Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-09-04
Address Of the Republican State
Committee.

C0O Va OAAO GeOl
Committee.
PErEEsBuRG, VA, July 11th, 1891.
DEAR SIR THE political landslide
which overlook the Republican party
throughout the country at the last Con-
cressional election must not dishearten
ne. There is no cause toT it common 10
tbe whole field. In some places 1t was
dine TO a misconception OF the Mckinney
Tariff Act, in Others to purely local lssnes'
and in other localities to discomfort, com
mon 10 Tine distribution of patronage. IN
Virginia, the result was as ahtlc'p g.sso
and nredicted at the meeting of our state
Committee last July, aud it must now Ds
seen that it were better for the parry anu
self-respecting Republicans that we h tl
run no candidates for Congress anu lo'
the following reasons n.
|. That so long as we contest once
with our opponents, large n9moer o,
our own people aud of the outside world
will not believe but that our elections are
reasonably fail and free from fraud.
. That so long as we play at the game
we are estopped from crying that the dice
were loaded.
3 That so long as we contest any po-
litical or public Office with the opposition,
we keen il organic d and stay disaffection
in the ranks thereof.
A That our only hope of ever getting
rid of the present infamous election Ia"
and its foul administration, Is to leave the
Demoortic patty an open field, when inc
masses will begin TO look into the usurPa-
tions of their party managers and take
concern of their own imperllled liberties,
and sooner or later tire of their methods
when division will inevitably follow, and
a Legislature come that will stand for
fair election law, so differed as to secure
an honest registIa-falr play at the
polls and correct returns OF the result
The masses Of people are honest, and IL Is
only when reason and better nature are
poisoned by the pernicious hollow-heaIt L
ed appeals to the prejudices OF caste ana
section, that fair dealing in our elections
is subveIted. Let US with becoming
manhood and self-Tespect refuse to con
test any seat in the Legislature this fall.
and thus deprive the Democratic mall
ayers OF their disgracefnl pretext for
polluting elections and longer conscribs
! Inr.by foul and fraudulent methods the
hcnest will OF the voters to their con-
tinuance in pGwer, and so leave the
masses an opportunity to think for them
selves: consider whittier we are drifting
and give them an opportunity to en-
force a publication of election methods
The theory that contest on our part is
necessary to hold the party together s
fallacious. Contest vnder the eyi ing
election law as now administers ~
serves to enable the Bourbon ma sers
to apply the political lash and preclude
the masses from looking into their record
No true Republican needs that futile
contest shall be made to preserve his Re-
publican principles or fidelity to party,
while all such Republicans tire Of fruit
less assaults against loaded dice, and can
not be expected to 90 into any contest
where it is felt fairrplay and honest re-
suits impossible, With that heart and zest
which reasonable hope and devotion to
cause inspire.
| 5. That it was and is to our mind, and
must be to that of every thoughtful Re
publican, who has no personal ambition
to satisfy, that fair and free eX-
preston of the popular will vas and is
impossible under the existing election law
as now administered and since the Demo.
cratic party came to dominate the control
thereof; and our Judgment is that we
should not make nominations for the
Legislature this fall, or for any office
where ana so long as the same are ex-
cluslvely governed by that law, but leave
the field TO be disputed by Alliance can
ddates and Independents reseTving our
fire TO be quietly but resolutely and
unanimously delivered against the Dem
ocratic nominee wherever there IS q
chance so to direct our political influence
with effect. Do we not know that no
one, Republican, Democrat or lndepen-
dent, under the existing election law, as
now differed, can secure the return at
any election, no matter how many more
votes nav be honestly polled for him, ex
cent and only by the allowance OF the
managers of the Bourbon olgarchy. Then
| why waste time and honest endeavOr In
anv election where that law governs
6. That in our judgment The regular
County Committee representing House OF
Senatorial election district should be as
semb.ed at the earliest day and the fol
lowing action taken
Whereas it is known of all men that
fair registration of the voters IN this
$1,000. Icounty or city as the case may
bel and an honest election are impossible,
that in fact no candidate for any Office
which the Constitution and laws OF the
State provide shall be filled by the people,
Iby DOpular election, no matter what ma
ioritv of the constituent body may prefer
! his selection, can hope 10 secure the re-
turn only by the allOWance of the ma
chine managers of the Bourbon ollgarchy
Therefore, it is the sense of this Com
mittee. speaking for the true and self
respecting Republicans of the. -. county
or city as the case may be that no nomi-
nation be made or Republican candidate
be recognized on behalf of the Republicans
of such [county or city as the case
NAV bel for the Legislature at the COM
ing election.
Meanwhile, that we may the better and
more effectually prepare for the PreSiden'
tial contest of 1892, and now that we have
full time for the work, it is advised:
Ia That City and County Chairmen
re organize their Committees, selecting
the right man for Precinct Chairman and
have him select two efficient working
committeeman tor each precinct, and that
when he has completed such organization
to send a roll of the same, by precincts, to
this office, giving full name and post
office address of each person.
o. That the Precinct Chairman go to
work with his committeeman and enroll
every reliable Republican at his precinct,
giving the full name of each such Re.
publican and his pOstoffice address, and
such as are not surely registered, to see to
it that such unregistered voters proceed
now to register.
To- That each Precinct Chairman re-
turn to the County Chairman copy Of
the roll provided for III the preceding sec
ton some time during the next six
months, when it is hoped he will have
completed the same.
(d.) That County aud City Chairmen
will carefully preserve these rolls and note
on each the aggregate registered vote OF
the precinct, including all Democrats
Republicans and nondescripts.
The work here laid out is not much for
each of the party officials by whom it Is
hoped that 1T will be diligently prose
pute1