Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-09

I am here to voice the earnest hope
that feel, to utter the fervent prayer
Of my heart, that Virginia, the mother
Of States will not prove recreant to
all her high traditions. We have al
ways looked TO her to lead, and we know
that she has the right to do SO. We
know her history, and We know that
in seeking the path of duty she has
ever found the way to glory. I ad-
jure you By your traditions. by all you
hold sacred, to lead again Virginia,
as you have done heretofore, not al
ways to victory, but always to honor.
What is Virginia's duty now? You
hardly realize. my friends, how much
depends on the action of your State.
With united South casting one hun
dred and thirty eight electoral votes,
We need only New York and Indiana,
and | believe We shall have them.
Will Virginia, when we have success
within eur very grasp, sacrifice the
Democratic party, will she sacrifice the
National Government by aiding, indi-
rectly though it be, to elect Repub-
lican President ? [ will not believe it.
I stood fonr years by the side of Vir-
ginians. and I know the stuff OF
which they are. made. In those four
years | never saw them falter. At
this crises [ cannot, [ will not think
that you can prove recreant to the ex-
allied teachings, the ennebling inspira-
tons of your glorious past. Put ev-
erything that can distract your atten-
ton from our one great object. Look
only to that; fight for it and win the
fight. I have nothing to say to you
about your local differences we have
them in our own state, but we have
resolutely put them behind US. Real
ize if you can what will follow Re-
publican triumph in November You
have all seen what strides that party
has made towards Capitalization You
have seen your Judge stricken down
by the mailed hands Of the National
Government you have seen the Re
publican party mass troops at the polls
to overawe your free suffrage; you
have seen their deputy marshals, their
supervisors, their returning boards
the instruments of an overthrow of
the last vestige of State Rights. [ tell
you, my countrymen, the fate of the
South will be harder than ever if the
Republican party is successful in this
campaign We can behold no more
free elections, no untrammelled ex-
preston of political sentiment {; and no
one of US now living will ever again
see restoration of Democratic rule
and principles.
1t we elect the Democratic nominees
the Republican party will go to pieces
like rope Of sand. Their mission is
ended, if they ever had a mission.
There is nothing that holds them to-
gether to-day save "the comprehensive
power of the public spoils." The
Democratic party is the party of peace
and Of union that would blot out all
sectional difference for ever, and it has
proven this IN the nomination of Gen.
Hancock at Cincinnati. There was
but one feeling there among the South
ern delegates. That feeling was ex-
pressed when we said to our Northern
Democratic brethren "give US any
available man" They gave US that
man. and we have put it in the pow
er of the people to elect the ticket.
They can elect it if they will. You
will hear from one to-day who can
speak for North Carolina. Governor
Van ce will confirm my words that we
can carry the South, if you will only
carry Virginia. He has come like me
to appeal to you not to forsake US in
the hour Of need Consider soAat Lee
and Jackson aoould do aOere they alive.
These are the same PRINCIPLES for
a0hich they fought for four gears, Re
member the men aOho poured forth their
life blond on Virginja's soiE and do
not abandon them now. Remember
that upon your cote depends the sue
cess Of the Democratic ticket.
When the correctness of the re-
port of this speech was quea toned the
editor Of the Valley Virginian after
ward published the following statement
in that paper reiterating that the
speech was reported as Senator Hamp-
ton made it. He says:
General Hampton declared that the
Democratic party, under Hancock's
lead. was fighting for the same princi-
Piles that Lee and Jackson fought for,
and for which the southern soldiers
died. There was no qualification in
the terms used. His appeal was for
harmony in the Democratic party in
Virginia, and to make it effective he
brought up the war remembrances to
touch the feelings of the audience.
Hampton is right. The Democratic
party under Hancock's lead IS fighting
for the same principles that Lee and
Jackson fought for, and for which
Southern soldiers died, and if he is
elected they will gain with the ballot
what they failed to gain with the bay
onet. Northern men will do we'll to
look this question squarely in the face.
There is only one issue to consider.
Shall we be governed by the principles
which Grant and Sherman and Sheri-
and fought for, or place the control of
this government into the hands of men