Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-07-21
The View OF Mr.. MOtter, OF
Alexandria, Representing
the Alexandria Readjusters.

MoTTER, Of Alexandria, representing
the delegates frcm Alexandria:
stand here to-day, Mr.. President,
yielding to no man in all this assembly
in point of devotion to the great princi-
pies ofreadjustcrism. An original be-
lever in the necessity of settling the
State debt upon basis consistent with
the honor and best interests of our
grand old Commonwealth, / have from
the year 1870 talked and worked to
that end. 1 am ready now to fight and
to work to adjust the State debt upon q
basis acceptable to the people Of the
Commonwealth, so that the fostering
hand of the State may no longer be
withdrawn from her educational insti-
tutions. But, sir, L was Democrat
before the word readjuster found a
place in the political history CT this
State, before the necessity for readjust.,
ment sprung up from the disastrous reN
suits of the war; and TO day no man
loves the principles or the name Of
Democracy more than do I. 1 see 1t
to-day as 1 have seen it during all my
life the great bulwark Of the oppressed
and down-!rodden; the staunch suppor-
ter Of civil liberty, of constitutional
government, Of return to the happy.
prosperous government ofour fathers;
OF pure and wise administration of pub
lie affairs; and, lastly, Of govern
ment by the people and for the people.
And now, sir, if with united party
in this Commonwealth we can aid IN
securing to ourselves and our childrcn's
children all these blessings-if we can
aid in crushing out the party whose
sole stock in trade is abuse of our dear
| ly loved South-if by our vote we car
place in the White House for the frs
time in twenty years Democrat-onC
who was our great enemy in war, oul
greatest friend in peace-I ask why, al
reasonable men, why we should divide
that vote, and by so doing give thii
State to our arch-enemy, the Republi
can partyy
4 What have the principles ofreadjust
ment TO do with national politics? D,
you propose to undertake the glgapt
scheme of readjusting the nationa
: debt, of forming a party that shal
, sway this nation based upon the sol
, principle Of settling the debt of th
State of Virginia? If this be your idea
Mr.. Chairman. tell you, you do no
read Alright the signs of the times; yor
mistake the sentiments Of the Virginl
people. While willing to readjust he
debt, the white people Of this State d
not propose to abandon their prlnceles
heritage, the Democratic party. The
do not propose to destroy the Demo
cratic party that they may build u
another upon Its ruins. They hav
, witnessed for fifteen years the party {
hate and corruption, confronted by th
great Democratic party, and now tina
, the current is turning they do not pre-
pose 10 abandon it. Shall we by ou
, action here to-day do aught that will II
f jure this great cause ? God forbid. Fo
looking across our borders 1 see j
every direction the signs OF Republica
Joy al the division in our party. I Sc
their hope, that by putting an indepen
n dent electoral ticket in the field we vii
give this State to them. Surely th
cannot be the object or desire of til
Democratic members of this conver
ton. But L tell you ifit Is, the peopl
of this State will remember that the
were Democrats before they were Re
adjssters, and so they will vote.
= An electoral ticket composed Of goo
s and true Democrats has been in tn
n field for more than q month. I'll
regular party has sent its delegates
d Cincinnati, they have participated
) the proceedings Of the Convention ther
: TO all their proceedings we have bee
s invited in way that said plainly it wa!
, an apology for their past conduct TO US
! we had majority of the white Demo
r cratic vote Of this State then, a, 70
say and as 1 believe. Were not tn
2 meetings then held the time and plac
: for US to have acted, and BY so doin
n have had complete control Of the who'll
! party organization OF the State?
" We were invlted-nay, begged t
enter then. Was it not cur duty, then
to have done so? All over this grea
' land rival factions 10 our party ar
burying their feuds. In Massachusett
and New York enemies-bitter enemie
" are testifying their loyalty to II
party, and their appreciation Of ou
|, great leader. Hancock, by vieing wit
each other as to who can contribul
most to their success. Such an exannpl
should inspire our action to-day, an
: cause us to show the people OF thl
: country that the Democrats OF thos
!. States are not more patriotic or un
selfish than the Readjusters Of Virgins
|. Let US unite the Democrats OF Virgini
= by refusing to put az electoral ticket !
> the field, and then one year hence afl'
we have seated a Democrat IN Ii
presidential chair and given him goo
working majority in both houses
y Congress we can once again battle Z
+ readjustment Of the State debt.
ID Byso doing we lose nothing. I'll