be suffered more |
ntolerable than an apparent tri-
lmph of false notions of govern.
nent, and but for these reasons
thousands of voters in Virginia,
Who cast their ballots for the Dem.
,cratic party, would be heart and
land with the Republican. We
,annOt expect success with such Il
ipirit and such a greed for power
II are manifested in these anOma-
Gus utterances from those who
lain to represent and reflect the
ointment of Virginia Republicans.
nor can it be expected that
harmony will prevail where the
dict of one man has to be accept.
d as the law and the gospel Of the
'arty, and all who may question
he policy or the wisdom of such
rbitrary assumption must re-
ounce their party relations at the
riders OF the boss. 1t would result