The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-07-18
The Petersburg Conference.

the authority of the Chairman OF the
State Central Committee OF course it
was harmonious, as no one was expected
who was not in accord with the wing OF
the party represented by the Chairman.
That it was reflective of Republican SEN
timent in the State we do not believe, or
that it was intended to bring about har
mony in the party and marshall its full
strength for the approaching election, is
equally improbable.
1t was an anomalous state of things
that meeting of that kind, called I'M
der the circumstances and in the manner
this conference was, for a public ex-
preston of opinion to be made as to who
should be the nominee of the Republi-
can Convention, when it meets. Wheth
err it was to forestall the action of the
primary meetings in appointing dele
gates, or merely a thinly disguised
scheme to give out the impression that
the practically unanimous voice OF the
Republicans of Virginia was in favor of
Gen Malone for Governor and the pres
dertake to say. In either case it was
misleading. 1t practically assumes that
there is no division among the Republi-
cans of Virginia-that the conference
voiced Republican sentiment in the State,
and that the sentiment that prevailed
in it should be accepted as that which
exists throughout the Commonwealth.
There is no sensible, fair-minded Repub-
lican in the State, who does not know
that this is not so. If the Conference
was deluded by any such belief it was
self-delusion. There is nothing in the
past-nothing in the recent history of
Republican politics in Virginia, and
nothing in the present temper OF the
masses to justify any such conclusion.
If those who are not familiar with the
conditions that prevail with Virginia
Republicans, take the action and the
expressions of the conference as refiec-
tive of the views and purposes of the
Republican party of Virginia. they will be
deceived If they believe that the con
ference was representative of the entire
isassumed that even one half of the Re
publicans of the State were represented
in the conference or in the speech OF
Gen. Malone, in reference to those whom
| he was pleased TO designate as bush
whackers,n then they are resting I'M
| der an impression that is not sustained
by the relations which prevail. When
| Gen Malone contemptuously referred to
| those who do not think with him as
.sbushwhackers,n and to the element in
the party which has heretofore and now
protests against his arbitrary methods,
he exposes himself to criticism as blind
leader from choice, reckless of the inter
ests of the Republican party and indlf-
ferent to results in the approaching
campaign.
We are anxious to see unity in the
party There is no reasonable concession
or sacrifice that we would not make to
secure it, But this cannot be attained
by any such motive or action as charac-
terized the call for the recent conference
and the spirit which prevailed in its pro-
ceedings. 1t was designed to ignore at
east one half of the Republicans of the
State 1t practically read them out of
the party, so far as it had the power and
disposition to do so. 1t assumed to be
the party, regardless of the known con-
ditions which exist and the formidable
and successful protests which have been
made against one man power and the
usurpation of the right to defy and re-
pudiate the law laid down by the high
est authority in the party, as was done
fall. 1t is simply pretentious selfishness
which prompts such a course and can
have no other than disastrous results
There is no rational defence, consistent
with Republican harmony and Repub-
lican success. to Justify, or even palliate
it.
AS to the harmony which prevailed at
Petersburg and was telegraphed all over
the country, nothing else could have
been expected, or would have been toll
Grated. Only those were invited or ex-
pected, who were known in advance to
be hdrnlOnized. 1t was only such who
were to give expression to an opinion
Indifferent to the widespread, deep and
| formidable dissatisfaction which exists
in every county in the State, and which
has been intensified by the action of the
one-sided conferences condition which
it is neither sound policy nor candid man
hood to ignore, and attempt to make
| light of. Indeed, to do so, and thus es
say to beguile the ignorant into sense
of peaceful security, or crafty the ma
lignant and selfish who would like to
make it appear that they are the salt OF
the earth and the especially qualified in
dividuals to receive official recognition,
would be fatal to the Republican party
of the State. No intelligent Republican
inside or outside of the State will be de-
ceived by the so-called harmonious &C
ton of the conference No man, wheth
er in high official position or an humble
private, who respects honest conviction
and appreciates sincere purpose, and
who has the welfare of the Republican
party at heart, can for moment blind
himself to the true state of affairs
There is an underlying principle in
| VOWED III U06 matter C0aD demands con-
sderation, as it affects not only the par
ty in Virginia, but throughout the ma
ton, and must implicate the administra
ton. The President nor neither of his
Cabinet officers can afford to close his
ewes to the true situation. No party can
long maintain its morale or inspire pub
lie confidence, that is willing to see any
portion OF the intelligent constituent
body ignored their just complaints
contemptuously scorned, and their rights
trampled upon and condemned. 1t was
to protest against the usurpation of the
few at the expense of the many that
rolled up 900 Democratic majority in
New York in 1882, and recorded a SINH
arresult in Pennsylvania. 1t was the
influence growing out of these condi-
lions which brought defeat to the Re
publican party in 1884, and will as GER
tainly as the day rolls around bring de-
feat in 1892, if it is endorsed and encour-
aged. No administration can lend itself
to the policy of crushing out the man
hood of any portion of the Republican