The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-10-03
He Declines the Honor.
CEDARvILLE, VA, Sept. 81, 49,

CEDARvILLE, VA, Sept. 81, 1889.
C. L. Paitchard, Chairman Of Warren
Co. Republican Committee.
DEAR SIR Your letter OF the Goth
instant, is before me, i'll which you pro
pose that my name shall be brought be
fore the people of Warren and Clarke
counties as the Republican candidate for
the State Legislature. While thanking
you for the personal kindness which has
prompted your letter, and which | full Y
appreciate, it would be possible for me
to accept your proposal only upon condi-
tions which would be extremely distaste
full to you Il cannot support Gen. Ma
hone in the present canvass. Did the
Republican voters of the two counties
desire me to represent them, | should
esteem it high honor. but, as under the
present organization of the Republican
party of Virginia. the first allegiance of
a Republican is claimed by Malone, |
could not masquerade as the representa-
tive of the people, while serving their
master; | could not engage i'll a defen
sive campaign whose conduct would be
but the making of vain excuses for usurp-
ed power, and whose result could but be
an ignominious defeat or yet more dis
graceful victory. 1t is the fate of politi-
cal organizations under the vicious in
helm is abandoned and the pole star of
truth and honor is lost right of in the
scramble of the selfappointed crew for
the plumber of the public patronage.
The fact that there are in Virginia hun
dreds of respectable men, protesting Re
publican principles who will consent to
an entire abandonment OF principle for
a mere party success, is "a sign of the
times which eompels thoughtful men to
halt. and demands determination Of
the course. Who is this man whom Re
publicans are commanded to love, honor
and obey? He was the soul of all tnat
in the Democratic party is abhor-
rent to Republican. Not until he was
repudiated by his own political kinsfolk,
did he dream of abandoning his life long
principles 1t was from the emily wastes
of political ostracsm that he first cast u
longing eye towards the Republican fold
WHAT has he done for the Republican
party He has substituted for the honor
able leadership of the peoples chosen rep
resentatives the dictatorial rule of the
party boss. He has led the party on to
the abandonment of its tried principles
for the vain hope of political gain He
has banished from its councils and its
honors all men of indie sendent conyic
tions and unselfish motives. He has in
trigued with the national executive
committee to intermeddle i'll State
politics by using the federal patronage
to gain party advantage at the eX-
pense of riveting anew the letters of
party boss upon a free people. But
he is to be supported because he is Re
publican Is he a Republican We judge
of men somewhat by what they say but
more by what they do. The conduct of
Gen. Malone gives the lie to every profess
sion of Republican principles. There are
critical periods in the history of parties
and of men, which are not perceived
until they are p used forever. Such an
one is the present. Republicans choose
We this day whom you well serve. If it
be Malone, you may possibly have vic
tory at the expense of honor; but if it be
those tried principles of political action,
which are the 1ory of free men and the
safety of nations, you will be mantled
with honor iii the presence of any defeat,
and present defeat will but pave the way
to ultim ate success. / am
Very traly yours.
E. NJ. BuRCHARD