The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-24
Tue Republican Party of Virginia

IeterS DuTg Convention, III lol nlHS q Ho"
organization, was the proper thing to do
under the circumstances. John 5. wise
substanti tally stated the situation, when he
rem arked that there is Malone party
and Republican party, and that he would
align his political fortunes with the latter.
For several years there has been strong
deep undercurI ent of unrest and dlssatlsfac'
tion in the party, because of the arbitrary,
desp, tic and corrupt methods and admin
tration by the Chairman of the organiza-
ito as it existed on the 18th of May
Many of the best men in the party had
become lukewarm and Indifferent; defeat
after defeat had followed in each contest
since 1882. when the Chairman was in
charge of the campaign; and feeling OF
distrust and dependency prevailed as the
resu 1t of conscious wrongs endured and
fatal abuse of power tolerated. Reluc-
tance to do anything that would preclpl-
tate dissension and contention, in the hope
that successive disasters might teach the
necessity of modification of the glarlng
nsurpations and unbushirg despotism that
were the rule, and lead to recognition OF
the rights of the people and the interests
of the party. suppressed the resentment
aid checked public expression OF the IN
dignatlon that was felt. But federation
and concession seemed only to encourage
the growth and stimulate the manifesto
tiOn of purpose to reduce and prostitute
ha ni1oti to a
CHI g to be used for the furtherance and
qualification of the ambition of the chair
man and his subservient henchmen. reck-
less of all other considerations and lndlf-
.ferent 70 all sense of common prOpriety
and party policy. Instead of prolitting by
adversely, it practically had the effect to
augment insolence, to initiate vanity, and
magnify presumption until it was assumed
that the chairman was the party. and that
the lao, 600 Republican voters of the State
had no rights except those the gracious con-
cessions of the chairman might grant. The
monstrous usurpations of the chairman and
the unheard of abuse of power which he
relentlessly seized, in the conduct OF the
recent preliminary steps to the State Con-
venton, were so glaring, SO INSCRIPTIONS,
so utterly indefenslbe aud unprecedented,
as to arouse the apprehension and incite
the wrath of many of the ablest, most in
fluential and manly men in the party. 1t
was apparent that notwithstanding the
plot exposed in the personal and conf
dentlal'' letter, the purpose was not to
no
circular. but to adopt other equally nefa-
rious methods to encompass the avowed
end. The power conferred by the plan Of
organization and the terms of the call for
the convention, furnished the means bv
which the end was to be reached. Where
the county chairmen were opposed to his
selfish schemes, they were removed. Where
the majority of the Republicans were ops
posed to his plot, their voice was sup
pressed through the arbitrary action OF
INSCRIPTIONS chairmen. in the certlfica-
tlon of delegates who were not elected. In
some counties where fears were enter
TONED of defeat of the plot, no public
calls were issued for County Conventions
but few sympathizing friends assembled
with the chairman, and appointed them
selves delegates. The people were not
consulted. The party law was not OBJ
served, but reckless purpose manifested
to carry out the instructions of the chair
man,:in the selection of only such persons
as would obey his orders.
1t was with a convention thus consti
tuted and conditions thus arbitrarily i'm
posed that the party had to deal. From thu
very inception of the proceedings, it was
evident that the will and the plot Of thu
chairman, and not the interests OF the par
ty. were to be considered paramount
Regularly certified delegates were eX
cluded. and persons having no rightfu
authority to represent constituencies II
the Convention, were given tickets o.
admission, without which tickets no ONT
could be passed at the policed doors OF TIT
hall. What should have been a represen
tative body of Republicans. duly accred
tied from the people, was thus converted
into a cabal, conspiracy against thu
life of the party and to humiliate .thos'
who would not wear Mahone's collar. /
was an insult to and an outrage upon thu
great mass of the Republicans of the State
and preclpitated the necessity for heroic
action.
Under such provocation and under Sucl
circumstances, the representative men O
genuine Republicanism in Virginia-mel
who consider the party and the cause /
represents above the unscrupulous ma
chinations and selfish plots of one man
retired from the illegally constituted ant
revolutionary body, and formed an orderl
and properly representative Convention o
the Republican party of Virginia. 1t dull
elected its officers, promulgated plan o
organization which recognizes the right
and dignity of the constituent body, ant
comes before the Republicans of the State
fully equipped TO labor for the principle
of the party, the interest of the State ant
country, and to assert and vindicate th
manhood of those who constitute the Re
publican force of Virginia. believing a
we do that the organization represents th
intelligence, the patriotism and the integ
rity of Republicanism in the Common
wealth.
The Republicans of the State are to b
congratulated that they have broken TIN
power of the petty tyrant whose despoti
and selfish rule they have borne so patient
~ and so long, until patience has cease t.
bea virtue. Theyare to be congratulated
that they have become emancipated from
the most despotic machinery that eve
cursed and Inundated people and paral
yzed the energies and usefulness of par
ty. They are to be congratulated tina
they are to be enrolled in al organization
that will find its inspiration in the cOnsen
and confidence of the people, and be slim
ulated to exertion and labor, in the con
seriousness of equality recognized, free
dom encouraged and conviction respected
1t is a consummation that has been hope
for for years by many of the best men
the party, and is an suspicious event tina
marks higher aim, nobler purpose. an
grander destiny. than ever could have bee
expected under the iron rule and cOrrnp
practices of the oneman power from
which they have been released.