The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-10-10

sentiment IN the state. by some strange
infatnation, he and those who are most
active IN his support. have reached the
conclusion that all Republicans can be
coerced into his support, and failing in
that, then they cease to be Republicans.
Guaged by his view and standard, prob
ably they are not. But when it comes
to a measurement of service to the party,
and even to Gen. Malone, and demon
strated devotion to Republican princi
pies, they can justly lay claim to being
as sincere and unassailable certainly as
their accusers can pretend.
These gentlemen from other States do
not understand the local concerns of Re-
pablicans in Virginia. They are anon
alous. The chairman of the State Cen
trail Committee practically assumes to be
the party. He directs the precinct pri-
maries, the county conventions and the
State Convention, SO as to make the lat
ter substantially unanimous for any
proposition he may suggest or policy
project. He does not recognize the
right of the people to be heard through
delegates of their own choosing. He
seeks to control the masses through his
arbitrary methods and despotic plan
of organization and make his will SUI
preme in all interests affecting the par
ty. To these unrepublican ways many
Republicans are protesting, and will
carry their protest to the last extremity,
disagreeable and painful as it may be.
Nor is this sudden manifestation of
unrest and revolt. Year after year has
warning been given that there was
point where forbearance would cease to
be a virtue. But remOnstrances have
been treated with contempt. Those who
have raised their voice in respectful
protest, have been denounced as
traitors, who must be ''crushed' out,
and their political fellowship eschewed.
Their Republicanism has been de
nounced, unless it was branded with
the Malone patent. They must train in
his personal interest, or their counsel and
association must be ignored and repu
dated. This had gone so far that self
respect and respect for the Republi-
can party, demanded that halt should
be called. That conclusion was reached
when the chairman, disregardlng the
known sentiments of a large portion
of the party, had himself nominal
ed for Governor, and thus challenged
every Republican in the State either to
accept it as the act of the party or revolt
against his suicidal! and selfish course.
We are sure there is not Republican
from another State who will speak in
this canvass, who would tolerate the ar
bitrary methods of the State Chairman
for twenty-four hours, if attempted to
be practiced on his own State. Presi
dent Harrison said such plan of organ
iZatiOn would not be submitted to for a
day in Indiana, or any Northern or
Western State. And when that organi
zation is used to the utmost limit of the
power it grants to suppress or control
the wishes of the people, it becomes
doubly a duty to repudiate ito repu-
diate because of the usurpatiOn it in
wolves. and for the tyrannical practices
it makes possible The Republicans of
Virginia. therefore. are only doing that
which the Republicans of every other
State would do were they similarly sit
uated. They are simply asserting their
freedom and their manhood, and de-
monstrating that they are Republicans
because of the principles Of the party,
and not the trembling slaves OF any Boss
or dictator.