Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-04-06
ADDRESS OF HON. D. B. LUCAS.
First Gun of the Campaign.

before the citizens of efferson, at the Court
House in Charlestown, on April Sd, 1880,
was- an able aud eloquent exposition of the
subject announced. "The Duty and Mission
of the Democratic Party"
To those who are keenly alive to the grow
Jog Importance Of our State and national
elections, the grand struggle before Ms, aud
which is now almost at hand, must awaken
considerable interest, if not apprehension
The careful student of our history mu.t per-
csive the great and overwhelming power,
which has been welded in the past By those
conflicting parties which have always been
chief factor in our National Government.-
Since first assumed the dignity of free
and Independent republic, and took its place
among the nations of the world, the diver
gsncs of popular opinion, framed and nodded
into principles, and seeking power aud in
fuence under the head of two great parties,
has marked its political existence. The tri.
umph of the one is always the defeat of the
other, and the struggle for supremacy must
always be farce. and oitentimes dangerous to
the liberty of our people. Our constitution
is now in it's infancy, aud the question is,
shall it be nourished from the fountains of
pure Democratic principles by
the aid of which alone, can we hope to re-
main fieemen, and our inalienablc rights and
liberties be sustained or whether it shall
sink under the bsnefu1 influence Of monarcbial
ideas, partisan greed, or individual avarice.
This question must present itself with no
moderate force to every refscting mind. In
the near future. and just beyond our mex.
election, lies tho answer, MAY Democratic
vigilance bring Democratic success. That the
frequency of elections keeps the public
awake to the issues Of the day is undoubtedly
true, and SO far beneficial, but we cannot but
feel after our last experience, at an approach
ing general election, some apprehension a. its
recurrence. To 1876 the fight for the chief
mag istracy was severe, aud the first doubt
led to the fest fraud, and our National Con-
stitution for a while was shaken "from turret
to foundation stone" To see that the bold
outrage, blazoned before a whole people, is
not repeated, and if attempted to prevent it
by proper action, will be tho special task of
the Democracy by the 4th of March, 1881.
The address of Mr.. Lucas is the frs: shot
in the great battle that is before US in this
State, and foreshadows the approaching con.
flict. in which the people of old Jefferson
must speak in no uncertain tones. The meets
ing being organized motion of A E
Kennedy, Esq, by calling Capt. David II.
Cockrill to the Chair, and the appointment
of the editors of the Free Press and Spirit
az Secretaries, Mr.. Lucas commenced by
drawing the contrast between the two polit>
ical schools of q century sgo-Mr. Hamilton
the exponent of one, and Mr.. Jefferson the
immortal protector and guardian of the other
Hamilton the Federalist, aud the advocate of
strong government and his adherents on the
one side, Jefferson the defender of popular
rights and the author of our American sys>
tenn, the other. With Hamilton and his
party, but with more vicious and more ex-
treme ideas, stand to day the lordy leaders
of Republicanism-Grant Sherman, Couk-
Ign, Blaine and the like. With Jefferson
and his tenets,' shoulder to shoulder, are the
bright lights of Democracy, fighting the
same cause that he fought-popular rights.
the freedom of the people, our constitutional
government with its first principle, "That
the people are the source of all power"-
The New England ideas of to-day were iden.
titled with those of Adams and Hamilton in
lSUi, and meant strong government coercion
and finally Imperialism To these the Dem
ocratic party is opposed, aud in the spirit of
our constitutional fathers we stand upon the
Bill of Rights which declares THAT no free
government or the blessing of liberty can be
preserved to any people but by firm adher>
epce to justice, moderation, temperance, fru-
gality and virtue. and by q frequent recur>
renee to fundamental principles" No student
Of history or close observer of the tendencies
of popular opinion of to day. as it comes
from press, pulpit and rostrum can denv
that We have pressing need at this time for
speedy recurrence to the important theories
that underlie our constitution, and must be its
preservative against all attack. That Grant,
the head of what might be called the mon
arohial spirit of the age. will be the next
presidential nominee of the Republican party.
10 beyond doubt. The f 1T has gone forth.
aud Logan aud his brothers in Radicalism
but await his election, that they may. like
the Roman triumvirate, divide the govern.
ment among them the reward of their suc-
cess. Thst he is regarded by the leaders of
his party as the coming man. and is the rep>
Tesentative of American imperialism, Mr.
Lucas quoted from Henry Ward Beacher,
who in reply to a toast of our country, de-
clared "Tbas he was in favor of Grant, and
for third, fourth, fifth and sixth term if tho
people required it," also the Duke Of AR
Ryle. recent visitor to our country, and \
philosophical student of our history, who
said. probably never having read Dem
ocratic paper, Il do not think people can do
better than replace Grant in the White House
and keep him there by successive elections,
if need be. for the remainder of his life. and
if you once place him in power again what
will you gain by removing him." Conklyn
ct Utica declared THAT he was for Grant