Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-07-20
Remarks OF Judge Harris, Of Virginia at the
Great Mass meeting in Washington.

0ESdG MOOD A1Ssb4aS ~ vosAs4o6eS44s
Surrounded as am by SO many dis
tinguished gentlemen from all sections
of this great country, which | have the
honor IN part to represent, | am
admonHhed that but little time to night
belongs to me.
The people through their representa-
tiyes in convention have with uncommon
unanimity presented the names of Tilden
and Hendricks as the standard bearers
of the Democratic, party Applause
While it may be trae that large
portion Of our Western bEethsen would
have preferred the t,cket reversed, il
cannot be denied that this compromise
ought to heal all wounds and reconcile
our differences on all public questions
If the great Democratic party had beer
one of pIunder, and not of fixed and
well-dehned ideas of governmental
policy ana constitutional limits, theI
there would have been no differences
of opinion to reconcile; then, indeed,
there would have been no Democratic
party, for history shows that they only
had to call themselves Republicans te
be admitted to full participation in
the emoluments of place. Thus pan
oplied, with more to stand guard over
the treasury, wish no sentinel on the
watch>tower, with, none to publish,
with none to investigate and expose
the politicians of the country woulC
have held high carnival and fattenee
upon the hard earnings OF the masses,
until, reeling with the weight Of then
own corruption, they would have
crumbled to atoms. leaving an i'm
poverished and ruined people. Ap
plause.1
Virginia has but one hope and one
aspiration in regard to the contest, and
that is, that the selection of the grea
Democratic Convention at St. Louis
shall, in November next, be confirmee
by the edict of the people. On thin
hope and aspiration she rests her future
political security, the hope Of a pers
manent Rnion of all the States, as wei
in heart and in fact. rather than by the
theory that we are held together by
force and made to love from necessity
The preservation Of those great prin'
ciples of liberty that the forefathers O.
her people aided in illustrating on this
continent, is now her high aim and
ambition. Virginia is no doubtful State
Her vote Can be relied on with certainty
for the Democratic nominees. The
struggle rests with the defenders O.
constitutional liberty and free instltu-
tons, as the Democratic party under
stands them, in ;thhe States Of Indiana
New York, and New Jersey. Then
let me here tonight not only in tht
interest of our party, hut in the interest
of the whole country, appeal to The
people on those batt,e.ields Of the con
fict to let no petty differences interfere
with their first and highest duty in the
attainment of the grand object-the
election of rilden and Hendricks. APP
plause ] For on the one hand we have
despotic ideas of government, attended
with the corruptions Of their attempted
enforcement on the other, the assertion
of the right of the people to govern
and the demand that their servants
shall be honest, efficient, and economical
If the people understand the issues thu
involved, as l know they do, and viii
devote the time which the importance
of the contest demand, the future unit
another Centennial shall be heraldet
into existence, is full of hope. TO
human liberty, and, as consequent
human advancement. l do not doub
the result. ''Reform, publication, ant
reconciliation" are not only the neeesslt,.
but as well the spirit of the age. Thel
let us sanctify them, perpetuate them
and make them eternal by the election
| of Tiden and Hendricks. Applause'
Judge Harris concluded his abb
speech with some humorous and well
timed hits upon the present Admins
tration, which were evidently full.
appreciated, as they brought roars o
laughter and great cheering and shout
that "Old Virginny never tire"