The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-03-15
Highland Recorder
That Confidential Circular

The VALLEY VIRGINIAN last week published
a circular sent out by the chairman of the Re-
publican State Committee, marked "private
and confidential" which, to our mind contains
features which cannot rebound to the good OF
the party. The first object of the circular is to
ipiure Mr. Blaine as possible candidate for the
presidency. 1t is In bad TASTE we think, for one
Republican to try to stigmatize any other Re
publican, especially in such an underhand way.
Besides, Mr., Blaine is no doubt the most popu-
lar Republican in the country with NirgiDianS,
ana therefore this secret method of doing him
harm is attended with all the more danger to
the party The fact that he is out of the
race does not m yze the matter better
The second object of the circular is to boom
Mr.. Sherman's claims for the high office.
While we do not think he is the most available
timber for the presidency. we have no objec-
ton to any effort in his behalf on the part of
his friends 50 long as this effort is not made at
the expense OF Republicans rs tue and staunch
as he.
The next feature of the circular is the recon-
mendation that each congressional district in
stfuct its delegates to the National Conven-
ton To support the unit rulf-that is, TO sup.
port the candidate whom The majority OF the
delegates of Virginia endorse. We think this
is wrong. If six out of the ten districts should
favor MI. Blaine and four should desire MI
sherman. for instance. we can see no cool rea-
son why the four districts should be forced to
give up their choice and support man who
would not be the peoples choice The majority
should rule, but this is not state election, and
1t might be that those four votes would control
the nomination. We believe in the selection
OF Il candidate most acceptable to the majority
ofthe people Of the whole country, and TO our
ililHbi Luz DeSb WAY 10 ucbSTlUlHs I1IS Is IOT
each delegate TO vote for the candidate who is
The choice of the people of his district.
1t next recommends the adoption Of Il resolu-
ton endorsing the recent address laid before
the National Republican Committee. This
might be very well but tor some of the senti-
ments expressed in that document where it
refers to all Republicans not in accord with
the organization as ''judases' and "Lazaruses,
not only dead and buried, but sinking We
do not regard this as the kind of language
which should be used in reference to good Re-
pupilcans who merely refuse to endorse the
present organization Ofthe party.
1t rt commends, also, the adoption of third
resolution which Nrenopnces the political fell
lowship and repudiates the pretended Repub-
Icanism OF the hickers and laggards in the
party in Virginia" This is the most remark
able advice TO come from the head of party.
This thing OF reading men out of a party be-
cause they do not endorse everything the head
OF the party does. is most dangerous course to
pursue. 1t is monstrous proposition, in view
of the fact that the Readjuster party had its
very origin in similar action on the part of
the Democratic State Committee, when the
present head OF the Republican party and Gen.
Groner- We're renowned" and ''repudated"
on account of their views not being in accord
with the rest OF the committee, BY that very
act the Democratic party lost thousands of
votes. Have our leaders forgotten the Mozart
convention and the circumstances which led
to its organization. and do they now propose to
commit folly such as the Democratic party
did when it renowned and ''repudated'' it's
"kickers? Certainly the events of 1870 are too
fresh in the minds OF the people for them to
endorse similar course on the part of the Re-
pub1cans Besides, we think this circular,
where it complains Of the CHECKERS" against
certain prominent individuals in Virginia, en-
tirely Inconsistent when 1t, at the same time,
"kicks" so vigorously against Mr.. Blaine, the
foremost man in the Republican party Of the
United States.
For these reasons we think the private and
confidential circular serious mistake. We
do not see the necessity for such a circular-a
circular which creates party within party.
We believe that every member of the Republic
can party is entitled to know as much about
what is going on within the party as any other
member, and that there should be no under
handed work to build up the reputation of one
Republican candidate at the expense of the
reputation of another.
II for these opinions and sentiments we shall
be termed ''kiciers' and our political fellow
ship renouFced, we shall have no regrets. We
have always recognized the organization of the
party in Virginia and shall continue to do so,
but shall always reserve the right to express
our opinions Of its actions, even at the risk of
being read out of the party. But should this
be done we shall be no less true to those prin-
ciples ofthe Republican party for which we
have always contended than we have been in
the past. Our devotion to principle is stronger
than our admiration and zeal for men, and
were this true of all Republicans there would
be more harmony and strength in the party
than there is to-day,