Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-08-03
MIS- CELLAR EoUS
A REPRESENTATIVES, VIRG1NIAN,
John w. Daniels Speech before the
National Democratic Convention.

We publish below the speech of Ion no.
w. Daniel, of Lynohburg, in the National
Democratic Convention. secondng the pomi-
nation OF Gen. Hancock, taken from the
Cincinnati Commercial:
Mr.. President aud brother Democrats of
the National Conveution:-It is not the
weakness, but it is the essential strength of
true Democracy, that its constituents should
possess varied aud different opinions as TO
who Is the man to receive public houors. to
maintain correct principles, aud to execute
the peoples will. 1t is tho glory of true
democracy that its constituents will re-
nounce all personal opinions and preferences
when the voice Of a majority has pointed to
the chosen servant Of the people to execute
tho peoples will
We are here to-day embarrassed BY tho
very briiiaucy and variety of the names
which have challenged public favor for tho
first office In the peoples gilt. Jurists who
have won untsrnished ermine, statesmen
who have moulded the policy, shaped the
measures and fought the battles of the partv.
soldiers who have enriched our history with
tsats of arms, and who are battle. SCARED
with wounds of honor; orators, scholars.
thinkers, actors in every leading enterprise
OF q practical nature or intellectual epdeavor
stand in glittering array around US, WORTHY
to be crowned with any honor, or to be the
recipient of any trust that this great public
can bestow. The question which l have
asked myseif-the question which, it secms
to me, should be the index finger to guide
our work to wise conclusion, is this: Who
is that man among them who can interlace
together the hearsstrings of this American
peopleI CCheers.] Who 10 that man who
IN th
OF this mighty country those sentiments of
mutual confidence aud of brotherly love
which once sbided among us before the
sehism OF the secession war? A voice.
"1llden! When have asked the aues.
ton the heart of every man gives me answer
that that nau is Winfield Scott Hancock. of
Pennsylvania. Loud cheers Did l saw
| OF PennsyIvanis? Wiufeld Scott Hancock
Of the United States; Gcheers;1 of every State
by bis good hand united. They tell us, gem
tlemsn, that this country. is tired of the
camp and the sword. They tell US that the
people are weary of martial habits and OF
martial measures. l acknowledge that fact,
but all the more will they welcome with
giadsome greeting tho man who first aboI-
ishes them.
Who is he, indeed2 He is the man who
abolished the rule of the camp in civil pla.
ces.
All tho more ready are we, therefore to
receive into our hearts him who was the first
to salute With his stainless sword the maies,v
of the civil law [cheers who was tho
hrst to bow with knightly cres, at the bar of
civil justice; who was the first of all whose
voice was heard crying aloud in the wilder
ness of despotism, Make the vay str.ipb,
ior the reign of peace and for the sovereign.
ty OF the people" Cheers
Bethink you not, my friends. that the
American people are SO Understanding as
to apprehend the embryo of a Caesar in the
man who was the Brutus of unhuIIoyed ar.
bi'rary power.
Those words came to this country like 4
sunburst upon q 1intry day. They were
Ike the spriDgiDg up of fountain in des.
ert. They were like the shadow of = great
rock in weary land. CCheers And long
after this great Convention has passed away
from earth millions who are to come will be
ksiusing upon their tongues those words
which beloDg TO Runnymede aud to Magma
Charta. The great principles of American
liberty are still the lawful inheritsuce of the
people. [Appi.use The trial by jury the
hsbess corpus, the freedom of speech, the
liberty of the press. the natural right. of
persons, and the rights of property must be
preserved lApplause.J
They tell US that we, the American peo-
pie. do not want soldier. The greatest
and best. the Magistrate without peer, was
who? George Washington, (cheers) the
soldier. George Washington, whose life had
been spent in the saddle, and whose history
is made musical with the clinking of the
spur. Madison and Monroe were soldiers.
Jackson and Harrison and Taylor were
soldiers. Cheers. Buchanan and Lincoln
had both borne arms for the Republic. All
| sdown the line of your Presidents for one
hundred years arc the sparkling names of
the American soldiers.
; And -by shall ne not nov follow the