The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-01

COL. PARSONS REPLIES.
| NATURAL BRIDGE, VA, Sept. 81, 1891
A. s. AsBERRY, ESQ, Postmaster, &c.
| Dear Sir:-I find in my mail today ant
in the Herald of yesterday your oper
letter, in which you answer my letter tt
the chairman of the State Committee
and my verbal inquiry Of yourself
Your letter has peculiar significance
because 1t was evidently prepared with
care and under inspiration, and because
you are the most prominent Federal of
ficeholder in the Valley; and yet think
it may safely go without comment be-
fore an intelligent people.
may, however say that to the com
mon apprehension words have meaning,
and an issue so fairly made cannot be
avoided.
| The simple facts are that the chairman
| has authoritatively advised a withdraw
al or Withholding of candidates, a vote
for the Alliance or Independent candi-
dates a local reorganization in the direc>
| ton of greater personal control, and a
reason to be given and recorded in ev-
cry county that if published and believ-
ed, would stop every Republican of the
North from investing another dollar in
counties where he could not come and
exercise the full right of citizenship
! Four thousand words were used to hide
this meaning, and yet hot one man ex>
cept yourself is deceived.
With the explanation you were not
content, but in the name of harmony
take up the wretched work of your mas
ter during these disastrous years. Upon
the application of 1000 men have call
ed Mass Convention. | have voiced
the protests of tens of thousand, and this
is all. And yet you strike me, and a
postmistress and the President with the
old weapon.
Possibly you are ignorant. If SO,
will advise you-and correct some of
your strange and ''sorrowfuln errors.
l did not speak of 1,400 Republicans,
but 1 400 Democratic majority in Rock
bridge. I did not live in Rockbridge in
1881. I am personal friend of Senator
Daniel, and a political antagonist. Can
you understand this?
never voted for Daniel. | supported
Cameron and Wise and Malone, and
every year since my majority | have vo-
ted Republican ticket, and | expect to
until my death, and when you call up
my political record you make another
mistake, grave as when you think the
Democratic party desires a change in
Republican management. You further
go outside to attack Mrs. Williams, the
postmistress at Lexington, and may be
warranted in relating two incidents that
may make you again doubt my Republi-
canism, but may yet point political
moral Nearly twenty years ago l rec
commended the appointment of the wife
of a blind Confederate general to be
postmistress at the University town of
Charlottesville. The local politicians
protested, but every soldier in the Sen
ate voted for confirmation, and she still
holds the office. Last winter President
Harrison asked me to suggest an ap-
pointment at the other University town,
my county seat, kindly saying that as l
had refused everything for myself, he
would gladly make it a personatappoint-
ment.
mentioned the fact that in the Presi-
Dental campaign | was on my way to
l. hn t,soiY
was thrown into the river; that the en>
gineer by a prompt act saved all the pas
sengers, but lost his own life, and that
his widow, delicate woman, was sup
porting her children on an annuity of
800, and her needle work. This story
touched him and when the next morning
| brougIlt.evidence Of her capacity and
the resignation of Judge Patton, the
most prominent contestant in her favor,
he ordered the appointment with appar-
emit pleasure, and the astonished widow
first heard of her good fortune in the
papers.
The politicians protested again, and
| fore the Senate, but she was unanimous
ly confirmed. 1t is suggestive that the
first written protest came from the most
prominent Republican east of the Blue
Ridge and the second from the post
master of the railroad town of Roanoke.
The appointment of the wife of the
dead engineer was yet gracious and
manly act, and will commend President
Harrison to all right-thinking men,
You speak of harmony; what crimes
have been committed in that name in
the last eight years, and is there no les
son in defeat? Even Balmaceda in his
last stand, cried for his deposed judges
and generals.
Is it the old familiar habit?
Could not the inspirer omit for the
moment this cry for harmony? Ever
Balmaceda has learned something. W.
for eight years have witnessed politica
assassination unparalleled in history
Wickham, as true patriot as God eve
made, and worth ten thousand votes
Lewis, Lybrook, Cameron, Wise, Blair
Yost, Brady, Rives, Thomas, Brown
Heermans, Tompkins, and many other
J were struck down, until at last he wen
alone to his fatal defeat without an ora
tor that could plead with the people.
, 1t may not be in the line of harmony
but with or without leaders the loys
J men of the Republican party are passin
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