Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-12-16
Cap. Op.e's Remarkable Position.

In the caucus last week, Mr.. Early
OF Greene and Madison, offered the
following resolution:
Resolved, That no candidate ia ELI
gible to any office 1t the disposal of
this Democratic caucus who bolted the
Chicago convention or who refused to
support the Democratic nominee for
President of the United States, Hon.
Williams Jennings Bryan"
Senator Opie took the ground that
last year the Democratic party was de
feated by the treachery of some of the
fellow Democrats, aud especially by
the Democratic administration. If a
Democratic official followed any such
policy, he was traitor, but some dis
tinction should be made with an indi-
vidual. He, therefore. was opposed to
the nomination of any one who had
not been in favor of the Democratic
candidate for President.
J.W. Churchman of Augusta, desir
ed to know if ninety per cent of those
who voted for the Senator bad belong
to that side or not.
'Yes," replied Mr.. Opie. slowly, ''but
they must go to the foot of the table
So help me God, will not vote to re
ward treachery.n
Senator BlakeY then asked if the re-
adjusters had not been taken back into
the Democratic fold and given respou-
sibie positions. Nr. Opie replied in
the Affirmative, but said he pleaded
the statute of limitation in regard 10
that matter.
These are high sounding phrases,
but Capt. Opie makes mistake when
he undertakes to ostracise good men
in the party because they may have
strayed once, and especially when they
differed on so fundamental a principle
as the currency. 1t must be conceded
that many Of the men, especially those
who have such intelligence as to be
fitted for positions In this State, were as
honest in their convictions as those
who voted as Capt. Opie thought right
But if boiling ticket is treason and
disqualifies men it should apply to
other elections than the one held last
fall. The statute of limitations can be
pleaded to offenses of a mild character
but II the ''treachery" he talks of is SO
great crime that he eolemnly affirms,
so help him God he tDiW neUer reao0rd
1t, he ought to let it convict in all
cases. Now we do not want to call up
any unpleasant recollections, but
Capt. Opie owes much of his support
in the last election to persons who
"plead the statute, "or forgot past often
ses. The Captain saw fit few years ago
to run against regular Democratic
nominee in this county for Common
wealth's Atty. He saw fit to decline
to vote for Gov. O'Ferrall, and later
he saw fit to refuse to support Mr..
Tucker for Congress, both Democratic
nominees; and later still, in May, 1896,
when SO true Democrat and so wor
thy gentleman as Capt. Frank Berke-
ley was the nominee of the Democratic
party for mayor of this city, we under
stand Capt. Opie declinded to support
him and voted for the independent
candidate. When the Capt. therefore
undertakes to DENY rights to Demo
Gratis because they did not support
Democratic nominees, he must make
his rule broad, and not read one in, and
another ont. as suits his peculiar pleas
ure or caprice. We take occasion to
serve notice on our Senator that such |
a resolution as he supported does not
meet the approval ola large class of
his constituents who were the most |
loyal supporters OF the Chicago
convention in this county and
city, in fact they are u terly. diametri-
cally, and absolutely opposed to it. 1t
Is pleasant to note that as to this reso-
ution reason prevailed, and it was
,yerH hslmingiy defeated. 4