Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-04-10
Address of Hon. D. B. Lucas.


Mis- ion Of The Democrats Pssty." Captain
David II. Cockril was called upon 20 preside.
Mr.. Lucas was complimented by the presence
and interested attention Of good audience
We can only give IN epiiomc Of his remarks.
Tie began by contrasting the two great politi-
cal divisions Of the country century ago, Of
which Hamilton, the believer in concentrated
government. of great federal union, was the
leader on one side, and jefferson, the advocate
Of states rights and t,:g framer If our system,
was at the head Of the other party. To-day
The notable Republican leaders--as Graut,
Blaine, Sherman, Coukling-follOw the lead
Of Hamilton, but with more extreme views,
tending 10 centralzs if not TO monarchize the
Republic. To-day the Democracy stand with
jefferson, fighting for liberty and the constiu-
tion-opposel 10 the theories Of coercion and
imperialism, but adheTing to the Bill Of Rights
when it says that no free government can be
preserved but 10y Justice, moderation, tenn
perauce, frugality, virtue, and frequent recur-
renee 10 fundamental principles" We have
need to 60 back to these theories which form
the basis Of our Constitution, aud must save it
from subyersioo Graa, will doubtless be the
next nominee Of the Republican parly-Logan
aud his coufreres of the Radical party await
his election that they may seize the spoils by
dividing the government among themselves.
Il is evident his party regard Lin as the mkt
Preside t. Beecher declares himself ia favor
OF him Tor a third, fourth, 9Th and sixth term.
C5uklyn says: '' an Or Graat because the
people have SO much couflcuce IN him that
they would fear revolution" So with all Of
them. AMI If Grant is installed as President,
Protector, Monarch. or whatever he chooses to
Cal, himself, aud is reelected every term for
the rest of his life, what is to prevent his son
Frederick from succeeding to the throne p
from assuming hereditary hOuorS As did Crom-
wells successors Here lies the danger which
it is the mission of the Democratic party to
defeat, and which can only be defeated by en-
tire uuauimity, aud uuhAssins energy in the
use of adequate meaus. None should be dis
couraged aud fall by the way. If our party
p0led majority Of 100000 less than four
years ago it will do it again, aud all the bands
Of olice-holiers, rings aud republicans should
be met with stout resistance at the polls Re-
pubhcanism to-day meaus GranIiSm, and
Grautism means strong government, aud impe-
rialism. Never until Graut held sway had
tie tramp Of soldiers been beard at our voting
places now, contrary 10 the Constitution, the
Prohibition Of Magma Charta, and the seuti-
meut u all free tiiizens, the b0youet may be
paraded there-such are the present election
laws, to abolish which is another duty Of the
I Democratic party. The world comedies now
that moustrous fraud was perpetrated upon
/ this nation in 1876, aud that Samuel Tildeu
was then elected President, and should have
/ been iuaugurated Instead Of the present. oecu-
/ pant Of the executive mansion of whom he had
0uly 10 say that he bad largely rewarded each
aud al Of the actors IN this shameful trick u
Is fact freely admitted by the Republican
party, aud ascertaued BY Congressional iuyes-
/ legation, that the electoral colleges were hand
ed over BY freedmen, carpet Oasgers and seal
aWogs il the Southern States, to their masters
And why should not this outrageous fraud be
repeated, and every effort Of the people t.
change the cthte-holiers be frustrated by sim.
liar couspiracies? lie agreed with Mr.. Tldeu
in prououucing the " issue created by the sub
version Of the election Of 1876 as the most
trausceudeut in our history" Never before
was such a gross fraud successfully imposed
upon a free people-and to prevent its repeti-
ton is The mission Of the Democratic party
throughout The country Rotation 10 office i.
one Of the cardinal principles of the Bill o.
Rights and of the Democratic party and in it,
spirit we say to the present hierarchy of Office.
holders, step down and ont, w. need You NJ
longer. The question Of the African, Chimes,
and Indian races is among the problems Of The
age in politics. The Republican party ha:
been very attentive to the African freedman
but they owe him al distance, and only be-
cause they hope to make political capital oil
him. OF this the infamous Kansas exodus al
forls q sad illustration, 10 which many dclu-
ded creatures were made the victims Of Yam
kee iricksters. lie advised the colored people
TO stay at home and by industry and good be-
hayi0r earn a competency and the respect oil
those around them. lie then referred to Cap
iial and Labor-the panic Of 10, when all wa
ges Ct mechauics were reduced SGD per cent.
while those Of official luxury were increased
over so per cent the salaries Of President and
ConsreSsmen doubled. NJ wonder Senator
Sharon wrote '' We need a strong govern
ment, capitalists need protection" " their
rights are as sacred as the paupers who pirate
about encrolchment, We have tried Grant
aud know him to be the man for the place
lie has nerve enough to turn grape and CAMS
ter upon the communistic mob who cry bread
OF blood. This is more candid avowal
than many Of las party will make. Grant
he's nerve-uerve enough, as had Cesar, Com
well aud Napoleon, to trample down the lib-
critics Of the people, and directed by his own
selfish aims, at the head Of this government,
to ruin constitutional limitation, and plunge
Us into an oligarchy Of oppression and despo,-