The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-12-02
The New Senator from Alabama.

More and better ideas could not have
been possibly expressed in the same
number Of words than was embodied BY
Hon. j. L. Pugh in his speech accept
ing the nomination for United State:
Senator conferred upon him by the
Democratic members of the Alabams
Legislature. 1t is the quintescence o.
political truth, profitable for reproof
for correction and for instruction il
these days when so many protested
Democrats are prone to wander off after
strange gods and worship at unhallowed
shrines. The man who abandons hi:
principles not because they are unsound
but because his party is defeated in the
endeavor to uphold them, is Hessian
There is but one course for the patriot
to pursue. 1t is blazed out in the ring
ing speech of Senator Pugh:
Montgomery Advertiser
l shall go into the Senate of the United
States with the proud satisfaction that
feel that | am a representative man of the
solid South loud cheerl-the gloriou:
solid South made solid, not for any pur.
pose hostile to the rights, interests OF
pursuits of the people of any other State OF
section, but made solid by the presence and
pressure of an impending necessity for self
defense against organized, persistent, parti-
san, sectional purposes of the Republican
party, founded on distrust and hate of the
white people of the South, to establish over
them the foul dominion of ignorance, We,
nality, malignity and corruption. Gentle
men, we have just ascertained the result OF
one of the most important and remarkable
struggles ever had between the two great
parties for possession and control of the
Federal Government. Never before has
there been a struggle of the Democratic
party for the maintenance of constitutional
government that was supported by more
ability, intelligence and patriotism, and
there is nothing in the result to discourage
the friends of the great national principles
of the Democratic party. Applause and
cheers. 1t Is a conspicuous truth that we
failed, on account of fictitious and short
lived causes and our defeat amounts to no
condemnation of the great principles and
purposes of the National Democracy. Gen
tlemen, we've had our failures we are ac-
customed to failures, to losses, to suffering
and disappointment but we ought to
remember that, in the incomprehensible
wisdom of God, these losses and sufferings,
and disappointments, are, at last, the
foundation OF all human progress and Chris
tan civilization. We ought to shake off
the delusion that there is magic, and heal"
ing, and health, and progress, and prosperi-
tv in Federal office-holding, and in the
government aid, and in bounty legislation.
Let US accept and act upon this
lesson taught by the curse of
Adam, ''In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto
the ground" The foundation of all health,
progress and prosperity is the labor, the en-
ergy of man. The foundation of all labor
and energy is necessity. This memorable,
unavoidable, irrepressible neces sity is the
legitimate offspring of our failures, losses,
sufferings and disappointments. If it were
in the power of man to devise ways and
means of avoiding these failures, losses, suf-
ferings and disappOintments, and securing
certainty in results, the machinery that
moves the world would come to deadlock,
and divine organism, itself would become
instantly deranged. No, gentlemen, l hear
some suggestions that we should abandon
the Northern DemOcracy-that we should
divide the solid South. All, gentlemen, it
WAS HcNtl HLOIS ILL POI HI-IIlCIC never was
greater necessity for us to remain together
as a united people. If we separate ourselves
from the Northern Democracy, we necessa-
rily increase and intensity Northern section
tionalism and centralism Let us crystalize
our solidity Let us hold ourselves steadily
and firmly upon the high, broad line of sec
tional pacifcation and harmonious union
Let us carry out in good faith, and to the
best of our ability, by the exercise of dele
gated power, all the great national objects
for which our Confederate Republic was es-
tablished as recited in the preamble of the
Constitution of the United States. But,
gentlemen, remember, and let it be pro-
claimed to the world, under no palms, or pen
atty or punishments will we ever surrender
the invaluable right oflocal selfgovernment.
Prolonged cheers. | shall, with your per-
mission, go into the United States Senate
and plant myself upon the Constitution with
all its amendments and obligations. l shall
fix my eye UPON this rule of action as the
Christian fixes his eye upon the holy cross.
To thine own State and people be true, and,
as the day follows the night, thou canst not
then be false to any other State or section.