Year: 1871

:


From the telegraphic columns of the Dis
patch of this morning, we are informed the
Republican Convention which assembled at
Pittsylvania G. II. on Monday last, was
broken up in confusion, and resulted in the
withdrawal of several township delegations.


Making all due allowance for Democratic
distortion, we are satisfied there is ssufficient
truth in the report to justify US in believ-
ing that something serious has happened to
the party in that county.


The convention made nominations of
candidates for the Legislature independent
Of the boilers.


We cannot, as one of the defenders of
Republican principles, be silent while we
see the present bright prospects of tho
party overclouded by such unnecessary and
injudicious action.


SOMEBODY WAS TO BLAME FOR THE
DISRUPTION. Who that somebody was
should be known and exposed.


1t is time for the journals of the party in
the State to shake from their hands
the gloves, and handle without fear
Z or favor the disturbers of party success.
These disturbers are generally men of am
bition beyond their ability, who, rather
than see their selfish purposes defeated,
would drag the party to utter ruin.


Let no one imagine we refer particularly
to them. Our language is general, and so
long as we are on guard we feel it due the
brave soldiers who are sleeping in peace to
let no one pass the outer line who is a ira :
tor and spy,


If we are not sustained in this position,
we would discard, as unworthy the c3nii-
dence Of the party and ourselves, the man
who, at this critical moment in our history,
would deny us his appreciation.


1t Is impossible in the life Of any party
to supply every asprant with positions Of
honor and profit, and the individual who
fails to recognize this great fact lacks polit-
ical wisdom and experience. A political
blunder is rs liable to criticism as a crime,
and this is no time to encourage bluAderers;
/ they must be put aside if they hold place
and power, they must be driven from them;
if they are private citizens, and are aspir-
ing to place, they must be checked.


The party must be obeycd the Will of
the people must be regarded, and if not,
we might as well surrender every hope of
securing Republican majority in the next
Legislature.


Every member of our party must reeog-
nize no law, nor be guided in his conduct
by any other than of adding strength and
responsibility to Republicanism. Neither
can be acquired without an obedience to the
will Of the people and their majorities.


To destroy the present bright prospects
of our party, by the disgraceful breaking up
of properly constituted conventions, is po-
litical murder, and the murderers should
be brought to justice and burned at the
stake Of party opinion.


The county of Pittsylvania, as well as
several others now jeopardized by misnan-
agement and blunders, are of too serious
Importance to the party to be thus frittered
away. We cannot submit to such .idiocy
and self-destruction, nor can those who
have SO long struggled for the maintenance
Of our glorious principles, exhibit the job
like patience that has graced them for
several years. We call upon the people to
arrest these madmen in their reckless
course, and hurl them back into their
insignifcance.