The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-10-17
THURSDAY,
Bossism VS.. Republicanism.

vantages of the one are about equal
with those of the other, considered from
the vote of 1888, and the conditions
which now confront us. The admission
into the Union of the four new States
will increase the electoral vote from 401
to Ala. In all the calculations that have
been presented to the public the States
of New York and Indiana, which voted
for Harrison and Morton in 1888, are
placed in the doubtful column, with 81
electoral votes. The States of New Jer-
sey and Connecticut, which cast 10 cleo
toral votes forClevefand and Thurman,
are likewise placed in the doubtful col
umn. The Democrats will go into the
contest with 1872 votes almost certain,
counting all the Southern States, and
the Republicans with 1872 equally GER
tain. The latter would therefore have
to gain from the doubtful States Is
votes, and the Democrats 46, to be sue
cessful. New York and Indiana, with
the 1862 votes certain. would be sufficient
to elect the Democratic nominee with 5
to spare. The Republicans would sue
coed with the vote of New York added,
and have twenty to spare. Or Indiana,
with its Is and Connecticut, 6 votes, or
West Virginia. with votes, would be
enough to turn the scale in favor of the
Republicans.
There, indeed, are several combinations
which might be made to assure the sue
cess of either, but as doubtful things are
always uncertain, there is no statement
of the case that does not leave the result
of 1892 in the mist, with the chances
about equal between the two great par
ties. The Republicans are in power
They have the executive and legislative
departments of government under their
control-the law-making and the
law-executing branches. This imposes
weighty responsibility. The party will
necessarily have to act on the defensive.
1t will have to defend the legislation OF
the 51st Congress and the executive acts
of the administration. The party can
not escape from this, and consequently
there will have to he all exhibition of
craftsmanship and the manifestation of
done. The people are becoming more
exacting every year. There is less of
party subserviency and more of indiyid
nal independence shown at the ballot
box than at any other period in the his
tory of the country for qual ter Of a
century past. The issues and passions
incident to the late war have practically
disappeared. An appeal to them, falls
with thud upon the popular ear 1t is
not in unison with the influences that are
stirring the consciousness of the masses
and directing the destinies of the ma
fion. The people are demanding some
thing higher-something more in accord
with the true mission OF government
and of parties, and in harmony with the
material progress of the country.
1t will not be SO much the perfection
of organization, as it will be the salutary
influences flowing from wise legislation
and conservative administration, that
will turn the scale in 1899, in the doubt
full States 1t is possible for the Repub-
licans to carry all the doubtful States if
the traditional morale of the party shall
be maintained and high ideal of
government inculcated. 1t is possible,
too, for every doubtful State 10 be lost,
and others considered safely Republican
to wheel into the Democratic column, if
mere greed for power and an insane
scramble for spoils shall exert a controll-
party movements. There will have TO
be a complete and radical enforcement
from machine politics and boss usurpa-
tion and dictation. if the Republicans
hope to win. The methods which have
been encouraged in Virginia and the ia
vOr extended to Gen. Malone in his cru
SADIE against the people will have to be
distinctly ignored and condemned, if the
ticket placed in the field of 1892 is ex-
pected to succeed The success of Boss
yer, chaperoned as it is by the Chair
man of the National COMMITTEES, would
have harmful effect upon Republican
prospects in the National campaign. for
the same influences would be injected
into the councils and plans of the party,
in determining the national ticket that
would be chosen. 1t would give prom
inence and prestige to one Of the most
dangerous men this age has produced
and arouse approximations which would
opfo oil fhnupbt of ma rt " dayofinn and
administrative policy, in the presence of
a menace to Republican integrity and
the maintenance of the higher purposes
of party organization. The people Of the
country have placed their seal of con
demnation upon one-man power in
party management too often to need to
be awakened to it's danger. Party lines
have too often been disregarded and
party trammels too often thrown off to
require any other assurance that Boss
ism will always be repudiated when
it attempts to thrust it's odious self into
the control of parties.
While there is no probability that Ma
honeism will succeed in Virginia, it is
DOSSlDlc tiIc ptli y " w
come SO implicated with it through the
action of members of the National Com
mittee as to seriously impair party dis
cipline and jeopardize party success. 1t
certainly will do SO, if there is not dis
tinct and emphatic reputation of it,
and a total announcement of its Hateful
influences. President Harrison admin
istratiOn should take the initial step in
this direction. The assistance which
has been given Malone has been the re-
suit of misrepresentation and consequent
ly there is misrepresentation of the condi-
tions which exist in Virginia. The Novem-
Der election will reveal the situation in its
true light. He will then see where he has
been deceived, and can apply the proper
remedy. Mahoneism will never be en-
dorsed by the people of Virginia. 1t will
never be countenanced in other States,
and it is duty that is owed to the Re
publican party to eliminate it entirely
from the influences which affect parties
in State and Nation.
Statesmen sometimes make mistakes,
but true craftsmanship has the courageto
rectify errors when disclosed and to pub
Il