The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-03

breaking with my former associates by
inviting this discussion. all my former as
socrates seem perfectly willing to have the
question considered and disposed OF in the
most fraternal way. This is the feeling
of everybody except a tew-a very few
who are SO arrogant and opinona'ed that
they fly into a passion whenever their in
fallibiliiy is quest ioned
Like y cow with her cud General Ma
hone rolls about in his mouth and chews
upon from time IL time. the garfield ex-
tractof sentence in my letter by which
he seeks to represent me as threatening
desertinn if my views do not prevail.
Mr.. Elan. who appears to have written
his letter for him. treated him badly
about this and several other points, for he
Elaml published letters of his own con-
tanning these same points before General
Malone S statement appeared. so that the
Generals points came out very blunt, as
had already answered them. 1t is non
sense for General Malone to pretend he
thinks intend to desert if my views do
not prevail. 1t was mere trick to quote
part of my sentence as countenance OF
that idea. | have too much respect for
his Intelligence to believe be thought as he
pretends, and defy him to drive me from
my party as he has done SO many others.
Evidently he thought he scored great
point when he sad had been principal
benefciary'' OF the present system Of
party government and assal. it after
eight years of cumulative honOrs and
emoluments. "
For General Mahone to describe any one
else than himself as principal beneficiary
is decidedly rich-and equally absurd is
the talk about eight 'tyears of cumulative
bOnnrS No jpr a MIA
adopted until 1854.
Ii this alusion was intended as re-
proach l reply that while was no doubt
rewarded far beyond my deserts, | worked
very Loyalty for such honOrs as | received,
and 1t was noticeable always concerning
myself and others that our share of spOtld
Optind came after. not before, General
Mahone's claims had been fully satisfied
If had ever for a moment imagined that
such honors Or emoluments as came to me
were offered as the price of my silence
againss mistakes or abuses, would have
spurned them in disgust.
Ii his reference to this was intended as
an argument it stabs him. If our plan
had baf1led or sacrificed me my opposition
would be subject to the imputation of
pique. But being on his own confession
a beneficiary. having received all its adj
vantages, my opinion that it is defective
may fairly be inferred disinterested and
freed from the prejudices | would feel if
| came with a grievance.
General Malone inquiries how this plan
became the law Of the party. and states
that it is substantially the plan adopted
in 1879 Presuming he is serious in his
query. | viii answer him:
| This plan was written by himself at the
| time of or just before the convention OF
| 1854, when we sent delegates to Chicago.
| He himself had it printed at the Wing
| office 1t was not seen by the delegates
generally until offered for adoption. 1t
was not reported from the committee until
the convention had finished it's other work.
and | well remember that General Malone
when we were about adjourning. reminded
me to have the plan OF organization
| adopted | confess | had paid little at
tention to it, and that joined in to have
| it adopted in most perfunctory way. Ii
was passed upon, without examination or
discussion, IN the dying hours OF that con-
vention, and | verify believe 1t was the
creature of General Mahone's own brain,
unaided by the counsel of any other human
| being.
Prior to that convention we had two
| organizations, Republican and ReadJuster.
| They were brought together then and
there. and this plan effected the union.
The pre- existing Republican plan was
totally unlike this, and, while do not
know what the Readjuster plan OF organi-
cation was. it is certain that it is no more
| fitted to our present party than baby
/ clothes are fitted for men. General Ma
| hone does not seem to me to grow with
his party. He cannot deal with the great
Republican party of the State to-day as he
did with the Readjuster party IN It's IN
| fancy any more than father can treat his
matured son in business as II he was Still
a small boy.
! One would think to read General Ma
hone s statement that this plan came down
| to us from the fathers as something sacred
ana approved bv the wisdom 1T genera
| tiops. He speaks of the rep ated assaults
| upon it as if it's flag lad braycd a thou
sand years of battle and OF storm" rms
| is mere persiAage. He knows that having
written it himself in 1884, few OF Us put
it through for him on the run at the ED
| of the convention, and that the people had
no more to do with its adoption than DID
| the Pope of Rome. He also knows that
we have had but one State convention
since then, and that regarding guberna-
torial conversion as an inopportune occa-
| sion for the discussion the proposed
amendments were likely to excite. we
| agreed to pass the question by. Joined
| in the postponement then, but then an
nounced my dissent from the present
method of selecting chairmen, and If Cen
/ eral Malone was not fully advised OF that
| it was because he did not take the trouble
10 inform himself.
| have never charged that the majority
| has not ruled in our conventions, but do
aver that when the present plan, devised
| by General Nah one. was adopted III 1854,
| it was not upon any such grave delioera-
| ton of the convention as entitled Its &C
ton to be considered as the intelligent
decision OF our party; and | further aver
! tsat there was no discussion OF the plan on
| it's merits, in the only convention we have
| had since its adoption.
| Away, then. with General Mahone's
! talk about his being the humble guardian
and executor Of the will of the people as
expressed, &C..
Away, then, with all the things he says
about the wisdom that devised the plan,
| the repeated assaults it has withstood, &c.
He is simply praising and guarding his
| own plan, which had never been assalled
or discussed. | claim fair discussion
and an end of this lodging. II our party
wants the plan and adopts it, that ends all
discussion. If it does not. let us get at
the will of the party. When it was at
tackled in 1885 we passed it by on the score
| that the attack was too late and too sud-
den. Now General Malone objects to our
beginning tco early and moving against 1t
| so deliberately.
| How it is lin evidence" that the plan
| [ propose is the view of the minority is
| not made plain, and in his statement that
| his pet plan has been defended and sus-
tanned through various conventions by
| undiminished majorities" he is mistaken.
| No convention, save the one that in 1884
adopted it, has ever considered 1t on It's
merits.
| General Malone s argument that 1t is
good policy to let well enough alone.
| would doubtless silence me if he be the
| Judge of what is well enough" But
1 who is to decide? A great many good
Republicans 90 not think the present plan
| is well enough" ere they 4 minority?
| The convention will show. If so, let the
| present plan stand Are they majority?
| The convention will show. IT SO, let he
plan be changed. Let none OF US, mean
| while. argue that it is treason. OF Tad
faith, or insratitude. or folly to differ with
our views The suggestion that it would
have been wiser TO leave the discussion to
! the conventions is very gentle and persua-
siye to be snrY. If so. why did General
Malone GnQ is necessary to send around
his secret circular arguing in favor of the
| unit rude and against Blaine? Why did
he not wait far THE ca|m consideration Of
the convention? 20 osia who knows the
| h1storv Of the last ATTEMPT in convention