Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-08-19
CORRESPONDENCE
For Captain Parks.


head OF corresponding" and at the re-
quest Of voters" you reproduced an ed
itorial, which, it is said. appeared in the
Warren Register, and which does Capt.
Parks injustice, and as a democrat and
friend Of Capt. Parks I want the facts
to be known. The writer of that ar,,-
Gle charges Capt. Parks with violating
the pledge of the democratic party when
he voted TO proclaim the Constitution.
In the first place deny that there was
any such pledge made. The party con-
venuon which assembled prior TO the
constitutional convention. did pass
resolution recommending the submis
sion fthe constitution to the people for
ratification. In the second place. If the
party convention had undertaken 10
make such a pledge it would have I'M
deTtaken what it had no right 10 do
That convention was called 10 nominate
candidates and the matter Of submitting
or not submitting the constitution had
not been brought before the people. they
had given no such instructions. nor had
the matter ever been discussed by them
In the early days Of the convention.
Capt. Parks made a speech in which he
stated frankly, as he always does. his
position, favoring the submission Of the
constitution TO the electorate which
should be established by the constitu-
ton When the time came to settle that
question. nearly a year afterwards. Cant
Parks, seeing the difficulties that pre-
sented themselves and the people Of
many counties declaring in favor of pro-
clamaton so instructing their delegates.
went home to the people who sent him
TO the convention. laid the matter before
them, stating frankly TO them the con-
ditions as he saw them. and asked what
they wishsd done in the premises. and
every man, except one, declared in favor
of proclamation.
Now then, If il be admitted that the
party convention had right to pledge
the constitutional convention. and that
1t did so, that convention was but the
people assembled through their repre-
snetatiyes, and the people had a right to
change their opinion. They did so
change, and Capt Parks carried out the
wishes Of his constituency. Now. ask.
where is the violation Of any pledge on
his part. II exists only in the fertile
imagination of the writer Of the article
IN question. aAd exists there only be-
cause Of ignorance Of the facts. But if
Capt. Parks violated any pledge. whereof
can Mr. Fulton boast There was a
convention called few years ago to
nominate a candidate for Congress in
this District. Ii did the work assigned
it naming the party candidate. and now
! ask the Editor of the Register and Mr..
| Fulton TO say in public print, whether
/ or not Mr.. Fulton did not kick over the
traces and vote for an independent can
/ didate against the nominee of his party 2
But, Mr.. Editor, with your permission.
/ wantto call attention TO another OBJ
/ lection thar Is being urged against Capt.
! Parks by Mr.. Fulton and some of his
+ friends. They say Capt Parks has held
the Office Of Commonwealth Attorney
in his county for years, has been a mem
Der of the House Of Delegates and of the
late Constitutional Convention. What
have the Democrats of Warren and
/ Clarketo do with that II the people
of Page have chosen thus TO honor him.
1t should commend him TO Others as a
faithful and fearless public servant II
the people of Warren have not thus
honored MI Fulton, certainly neither
Capt. Parks nor the Democrats of Pare
ought TO be held responsible for il. But
when did the Democrats of Warren
change their opinion on this subject
\ few years ago there was a gentleman
from Clarke, an adjoining county and il
the same legislative district. who was
candidate for Congress, and the Demo
Gratis Of Warren cast their votes agains
him for man who had been Common
wealths Attorney in his county for year
and had served both in the House o
, Delegates and Senate Of Virginia.
Mark YOU. DO not question either th
right or the wisdom of the democrats O
Warren in thus acting, but if the fact o
holding a few small offices was not ob
jectionabie then. why is it objectiouabl,
now
What tangled web we weave.
When first we practice 20 deceive
such an objection is the merest balder
dash and clsptrap. unworthy of the con
sideraton Of any fair minded man.
Are the democrats of Page entitled tl
no considerations Here is the Democrat,
vote OF the Counties Of the district TO,
President
1896 1900
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