Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-04-26
THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1900
IN POOR TASTE.


The leadership of the Republican party
in Virginia has, at times, not been of such a
character as to meet with our entire APP
proval. We have not hesitated to FAY sOl
and point out wherein we thought it was
wrong. If We thought the action of the
organization was the result of bad jndg-
ment or of selfish interest we frankly so
declared; but we remained in the field, aud
still contended for Republican supremacy
in Virginia.
The Hon. John S. Wise, now of New
York, formerly of Virginia, has recently
volunteered to write the New York Sun
letter, in which he crticises the leader
ship of the Republican party in this State,
and undertakes to predict what its strength
will be in the election next Fall, as re-
suit of factionsl differences that now exist.
Mr.. Wise says;
"You announce that the Republicans of
Virginia are harmonious or, long estrang-
ed, are getting togethel. The Republican
party of Virginia has never been as much
torn by faction or as weak and leaderltss
as it is today since l have known it. 1t
cannot poll within 10000 votes Of lis
strength in 1896, and the only reason the
convention held at Norfolk was not mark
Ell by contests, factional recriminations
and personal controversies, is that the
most respectable element of Republican,
ism has despaired of doing anything and
left the empty shell of organization to a
gang of scalawag ofliceholders and Office
seekers who are running the thing for
their own profit and neither hope nor eX-
pect nor desire a victory. The silence
from which you take hope is the silence Of
death"
These declarations of Mr.. Wise are very
unwise and in rather poor taste. If lie
had remained in Virginia and helped to
fight the battles of Republicanism lie
would have had some right to act the part
of critic AS it is, he is an intruder a
prophet Of evil, and his views should re.
ceiye veIy little consideration from Re
publcsns in Virginia or outside. Mr..
Wise left Virginia because he thought the
cluse OF Republicanism was hopeless here.
Why then should lie complain, if it re-
m tns hol eless under the leadership Of
men with whom he was at one time side by
side fighting under the leadership of Ma
me, and with some Of whom at another
time he was associated fighting Malone
1t is about the same gang of Oflice-hOld-
ers and ofiice-seekeIs' with whom Mr..
Wise was associated when he was Re
publican in Virginia and all the while an
ofice.holder or office.seeker himself. lie
sel6shly abandoned the Republican party
in Virginia to its fate in the hour of its
greatest distress and humiliation. What
right has be now to attempt to further hui
initiate and weaken 1t by asSaiing the
character of its organization and predict
ing still greater weakness IN the future
1t is fact that cannot be disputed that
the most splendid fight ever made in Viz
GINA by the Republicans was that of 1896
There was harmony in the ranks if there
we're chickering's among the leaders. The
results in that election, however, were OBJ |
tanned, practically, under the same leader
ship we now have; and We see no good
reason why as good results, or better, can
not be obtained in the coming Presden-
tial election. The Republican voters of
the State are firmly united and harmOni-
Gus. If the leaders are unwise and untrue
the people will call them to strict ac-
count Mr.. Wise, however, has no just
right to critcise the organization and de-
clare chat our party has no chance of sue
cess. He ought to remain quiet, or come
back to the post of duty he deserted and
help to put the party on its feet Having
fed from the scene Of conflict, he should
be more charitable than to complain of the
manner in which others direct and fight
the battle he helped to precipitate, but
has been unwilling to share in.