The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-08-24
REPUBLICAN RATIFICATION.

afternoon, under the superintendent OF that
old wheel horse OF Republioanism and leader
in every good movement, Maj. Edward McMa
hon, beautiful pole was erected on the hill
near the residence Of the late DR.. Stribling,a and
from it floated q large United States flag, upon
which were the names Of the Republican nom
inecs, Hayes and Wheeler. just above the flag
was q rake and saw, typical, as Col. Shields
said, of the bone and sinew OF the country and
indicative, 100, OF the line Of policy which will
be pursued after the Inauguration OF Hayes.
First, the saw indicates that all unnecessary
hangers-on will be Topped off, and the rake
proclaims that the clods which cumber the
governmental garle:. shall be thrown aside.
On account OF the excessive heat there was
no speaking at the pole, and the assembly adj
journed to the Court House, where qaitc Il
crowd OF Republicans and Democrats had al
ready gathered. The galleries were damned
with colored men, while the lower floor was
we'll filled with white, and perhaps, twenty
coiored men.
The meeting was called to order by S. NJ.
Yost, who read the TO lowing res olutlons,
WHICH, VII VI III HUM, SCtViuCu Ny
Maj. Mcmahon, were unanimously adopted:
The National Republican Party, in convention as
sembled at CINCINNATI, hayng presented the names
of Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio, and VIM. A. Wheel
of New York. it's candidates for President and
Vice President OF the United States, therefore,
Resolved, That the Republicans OF Augusta Coun-
That the eminent services the Republican candi-
date for President has rendered the country in coun
public and private life attest the wisdom Of the Ma
tional Convention in the presentation of his name
That we recognize in William A. Wheeler, of New
York. the Republican candidate for Vice President
appropriate, and fitting associate f Of
courage and those attributes OF higher statesman
ship called for by the people in this year
instance. and we ca prop =rly and confidently appeal
to all citizens, who are ambitious OF having purity
of the laws, and fraternal feeling ruling in the high
places of the nation to unite with us in their sup
port.
After the adoption of the resolutions, Major
Yost introduced as the first speaker
CAPT. WARREN S. LURTY,
as brave Il man in peace and war as breathcs
the air of Virginia. As a speaker he possesses
that magnetism which at once arrests the at
tcnton of an audience and holds it until
the. last syllable is uttered. His manner is
manly. his gestures graceful and his entire
tIitb VI IL 3GuIiClIhti stC-
complislled scholar.
Capt Lurty said he was glad to meet his
fellow countrymen, glad to stand before them
as the representative of the great cause of human
rights, and in presenting the merits Of that cause
it was not his purpose to wound the feelings Of
single man. Far from it. ! lie knew too well
how sensitive those feelings were, for he had
been born ndreared among gentleman, and had
stood by his beloved Virginia in her every
struggles; had followed that path in reference
to her interests, which his duty dictated, and
was there then in the discharge Of that duty.
It is the duty of every we'll wisher Of this Com
monwealtl and nation to carry out in spirit
Cincinnati platform. IT'S true the St. Louis
Convention went equally as far, but then the
party which gave and guarantees liberty to all
people should be the party to maintain it. The
great argument used by Democrats was that
the Republican party in the South is composed
principally of negroes. Is such an argument
legitimate? is it fair? is it honest? Ought it
to be used rs an objection to the party, for is
it not natural that the freedman should be
found in The ranks Of his liberators, and not
among those who cndcavored to keep him in
bondage? Has not the Democracy sworn and
subscribed to every act of reconstruction to
which the Republican party is pledged? Has
it not vowed to carry out in good faith every
provision of those acts has it not promised
to guarantee every right and privilege voucll-
safcd by them, and has it not over and over
again, declared its intention to abide by and
enforce them? The Republican party has on
ly pursued the line Of policy to which the
Democracy is committed by its most sacred
pledges, and it would be strange, an anonl-
alous, an unprecedented condition OF affairs,
did the negro not enroll himself with those to
whom he was indebted for his liberty, and
from whom he has received the first rays Of
intelligence. Would you withhold from him
the boon of education? No, gentleman, yon
would not ! and the proudest moment of every
true Virginia should be when we arc lifting
this people into the light of a better life.
1t is customary for Democrats to point to the
Republican party as the synonym of fraud,
corruption, thicvery and scoundrelism. Is this
fact? If there is any fraud or corruption
among any of the United States officials in the
Western district of Va, let it be known, and
as sure as the court sets the offender shall be
brought to justice, and if the evidence fastens
the crime upon him, he will receive his pun
isbment in the penitentiary where all criminals
should be sent. Can you say as much for the
Democracy? The school fund has been per-
vertcd. Where is it? Have they investigated
their own household, have they sought to re-
cover the 100000 that was stolen? No sir,
but when the Public Auditors confronted with
the startling fact he simply says 81 am sur-
prised," and there the matter drops. Didn't the
State Treasurer steal and appropriate to his
own uses the money of the State? Where is
that money now? Gone 'swhere the woodbne
twineth," while the thief peram bulates the
streets of Richmond a free man, and they call
it crazy. Has the legislature ever reported the
exact amount pilfered from the public Treasu-
ry? No, gentlemen, it mas not. and va:ious
estimates have been made, the lowest of which
was $4,000, and yet there has been no effort to
recover that amount from the securities of the
Treasurer, General Malone and others, who are
entirely solvent. Thus it is that the people
suffer while the men who swindlcd them go