The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-07-06
Hon. B. II. Bristow Speaks.

Treasury, addressed an immense ratification
| in Cincinnati Oh the oath ult. He was re-
ceived with the most enthusiastic greeting,and
made ringing speech in response. OF the
CincinEati platform he said:
This great outpouring of the people here to-
night lestifes to the fact that the National Re-
publican Convention did its work wisely and
we'll. You are here for the purpose of ratify-
ing that work, and the enthusiasm Of the hour
shows how heartily your approval is given.-
The platform OF principles is one upon which
every patriotic citizen who loves freedom and
justice may securely stand 1t declare. for
equal and exact justice to all men, liberty and
equality in the exercise of all civil political and
public rights, to be enforced, if need be, by all
the power conferred upon the government by
the Constitution. Iii this declaration is en-
bodied the highest aim of government, and
without its practica, operation no government
is really free. or worth the support of a free
people Concedng perfect liberty and exact
equality to those who sought, by violence, to
overthrow the government, it demands the
same security and right for the newly en-
franchsed race which followed the flag and
kept step to the music of the Union' This is
but another form of expression for the idea
that this government is Nation of one people,
and not mere league of many States.
After directing attention more In detail TO
the various recommendations of the platform.
he proceeded as follows:
Upon this platform it has placed men who
bear bonorea names IN our country, the excel
lence and purity OF whose public services and
lives furnish a sufficient guarantee that the
principles announced will be carried out in
letter and in spirit. 1t has selected for its
standard-bearers Gov. Hayes, of your own
State, and William A. Wheeler, of New York.
Gov. Hayes is we'll known to you. Under his
leadership you have got into the habit of
achieving victory Three times have YOU cho-
sen him to occupy the chair OF Chief Executive
of the great State of Ohio. Not only has he
served his State with honor to both the State
and himself but he has nobly and calamity
served his country at a time when his service
was of the highest value. Modest in bearing
toward his fellow-men, one whose purity of
public and private character eau not be gainsald,
intelligent, patriotic, and sound in Judgment
he will render still higher service as the occu-
pant of the chair of Chief Magistrate of the
Nation. The people appreciate and the times
demand just such men for public servants, and
it can not be doubted that on an occasion of
such grand and imperlous necessity rs the
election of President in this Centennial year
Of our National existence, both platform and
candidates will be carefully weighed. Happily
for us the Cincinnati Convention has so acted
as to challenge the closest and most careful
scrutiny of both. The nomination of Gov
Hayes was an act OF wisdom, and, if elected, as
I do not doubt he will be, he will give the
country wise, patriotic, and pure administra-
ton.
Our nominee for the Vice Presidency has
also served his country faithfully and we'll.
AS a member of the popular branch of Con-
gress, he has challenged the admiration and
won the esteem of all who know him. His
character is a tower of strength. He is man
nf Of mn IN off Of
questioned ability, and in full sympathy with
the highest and best principles of the Republi-
can party.
The principles of the great Republican par
ty have the same living force they have always
had, and the prosperity and future glory re-
quire chat OUR highest officers shall be true to
them.
No names better calculated to inspire conf
dence and insure success could have been
placed upon the ticket No language I can
use is too strong to express my confidence in
the patriotism, purity, and trustworthiness of
the men. But success cannot be achieved
without united, persistent, and well-directed
effort. Our political opponents are active and
watchful, and ever ready to seize from us con-
troll of the Executive Department of the Gov
eminent, of which they have so long been de-
prived. While denying that their party is a
sectional one, it is their boast that they will
have united one entire section OF the country
in support of the candidates whom they will
present. The highest considerations OF pa
triotism, and the greatest good of the whole
people, require that political and party con-
tests shall no longer be marked by sectional
lines and boundaries. The position of the Re-
publican party to-day presents an opportunity
for the complete obliteration Of such lines. 1t
appeals to no prejudice and invokes no section
al hate. 1t plants its banners high on the
ramparts of freedom, and invites the people of
n au1
enjoyment of all civil and political rights. The
old Henry Clay Wings and Douglas Democrats
of the South, inspired by that love of the
Uuion which animated the bosoms of their
great leaders, should stand shoulder to Shout
der with US in this Centennial year. They are
no less interested than ourselves in preserving
! the Union and perpetuating the blessings OF
freedom Let them bury the hurtful prejudices
en- gendered by civil war, and once more come
to tue front with their old allies and political
friends, who will gladly welcome them. The
platform and candidates of the Republican par
ty are worthy the support OF every main OF the
South who is willing to forget the bitterness OF
the past, or who has within his bosom spark
of patriotic hope for the future OF our common
country, and an indssoluble Union.
There is no substantial reason why every
man who has at any time acted with the
Republican party may not stand upon the Gin
cinnati platform and support the nominees
Whatever causes Of difference may nave ex-
listed here tofore, are brushed away by tile. wise
and timely action Of the late ConventIon.-
Casting aside forever all the petty differences
and disaffections that have arisen within the
party, let us once more present to the country
an unbroken front, and with firm purpose and
high resolve, move forward to another victory
determined to perpetuate for ourselves and our
posterity all that has been secured in the past
and to advance still further the principles
upon which the party was founded.
| GRAND RATIFICATION MEETING IN WASH
I INoroN. d. C.-The largest and most enthu-
siastic meeting that has assembled in Wash
ineton siMce the war, was held in that
CITY on the 10Th inst, to ratify the nominations
of HAYES and Wheeler. Gen. Jno A. Logan
presided. President Grant. Senators Sher-
man, Morton, Frelnghuysen, and Oglesby;
Secretary Chandler, Attorney Gen. Taft,
Treasurer New, Gen. B. F. Butler, Rev. Dr.
Newman, and many other prominent persons
were on the stand. Letters were received and
read from Gov. Jewell, Senator Conkling and
Secretary Bristow, expressing their hearty ap-
/ proyal of the nominations and their determi-