The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-05-22
THE VALLEY VIRGINIAN.
sTAUNToN, VA.
An Insolent Letter.


Whether First Assistant Postmaster
General Clarkson designed to insult
Representative Buchanan of the 9th
Congressional district of Virginia, and
for that matter every decent Republican
and Democrat in the State, or not, in
the letter below, we do not know.
But the circumstances under which
the letter was indited and sent to
Mr.. Buchanan, would either indicate
that he was ignorant of the courtesy
that was due from him, as an officer
of the government, or that he malicious
ly thrust this offensive missile into the
face of the people Of this State. The
occasion of 1t was the simple request
from Mr.. Bueisanan, III his represents
tive capacity, for the change of the
name of a postofiice from that of Mocks-
Mill to that of Damascus Mocks-Mill is
the name by which the postoffice was first
christened. Recently furnishing town
has sprung up at that locality. named
Damascus. The place, as to locality,
is central, and it was for the conve-
nience of the people receiving their mail
at that office, as well for the more GER
tain dispatch of mail matter to it's des-
tination, that the change was asked.
Instead of granting the request, as cour-
tesy and official duty required, the case.
800 miles from the point named, and has
no interest either in the town or the
mail facilities for accommodating the
office, for his endorsement. 1t was
sinister method adopted by Mr. Clarkson
to insult Mr.. Buchanan, and at the same
time to show his subserviency to one of
the worst characters Virginia has ever
produced. Had Mr.. Clarkson had any
doubts about the change asked for, the
proper reference would have been to
Hon. Henry Bowen, who is contesting
Mr.. Buchanan's seat, or U. 8. Marshall
Watts, who lives in the section where
Damascus is located. But it was not the
public service Mr.. Clarkson was consid-
ering. He awaited of this occasion to
inform the public that he still recognizes
Malone as the Republican Boss of Vir
ginia-that his orders with the PostofIlce
Department are supreme and that no
favor or change can be granted or effect
ed that does not first receive the APP
prevail and endorsement of the misera-
bic wretch whom the Republican party
and the State of Virginia have so en-
phatically repudiated.
The following is the letter:
WASHINGTON. MAY s. 1890
Dear Sir,-I am in receipt of your letter of the
30th ultimo with enclosure in reference to the
postof1ce. In reply permit me to say that an
application for change of name and site has
ferred to General Malone, our referee. for his
recommendation. Yours truly.
First-Assistant Postmaster General.
1t may be that it is fortunate this cpl
sode has occurred. It gives warning to
the public, and especially to Republic
cans, that SO far as the First Assistant
Postmaster General is concerned, an at
tempt is to be made to thrust Malone
down the Threats of Virginia Republi-
cans this fall-that he is to control the
next delegation to the National Conven-
ton from this State, and that Federal
power and influence are to be used for
that purpose.
1t may be well enough to state, in this
connection, that neither of these objects
can be effected. Self-respecting Repub-
licans will not support Malone or any
of his satellites-that he will not be al |
lowed to carry pocket delegation to
the next Republican National Conven-
ton, and that he will not be able to
carry single Congressional district,
either in electing delegates to the Ma
tional Convention, or a member of Con-
gress who recognizes his authority and
submits to his orders.
We can hardly think that President
Harrison has entirely abdicated his au-
thority as to the administration of the
Postoffice Department. And if he has
not, the proper thing for him to do
would be to place his foot squarely down
on Mr.. Clarkson's conspiracy to humili.
ate the people of Virginia and dehauch
the Republican party. To assume that
a Republican party of influence and re-
spectability can be built up in the South
through such creatures as Malone, is to,
assume an utter impossibility HUI
man nature is not built that way. The
manly instincts of every self-respecting
Republican will repudiate it, and give
emphasis to the sentiment in all the
forms that emphasis can be given.
Malone will never be allowed to rule
the Republican party in Virginia. There
is not enough power in the admins
traton to reduce the Republicans OF
this State to the low level of the little
despot, and if Mr.. Harrison respects
himself, and respects the honest Repub-
lican sentiment of the South and the
country, he will repudiate both Clark
son and Malone.