Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-20
JAMES A. FRAZIER.

THE GOOD REPUBLICANS SLAIN by MA
HONE STREW TILE WAYSIDE-MAHOEE
PROsT1TUTING THE PARTY TO HIS OWN
SELFISH PURPosEs-GOD FORBID THAT
ANY TRUE REPUBLICAN SHOULD BE A
MAHONEITE.
Hon. James A. Frazier is . power in the
Republican party in Rockbridge, and may
be said to have made the party there He
has represented that county in the legisa-
ture and been one Of the most active sup
porters the party has had in the Valley Of
Virginia. He writes the following letter
to his political friends:
RoCKBRIDGE ALUM SPRINGS, !
September 1lth 1889.
To mig Repalbl5c@n fraends Of R0clcbrdlge:
Having determined not to support Malone
or Mahoneism" in any of its phases, l deem
that owe at least an explanation to my po-
litical associates in Rockbridge for this step.
l deem it superlluous for me to say that
whenever and wherever the Republican bugle
blast summons the clans together for polit-
cal strife, shall be found ready to be assigned
where duty calls, with my coat off and sleeves
see the shackles (under many aliases that
environ the Republican party broken in twain,
and through the thousands of voters asserting
themselves i'll Virginia, that those who love
its principles may embrace it. lis we'll known
| owe it much, especially my Rockbrdge po-
litical friends who have so often cheered me
on, more than ever hope to pay. Though l
am conscious of this fact that with those who
now censure me most have squared accounts
long ago for their tiatterng support.
Since Malone and his personal blind fol-
lowers, have determined in their man-worshp
zeal, aided by an un-republican plan of or
ganization and outside party Bosses OF the
Malone stripe, to convert the party into moth
ing less (and God forbid it should he anything
worse) than Malone party, it should not be
expected that self-respecting Republicans
would desert their true colors, that they might
help such gang fasten their bogus aliases"
upon our State L know some Will say, you
We're willing once. Perhaps so!
But not since Mahone's selfish, autocratic
and dctatorial disposition became so pro-
nounced. When he was disposed to crush
Massey, | gave him credit for honesty of pur-
pose. even condoned his knitting that true
and staunch Fulkerson, of the Southwest. |
could but look with awe at the good men slain
by Malone, strewn by the wayside, resent
bling starving army passing through great
sandy DESERT those whose personal bearing
brought them personal followers who dared
to have an opinion of their own, till at last it
dawned upon me, in spite of my faith and
zeal, that tyrant, more despotic than the
Gar OF Russia, had, in our impetuous zeal for
success, been permitted to SO entrench HIM
self, with the aid of a plan of organization as
damnable as its author and executor seemed
politically infamous, that he could cry out
Malone or nothing. Twas then | raised my
feeble voice for liberty Of thought and CON
science in our party. The answer came thick
and fast from headquarters "down with
Frazier" all of which was of small moment so
far as was concerned. Having enjoyed all the
iolt N,
it meant no more, would have gladly passed
out of sight, but alas it meant political death
to all my friends who were not Sufficiently as
SHINE in their composition to play 'Brutus in
the interest of Malone.
Under such circumstances | should be false
to every instinct of man, did l not protest
against Mahones prostituting our party
further to his selfish purposes to the end that
he may become the Executive, Legislative and
Judicial branches OF our government; that he
the great Malone. may reward his tools, and
gibbet those with an opinion of their own
without question from Court OF Jury. If,
however, the people Of Virginia are ready for
Malone, the dictator, so be it, Selah! But it
shall not be said, did it, and for one, l shall
always feelingly resent as an insult to our
party, the attempt to couple Republicanism
with Mahoneism.
am a Republican to the core, because be-
lieve that in its principles lies Virginia's flu
ture greatness. But God forbid that I, or any
other true Republican should be a Mahoneite,
because l believe one brief four years Of his
selfish, autocratic rule would put Virginia
back twenty years. This is but my opinion,
but it is my honest opinion. Others can do and
act for themselves as they think best. | would
be the custodian of no mans conscience, as [
would have no one control mine.
If the people of Virginia resent Mahones
candidacy by a crushing defeat this fall as |
and every thinking man, including Malone
himself, thinks, outside Bosses will give MI.
Malone the go by, and without the annual
campaign funds that he handles without being
called to account, he will soon tire of evil
doing, and the party will Phoenix like rise
purified and regenerated, when the bugle blast
shall call us once more to do battle for the
right, knowing full we'll, all will be we'll.
Yours, as OF old,
JAMES A. FRAZIER