New-York tribune., 1897-10-11
THE CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.

The nomination AZ Lynchburg last Tuesday
of q full list of candidates for State offices Will
30 far toward relieving the Republican voters
Of Virginia from the imputation of spineless
ness under which the party organization IN
hat State has so long and SO cOnspcuously
lou Attention was called in these columns
month or more ago to the curious theory OF
inactiOn and non-resstance which had appa"
emily been accepted by the Republican leaders
of the Old Dominion as n settled party policy
The State Committee, which met at Lynch
bnrr early in August. had at that time openly
announced its determination not to call a Re
il,blican State convention and had formally
declared it ncXpedient for the Republican Or
ganizafion, as such to participate in this falls
State campaign Such Il supine abandonment
of the field to the Democratic opposition natu-
rally aroused the indignation of those Repub-
leans who believe that party fortunes III the
Old Dominion are scarcely TO he advanced by
a continued policy of default and selfefface-
ment The protests raised against the State
Committees programme did not, indeed. move
that body to reconsider its action; but they
have resulted in the calling by popular meth
eds of State convention which has now met
the desire of those elements in the party COM
nitted to the maintenance of an unbroken
uar,y front in State as well as Presidential cec-
tions.
II is to be frankly admitted that the nomina-
ton of Tuesdays State ticket was to some tx-
tent the outcome and elimination of a bitter
personal and factional contest which for
year past has seriously divided the Virginia
Republicans At the August meeting Of The
State Committee Colonel Lamb, OF Norfolk,
was summarily ousted from his post as chair
man. and W. Park Agnew, of Alexandria. was
elevated to the vacant party leadership. Mr..
Agnew represents the wing Of the party which
favors the scheme of intermittent political
activity and deprecates an expenditure OF
party ef Ort except under conditions which are
likely to rccur only In Presidential campaigns.
Colonel Lamb, on the other hand. since his
election from the craftsmanship OF the State
Committee, has vigorously advocated partici-
patton IN the State canvass this fall, and has
made the refusal Of his former colleagues TO
call n convention the special issue OH which 70
challenge their leadership and authority. To
which OF the two factions the bulk Of the party
In Virginia adheres cannot be determined with
any certainty. Yet the convention Just held
hy Colonel Lambs followers s reported 10
have been an unusually large and representa-
tive one and it's list Of delegates certainly con-
tained the names OF some OF the most energetic
ana conspicuous Republicans In Virginia
Whatever the merits Of the other issues be-
tween the two factions, II seems clear enough
that Oh the main question Of party pocy-that
OF entering or not entering the state campaign
Colonel Lamb and his followers will have the
support OF Republican opinion throughout the
country. Conditions In Virginia are far from
encouraging any hope Of Republican success
at the polls this fall Yet they are fuller Of
promise this year than they have been at any
time since the overthrow In Virginia politics
cf the discredited Malone regime. The Demo
cratic organization has been weakened by dis
affection and desertion, ana opinion In the State
seems bent on emphasizing IN some way It's dis
satisfaction with the fruits OF local Democratic
rule. IN the face Of the popular unrest and dis.
content which nndeninbly exist. II would seem n
prudent aud sensible party policy TO push the