Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-21
VIRGINIA POLITICS.
Address Issued to Republican Voters
by the State Committee.
DETAILS OF THE MARTINIQUE DISASTER
A Pennsylvania Oil Town in Peril
From Fire.
MINE EXPLOSION IN IDAHO.
OF THE MARTINIQUE DISASTER
MINE EXPLOSION IN IDAHO.
TO VIRGINIA RKPUBLICANA

Address Issued by the State Committee.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
PETEnsBURs, Va, August 2l.-The following
Is the address Of the republican state committee
to the republican voters Of Virginia, adopted at
the recent meeting Of the committee held at
tho residence Of Gen. Malone in this city:
DEAR Srs: Tho political landslide which over
took the republican party throughout the coun-
trv at the last congressional election must not
dishearten us. There is no cause for it COM
mon to the whole field. In places it was due to
misconeeption of the Mckinley bill, in others
to party local issues, and in other localities to
discomfort, common to the distribution Of
patronage in Virginia. The result was as
anticipated and predicted at the meeting of our
state committee last June and it must now be
seen that IL were better for the party and
self respecting republicans that We run no
candidates for Congress. and for the following
reasons: ]. Thatso long az we contest Office with
our opponents alarge number Of our own people
and of the outside world will not believe but
that our elections are reasonably fair and free
from fraud.
q. That so long As we play Mt the game We
are stopped from crying that the dice are
3. That so long as we contest any political or
public office with the opposition we keep it or
ganized and stop dissfsction IN the ranks
thereof.
4. That our only hopes Of ever getting rid of
administration is to leave the democratic party
an open field. when the masses will begin TO
look into the usurpation OF their party MANA
gers and take concern OF their own I'M
periled liberties and sooner or later tire
Of their methods, when division will inevitably
follow and legislature will come that VIII
stand for fair election law SO oficered rs to
secure an honest registration fair play at the
polls and corrupt returns of the results.
The masses at the people are honest and it is
only uha Iatta NAT
poisoned by the pernicious hollow-hearted ap-
peals to the prejudices Of caste and section
that fair dealing III our elections ID subverted.
Let us with becoming manhood and self re-
spect refuse to contest any seat in the legisla-
ture this fall and thus deprive the democratic
managers of their disgraceful pretext for
pollutlng elections and longer con-
spring by foul and fraudulent methods
the honest will Of the voters to their continu-
ance in power and so leave the masses an OPP
portunity to think for themselves, consider
whittier we are drifting and give them an OPP
portunity to enforce publication OF election
methods.
The theory that q contest on our part is
necessary to hold the party together Is falla-
cious. Contest under the existing law as it is
administered only enables the Bourbon man.
ayers to apply the political lash and preclude
the masses from looking into their rec
ord. No true republican needs that
a futile contest shall be made to preserve his
republican principles or fidelity to party while
ali such repu bicans tire Of the fruitess assaults
against loaded dice, and cannot he expected to
90 into any contest where it ID that fair play
and honest results are impossible with that
heart and zest which reasonable hope and de-
votion to cause inspire.
That il was and Is to our mind and must be
to that Of every thoughtful republican who has
no personal ambition TO satisfy, that a fair and
free expression of the popular will was and is
impossible under the existing election law as
now administered and since the demo-
cratic party came to dominate the
that we make no nominations for the legislature
this fall. or for any Office 80 long as the same
are exclusively governed by that law. but leave
the field to be contested by the alliance candi-
dates and its dependents, reserving our fire TO
be quietly but resolutely and unanimously de-
livered against the democratic nominee wher-
ever there is q chance to direct our political
influence with effect
Do we not know that not one republican,
democrat or independent under the existing
law os now officered can secure the return at
any election. no matter how many more votes
may be honestly polled for him except
and only by the allowance OF the man
ayers Of the bourbon oligarchy? Then
why waste time and honest endeavor in any
election where that law governs? That in our
Judgment the regular county committees repre-
senting house or senatorial election district
should be assembled at the last day and the fol-
lowing action taken. Here follows a form of
resolutions to be passed by the committee de-
cIaring that fair election is impossible and
advising that no nominations be made). In
conclusion the circular says:
Meanwhile, that We may better and more
efectually be prepared for the presidential
contest in 1892, and now that we have full time
for the work, it is advised-then fol-
lows the plan of organization, which
il in substance: That committees in
the cities and counties be reorganized: that
working committees be appointed in each pre-
cinct; that the precinct chairman enroll all the
republicans at their precincts and send list OF
the names and post Office address to Malone.
(Signed) The State Committee
By WIN. MAKoxE, Chairman.