The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-11-29
(Oommunioated.)
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN cUL-
PEPPER AND ORANGE.
A "Repubican from Principle" Answer
Joshua"

Orange o. H., We. Nv. 20. 1900,
To. The Free Lance:
beg short space in your columns
to note some criticisms ur rjostly made
on the Republican party OF Onipeper
and adjoining counties in a comnuni-
cation dated from Oulpeper aud signed
Joshua" q
We are told that there was Joshua
Of old. who was selected by inspired
authority TO perform some acts Of won
der. bat this self.styled Joshua" Of
modern date assumes TO act and express
himself upon actions Of others without
even the authority Of acourateness or
frankness, and proceeds at one fell
swoop to accuse upjustly what be terms
the leaders of Republican policies in
Oulpeper and the adjoining counties
He depreoates the deteriration Of the
party and declares In his great interest
for Republicanism. that unless there is
change In party managers Re-
publioanism in this section will become
extinct.
Now, / am Republican because l
believe in the principles the party ad-
vocates l bolieve those principles rise
above and are superior TO the individ'
ual. With this feeling AMI sentiment
10 actuate my course my duty appeared
clear and l went TO the polls on election
day aud cast my vote for Mckinley,
Roosevelt and ". J. Rogers l ask
this lamenting Joshua" did he vote
and use his influence so earnestly Re
publican for these three gentlemen, who
were the candidates OF the Republican
Party, or did the management Of the
local leaders 30 disturb his gentlemanlJ
ethics as % make him scratch his ticket
and vote for the Democratic nominee
for Congress. OF yet horrible as 1t may
seem. cause this Immaculate. Republican
90 forsake his cherished principles OF
Republicanism and vote the straight
Democratic ticket? Come Joshua, " bt
honest an "open confession is good fol
the soul :" own up-what did you do?
Joshua, you say "the very bes
men would not vote, many Of them not
going to the polls " 1t is hard t.
comprehend If they did not 90 &c
the polls, how they could have voted.
Dear Joshua" you assign as a reason
for all these dire results; that they, the
Republican party, l presume, have pa
suoh men forward as local leaders thA
the gentlemen will not follow. Sweet
Joshua. are you and the few, whom
you think, think wish you, the only
gentlemen in the partyl
Weeping Joshua" cries out in hi
sgony-"out upon such stuff. " Now
"Joshua, will you allow a little re
freshing Of your memory SeveralyearI
back there was another Joshua" per
haps the same as now chairman of th'
Republican committee Of Oulpepe
county. and beg him to compare, L
his grief and distress will permit relie
for Just few minutes, the manage
ment Of party affairs In his own ooun
ty of Oolpeper. then and now, aud not
the difference. We Of Orange county
see that In 1896 Bryan carried Oulpepei
county By about 900 against Mckinley
and we Republicans had money to max
an aggressive contest, while in this fgh
the organization in Oulpeper rs well a
Orange had not dollar 20 make tn
fight. yet we find Brysn's msjorit.
in Culpeper less than rs more than ii
1896. and 10 Orange county we reduce'
Bryan's majority Of $40 in 1896 dow
TO III this year. SO Joshua" you ap
pear to be poor at arithmetic and as
mourner for the demise Of the Republi
can party so near at hand as you claim
You are certainly not q shining success
Come Joshua, would it not be wei
and carry more consideration with
TO name these only gentlemen" o
the party who have Wrapped thei
togas about them and refuse to smok
the pipe of peace around the parties
camp. .fres2 A minority has but on
solace, viz: To cry cut against the i'm
becilitY and mlsmsnagement OF tn
majority, and II l may be excused
your reference later on 10 your arti
ole TO the gentlemen who offered hv
acres Of land, etc, etc., applies wit
great force to "Joshua" himself
keep me before the people," Bu
Joshua" do not deal in glitterin
gensralities.
Come out fairly and squarely on thi
question and point out the great de
llnquencles Of the present leaders
whose reputation is suoh as TO driv
"gentlemen" from association wis
, the party Of their choice.
This wholesale detractioD prove
nothing, out saNors very "uOn VI o
appointment and Joshua" mourns fc
the loss of power perhaps with the sam
intensity with Rachel, another Bibii
, cal name, mourned for her children.
Iu conclusion we beg you, Joshua,
TO 90 slowly and as you are one OF th
! immaculate Republicans we feel sn'
that If you will, you will do jussic
even where you now condemn view
contrary to your own.
Oh, wad some power the gift to gle u
To see ourselves. as others see as.
T'would from mony sin snd foil
free Us,
And make Us unco wise.
Republican From Principle