Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-06-16
SPEECH OF GOV. HENDRICKS.

M. Hendricks, having returned thanks for
the honor done him, alluded 10 che prcsidon-
tial election. and said:
"The result ss declared 10 Louisiana and In
Florida and at Washington is not and cannot
be made satisfactory 10 the country for Tho OBJ
vious reason that il was not true. a great
aud sincere people will rest their final judg-
ment only upon truth, aud never upon fraud
successful through tochnicality. Even should
the President and his cabinet adopt part OF
the whole of the policies aud pur poses for
which the democratic party has been contend
ing for many years, and which became so dis
tinctly defined last year-even that cannot re-
move or quiet the public discomfort.
"Thc democrats will make no factious oppo-
sitou, nor will they seek 10 embarrass the &C
| faCto administration, but will sustain il In
what is right because it is right and for tho
welfare Of the country, and not at all because
| Of any fcalty to the party that stands defeated
and condemned by the people The people
cannot allow the selection Of their chief magis-
trate 10 become thing of chance or Of sharp
practice. The "fraud first triumphant In
! American history must DC assigned 10 lis
| proper place among the crimes against popular
| government aud made so odious that no par
! ~ will dare TO attempt its repetition. lie who
! is elected President must be uauguratcd. Tn
Ill that is settled and made sure no democrat
can be seduced from his devotion and allegi-
ancc in any way not by the alurementS OF
office, or even by the strong appeal 10 the a.
| abandonment Of The administration Of vicious
| principles aud dangerous policies aud the a.
| doptiOn Of better doctrines and Just measures
Democrats will not iutrust their most cher
| isLed principles 10 tie keeping Of power which
is attaiucd by vicious aud corrupt means
They will the rather continue their faith III the
right Of The majority 20 rule in accordance with
constitutional provisions.
All democrats rejoice with unbounded joy
that free republican governments are once more
allowed to tho States Of South Carolina aud
Louisiana. They rejoice in the good fruits that
| must follow. They know that peace and good
order will prevail; that capital will be made
| secure and labor safe, coutcntcd aud happy
that enterprise will revive aud the cruel bur
dens Of the government aud public corruption
will be lifted from the shoulders Of labor and
that production will increase and lands advance
in price. But tlcy know that. in the language
Of Gov Morton, it had become inevitable.
Good government in the States was not q
fTcc-will Offering upon the affairs Of the coun-
try. For years the democrats had contested
in Congress aud before the people for free re-
publican States throughout the South, aud f.
nally it became inevitable because the right
aud truth were too strong TO be longer sup
pressed. In this democrats fud reason to
stand more firmly with their party.
" Out Of power, with no patronage 20 dis
pcnse aud 20 money TO distribute, but animated
10y the spirit Of our institutions. and inspired
by The sentiment of the right Of local self-gov-
erumcut as Inherent in the people, the demo-
cratic party during the past ten years has re-
stored one State after another, until now the
tread Of the soldier Is heard in no legislative
hall, but in every State the people are govern
Ell by laws Of their own euactipg and by Off
GERS Of their own choosing.
Mr.. Hendricks concluded with the dcclara-
ton that this occasion had more than a per-
soual significance. It proclaimed that we had
no sectional sentiment no Eastern or Western
policies The East aud the West and tie
South were one. \ wise aud Just policy
would alike promote the prosperity Of each