Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-08-13
CAPT WESTINGHOUSE SPEECH
Before the Democratic state
Convention.


The following is the speech of
Capt. George Washington, delivered
upon taking his seat as temporary
chairman of the democratic state
convention, as we find the same re-
ported in the Nashville American
Gentlemen of the Convention
In SO far as this may be regarded as
a mark of your confidence, hold it
in unmistakable appreciation. But [
am not vain enough to suppose, nay,
it is impossible for me to suspect
that this is due to any special. merit
or qualification of mine. There are |
scores of gentlemen within the
sound of my voice who could per
form the duties incident to this posi-
ton with far more acceptance than I
can possibly do. do not profess to
be an expert in the mysteries Of par
l,amentary law. My feeble taper has
burned upon different altar. I /
have worshipped mistress pro-
verbally jealous of divided atten-
tons. You need not, therefore, be
surprised if [ should make mistakes,
but rather if I should not make
them; you need not be surprised if
L should be embarrassed very much
unless [ shall receive your cor
dial cooperation and assistance. I
trust, therefore, that I shall have it,
and, furthermore, and more import
ant than all, I trust that the good
genius of harmony [applausel, may
preside like a spirit over our coun-
ellis. Applause. Let us emulate
SO far as we may the splendid ex-
ample lately set us at the Queen
City of the West, and which will
doubtless be productive of so much
good to the country. You know far
better than I can tell it that it is
highly important that it should be
So Nor do I think I indulge in the
language of extravaganza when I
ay that we have reached a critical
juncture in the affairs of our state,
and in the affairs of the democracy.
The chances are now or never. It
has lately seemed, however, as if
something like the spirit of discord
had found Judgment in our ranks;
but I am happy to believe that when
properly understood it is far more
apparent than real, and much less
widely extended than many good
people suppose; nevertheless, it has
not failed to attract the attention of
a keen and watchful enemy, whose
only hope of success lies in demo
cratic dissension. I have precious
little fear that he will succeed, And
yet all history teaches the lesson
that the price of liberty and good
government is eternal vigilance; and
we have high and impressive author
ity to the effect that a house
divided against itself can not stand
It is not time for dissension. When
the merchantmen at sea with her
precious cargo beholds the black
flag of the buccaneer bearing down
upon her, is that time for her crew
to indulge in sectarian quarrels? or
is it time for unity of action and
purpose? When the pirate flag of
republicanism is visible in the near
distance, bold and defiant, is it a
time for division, or is it a time for
union, upon sound platform, under
a sound leader, with something OF
the fibre of cold Hickory" in his
composition. know not what others
may think, but as for me I can con-
ceive but of one calamity more dire
than for that harpy crew to again
flap their dismal wings in the cham
bers of your capitol; and that is that
supreme, over shadowing, far-reach
ing, unending and exquisite calamity
of calamities, which lies coiled up,
like a serpent, within the sinister
folds of that hell-begotten word, re
pudiation. For that, in my humble
, Judgment, would be the sum total
and grand climax of all villainies
alone fit to take it's place beside the
, colossal villainy of 1876, for its
righteousness and the ten times null
tiplied plaques of Egypt for its fruits
But, thank God, we have not reached
that point; nor is there the slightest
prospect of doing so, if we but do oul
duty. Unholy ambition may, in days
to come, sing the siren song of de-
ception, but it will naught avail. The
t light is breaking in upon dark places
All the people ask Or want is equit.
able justice. [Applause.l But i
may be that I am not conforming tx
| the pretty and artistic proprieties O
, this position. My reply is, tina
while I may regret it, not for tn,
presidency of the great repu bill
could I consent to suppress my con
victions upon this subject; to dali,
and temporize with the deadly enc
mics of the state; to coquet will
those who would, with more than un
, flal blindness, put stain upon he
escutcheon which not all the water,
of old ocean and all the rains in thu
sweet heavens would avail to wasl
out. [Applause.] There are times
!, in the lives of both men and states
when boldness becomes discretion
when timidity becomes treason, and
disloyalty to form becomes 10y
j.. a1ty to duty. Such a time has ar