Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-07-03


=, the hearts OF men-it quickens the thought of
the statesman, nerves the arm of the soldier
and doubles the energy OF the toiler 1t is
found in the Roman precept "suuu cuique
tribuere," and in the self-evident truth OF the
American patriot that all men are created
equal" II is the unrelenting foe oil despotsm
and of communism, whether open or sought
to be hidden under the guise of paternal gov
trrment. Its benefcicnt Office in political
affairs is TO secure TO every man the utmost
possible liberty OF action consistent with equal
liberty 10 every Other man.
Yours is not, therefore, the Office OF inven-
ton, bu, OF promul CATION; not to discover,
but to declare, 10 apply the Democratic prin-
cple TO the changing affairs OF human society.
And that this principle may have living force
in public concerns you will nominate candi-
dates whose election will insure its full frui-
lion during the next Presidential term. These
duties no Democrat coubts that you will
worlhily perform. But you are called to their
discha ge this day under circumstauc es OF no
common momeut-circumsiances which may
God in His mercy grant shall in the history OF
oar republic never recur.
Four years ago the Democratic party In
convention assembled at ST. Louis announced
to the country its platform, and nominated as
its candidates two OF the foremost statesmen
OF the nation, both then and now men worthy
of the most enthusiastic political devotion and
the most ardent private friendship. And
Samuel j. Tilden (cheers) and Thomas A..
Hendricks were elected president and vice.
president OF the United States; elected fairiy
as was George Washington or James Monroe.
That they were not inangurated; that the
chief magistrate OF this nation has, for more
than three years, been one whom the people
and the electors rejected; that in the execu.
tive department government by the people
has ceased since March H. 1877, IS living
monument, seen now OF all men, and to be
rememberetin all generations as the fraud oil
the Republican party, and OF its infidehty TO
republican principles, OF its willingness TO
sacrifice the right of popular election, that
"vital principle OF republics" rather than
relax ts hold upon power; and OF the loyalty
OF the Democratic party even to the forms oil
law, of Itsconhdence that the will OF the peo-
pie must finally prevail, abiding in which 1t
patiently waits Tor the fall fruition oil its
hopes until March 4, 1881. But no longer
no longer unless defeated at the polls. III
beaten iarly we shall submit l repeat. we
shall submit, and again wait; but II again
successful, no cunning device OF dishonest
arbitration shall deprive US of our rights.
The Democratic party will never again appear
before n tribunal, falsely called OF justice;
tribunal deaf to the appeal OF testimony but
not blind TO the Reckoning finger OF favor.
But though we failed TO inaugurate our can
didates, our cause was not even for The mo-
ment wholly lost. Retributive justice visited
without delay the authors OF this infamy. The
courts of Florida had thwarted the conspira-
tors who proposed the theft OF its State gov
! 81 . for ref nf n Demo-
cratic House OF Representatives to appropriate
man or dollar to continue the subjugation OF
South Carolina and Louisiana soon forced the
oppressor to relax his grasp. No trace now
remains OF the carpet-bag governments OF the
South, except the Sl70,000,0 900 OF increased
public debts they contrived in seven years OF
disagreement TO heap uponits impoverished
people
Yes. another trace remains. Louisiana, en-
titled by the constitution to two Senators, Is
represented by but one. The seat OF the other
is filed by a delegate from band oil outlaws
never recognized as a government, losg since
dispersed, some To iatten upon the federal
treasury, and some to eat the bread OF exile.
(CheeIs).
The years that have passed since the theft
of the Presidency have been years OF pleu-
ICONS harvests. The labor OF the husbandman
been tsckled with the hoe and has laughed
with the harvest" The benson OF the Most
High has been upon us, and the opportunities
afforded by His gracious favor wisely en-
ploN ed in the economies OF two successive
Democratic Congresses have made possible
that partial measure of resumed payment oil
the national floating debt, and that equaIiza-
ton OF values called by the Republican party
"the resumption OF specie payments.
But the new properties awakened by Tor
eipn demand and the abundant domestic pro-
duct we're gifts 10 the American people from a
higher source than any agency of the Republ-
can party No soldiers kept the peace OF the
corn-felds, no returning boards canvassed the
wheat sheaves, no supervisors or deputy mar
shals assisted AT the gatherings the gamers,
no electoral commission gave Its blessing 10
the harvest. They were the fruits oil labor,
the gracious gifts OF the laborer, OF him who
is the largest benefactor in society, the high
priest OF the Democi attic hierarchy. Zap
plause.
We have been spared one great danger
Since the eighth day of dne, 1880, il has been
certain that the usuiper will not be- immc-
diately followed by the monarch But the
third term is postponed, not averted, and the
real danger is not so much in the third term
so much as in the Republican party, which
makes the third term possible. Bonaparte did
not crown himself emperor until Comparison
had corrupted France. When more than
three-fifths OF any political party invoked
0savior of society" that party Is already so
poisoned with imperialism that it has become
itself a menace to the republic far more tor
midable than any mischief it processes to tear
or any danger it was organized to repel. :.
The remedy, gentlemen, tor this and for all
/ Of Stafa ia
This is at once the price and the protector OF
liberty. This vigilance, already newly quick
ened among the people from whom you come,
| continued here and hereafter, is sure To bring
victory to the Democratic principle and the
Democratic candida'es-a victory so full OF
hope for the republic that even the " melan-
| cholv DAYS OF November shall be radiant
with Joy, aud on the wings CT the strong
winds of March shall be waited blessings.
| [Continued applause.l
The following were nominated and
aece pied as the remaining temporary
officers:
The Hon. F. o. Prince, Massachusetts,
! temporary secretary:
Assistant-secretarie W. Guth-
RE, Pennsylvania; Charles Ridley,
Tennessee; c. S. Dodd, Ohio; D. NJ.
Hall, Minnesota; Major A Orendorff,
Illinois; William II. Gill, New Jersey ;
A. C.. Parkinson, Wisconsin.
Reading Clerks-Neal S. Brown, Jr.,
reading clerk of the United States
House of Representatives; Mark A.
Harding, Georgia; T. o. Walker, Iowa ;
/ Thomas S. Petite, OF the House of Rep.
resentatives; Nicholas NJ. Bell, Mis-
| sorr;. Tap,oS T. Morrison New York /.