The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-01
REPLY TO COL. PARSONS.
ROANOKE, VA, Sept, 1s!


to the Republican State Committees &C
: vice about legislative candidates, ETC.,
beg to say:
: First, That | am of that class who wen
into the Republican party along will
General Malone, and for the reason pr
marily that believed the best interest
of my State and the welfare of Ler PEG
pie were to be the better subserved by
the Republican policy of protection tt
1 American industries and labor, than by
the opposite policy of the Democratic
party. At this time, the Republican
arty, as then and previously constitu-
ted In this State, had practically gone to
seed, and had some time since ceased to
present any organized, if any other op-
position to the Democratic party in this
State in fact, seeming content for that
party to have absolute sway in regard to
the seats in Congress and all State off
| ces, voting for Garfield at the head of
the ticket and the Democratic candidate
ticket, only SO that the few white men
then of the Republican party held the
/ Federal offices local to the State,
My recollection is in that supreme mo-
ment when so many of US broke away
from the Democratic party and made the
| fight in open field against that party,
1 you, Col. Parsons, did not join in that
effort of ours to overthrow the suprema-
cy of the Democratic party, but contrib
uted your political mite to uphold it.
The opportunity then presented by
powerful division in the old leadership
and ranks of that party did not arouse
your immense Republicanism that seems
so much excited at this juncture, and
when, too, elections in Rockbridge were
certainly as fair as you claim that they
are now; but how was it in the election
of 1881, when the Republican candidates
had to go to Republican House of Del
egates to rectify wrong doing to which
they claimed to haye been subjected in
that election and by which they were
defrauded of certificates of election, and
does the legislative investigation, record
and decision in that case sustain your
wild assertion that elections are as fair,
ETC.?
remember, too, that we carried Rock
bridge at that time, despite your opposi-
ton, but when have we carried that
county since. admitting if you please,
that you have been on our side in suisse
quent contests? | remember, also, Col
Parsons, that after we had rescued the
State from the Democratic party, and
had contributed a member to the Repub-
lican side of the Senate, and that too
when its supremacy in that body had
hung in a balance, you did your utmost
to have the delegation which the party,
then reformed and vitalized, sent to the
first National convention, turned down,
and your non representative delegation
of an effete concern admitted in it's
stead. Where you have been politically,
Colonel Parsons, meanwhile, | do not
know, but certain it is | have neither
heard or known that devotion to Repub-
lican effort in this State, so earnestly
made at every recurring election, which
you now display.
Second. That all the while I have
shared in the joys of success and becom-
ingly borne defeat, and am as ready now
on any fair or possible field to do my
duty as ever but am not one of those |
whose Republican faith can only be kept |
intact by futile, if not foolish assaults |
against the inevitable.
Third, That if my party constituents
thought it polite, or even essential to I
the preservation of their Republicanism,
to wage a contest for the Legislature in
this election district now, neither I nor
they understand that they are not left |
at full liberty to do so in the presence of
the State Committees "Circular'' We
conceive that it was no less the duty of |
that Committee than it's rightful pre-
negative to advise US, according to it's
best judgment. That it has done. as
we understand, and no more.
The Committee is composed of gentle
men who have shown their faith by their
works; they have our abiding conf
dence, and | respectfully submit that it
does not become Col. Parsons, in the
light of his political record, to impugn
their opportunities for better Informal
ton, much less their motives of loyalty
to party.
Fourth That your attempt to discred-
it the Circular Letter of advice, and
make it appear that it was not the result |
of committee meeting and conference
upon the subject, merely because the
Circular is printed the 18th of July, in
stead of the 18th of August, creates the
impression that it is not of real concern
for Republican interests that you appear
to be roused as for an opportunity to at
tack the Chairman of the party in the
interest OF some pre- supposed aspirant
for the Republican Presidential nominal
ton; and l submit that it is not to the
interests of harmony to inject any such
disorganizing scheme. If to effect any
thing, your 'sopen letter" was, and is to
promote discord, and the more certainly
to enable the Democratic managers to
crush the dIsaffection in the ranks of
their party You are indignant at the
idea OF any cooperation with the disaf
fected there; while you would combine
with such in the Legislature to defeat /
Major Daniel for reelection to the Sen
ate, not surely, that you would hope to
elect Republican, but some other Dem
ocrat, who you may prefer. Such hos
Utility to Major Daniel is most likely per
sonal to yourself, if you are sincere in
the thought you express. And, Col. Par
sons, where were you politically in the
contest between Major Daniel and Colo
mel Cameron? Did you vote for Major
Daniel?
Against the earnest protest and proper
endeavors of the Republican party of
Rockbridge, did you not urge and pros
cure the appointment of a Democrat to
| the Lexington postoffice? When did that
county give 400 Republican majority !?
When did it elect Republican members
of the Legislature except for the two
years when you were against us