Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-05-26

opposed TO the longer continuance o
the Republican party in power, AM
anxlously desire change in the ad
ministrction of our public affairs. La
voice: "That's right."] -Four year.
ago, AR. President, standing on thi
floor as do now, 1 had the honor t
address a convention of representative
Virginians who assembled in this build
ing to put the ball in motion for thu
presidential campaign of 1876.
That campaign was one of the extra
ordinary activity and energy. Bot
parties put forth all their energies ant
naufully contested every inch ofground
The candidates of the Democratic party
were triumphantly elected Applause
by a majority Of more than a quarter o
million American voters and by clear
majority in the Electoral College. Yor
all remember how we lost the fruits o.
that hard fought battle and that we'll
earned victory. How the gigantic con-
splracy was entered into at Washington
and a President and leader OF the Re
publican party sought to strIne the
voice of the American people and tc
nullify the voice which they had made
at the polls, and to install in the presl'
dental Office man who has not been
elected by the American people. You
remember the stormy and excited
scenes through which we were called
on to pass, and how the Democratic
party, in spirit of moderation and for
bearance, determined to submit to the
perpetration of this great fraud and the
accomplishment Of this gigantic wrong
IN order 10 preserve the public peace
and avert the calamity ofcivil war.
[Applause.]
But, my friends, if l do not utterly
mistake the tone and temper OF the
American Democracy to-day, they are
not only resolved-infexibly resolved
that they will nominate their candidate
to be elected at the succeeding election,
but what is more, they intend TO in'
augurate him in spite Of the machlna-
lions of the Republican leaders. APP
plause. A voice; That's the way to
talk
Now, my friends Of Virginia the
question arises, Where will the Virginia
Democracy be found, what part will
they play in that great and momentous
WILL VIRGINIA VOTE IN THE AIR
for an unpledged electoral ticket?
Voices. "No."l Will Virginia hitch
herself on as willing captive to the
car of the Republican Jnggernaut ?
Voices, "No, no; never."] Or will
She take her rightful position as OF old
in the front rank OF the Democratic
column?
Will Virginia utter her vOice-her
voice which has hitherto been potentY
Will Virginia utter that voice in favor of
local self.govsrnment,: in favor of con-
stltutional freedom, in favor Of an IN
dissoluble Union Of indestructible
States? [Applause.] Or will Virginia
lend the sanction OF her great name to
those who would prostitute the power
of this Government, 10 subvert the
Union of our fathers, and TO establish a
centralized dtspotism upon the
RUINS OF THE REPUBLIC?
Ny countrymen, will Virginia God
bless herD, the mother Of statesmen
and Presidents, the lands Of Jefferson
and Henry, the land Of Madison and of
Narshall-will Virginia be content to
utter any uncertain sound in contest
which involves everything which her
people from time lmmemorial have held
most dear and sacred?
Our late unhappy differences upon
the debt question are to be utterly e.
pored in the contest thus to be waged.
1t has nothing to do with it. There IS
no connection between the debt ques.
ton and Federal politics. The debt
question is not at all involved in the
presidential question. l know the re-
Spouse that Will be made ; l read it in
your eountenances, IN the countenauces
of these representatives of Virginia,
and. as Your chairman has done, l can
only congratulate you, and do most
heartily, upon Ibis magnificent assem-
bly,, and l would beg this Convention,
IN the election of their electoral ticket
in selecting their delegates and their
amendments upon the Central Com
mittee to recognize Debt-Payers and
alike as Democrats. APP
plause.] .
Let our delegates 90 to Cincinnati
prepared to take counsel with their
brethren from all parts of the broad
land ; lei them 90 prepared to maintain
The two.thlrds rule, but
TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE
BEST MAN,
the most available candidate, who can
be selected to lead our forces 10 victory,
whether that man shall be the favored
son Of little Delaware [applause], the
pure and gifted Bayard, or the favored
son of New York, philosopher and
statesman, Horatio Seymour [applausel, |
,r the favored son Of Pennsylvania, the |
gallant and heroic Hancock lapplausel, |
who. although in the exercise of COM
nand. could bow gracefully and &C
knowledge the supremacy of the civil |
,ver the military power [applause] |
,r that other favored son Of Pennsylva-
Tia, Samuel J. Randall Iapplausel, the
present Speaker Of the House OF Re-
,resentatlYes, who stood for forty hours
Without leaving his tracks in the Forty
bird Congress, and manfully resisted
he onset made upon US by fanatics 10
asten upon Virginia and the other
states the enormilies and iniquities Of
he Force bill [applause], or tina. incor-
uptible patriot, that NOBLE old Roman.
Allen G.. Thurman [applause], native.
,orn son of Virginia and adopted son of
ohio, and of whom both States to-day
ire justly proud. Or that intrepid
tatesman, that eminent iurist, Stephen
T. Field continued and enthusiastic
Ipplausel, who comes the way from the
iOlden Gates of the Pacific, and who,
nominated at Cincinnati, the elements
ire so mixed in him, the Democracy
would rise as one man and say, Here is
man who, if elected by his country
nen, would dare 10 be inaugurated.
Mr.. Goode, in closing, said that he
old a friend that he came down here to
,et fresh inspiration from Virginia, and
urther. if any one Of the gentlemen he |