Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-10-01


country. Tt is not necessary to 60 back
over the history of that party-a party
which usurped all the powers Of the gov
eminent and centered them in one branch,
a party that sought to impeach a Presl-
dent, and all directed to one end-the OPP
preston of the Southern people. There IS
no doubt that Hancock will be the next
President unless forsooth the division IN
Virginia may defeat him. He, the spea-
ker, could remember when her voice was
omnipotent in the National councils of the
Democracy, He was a member of the
National Convention in 1852, when Vir-
ginia presented the name of Daniel s.
Dickinson, of N. Y, and it was hailed
with acclamaticns. Mr. Dickinson declin-
ed the nomination and Virginia retired
and brought in the name of Franklin
Pierce who was the next President. Vir-
ginia is the Queen among states it she
will only take the place. They are pre-
pared to accept her leadership, as in times
past, it it were not for this wretched broil
among ourselves. If she is struck down
in this contest it will be by her own sons.
So the struck eagle, stretched upon the plain,
No more through rolling clouds to soar again,
Viewed his own feather on the fatal dart,
And winged the shaft that quivered in his heart:
Keen were his pangs, but keener far to feel,
He nursed the pinion which impeled the STEEL
While the same pumage that had warmd his nest
Drank the last life-drop of his bleeding breast.
If this uncertainty came from any other
quarter we could better bear it. But 1t is
thou ito Capt. PauD with whom we have
taken sweet council and walked in Demo-
cratic ways together, that hast done it.
WHO TRIED TO REUNITE THE PARTY.
The party he, 1.-THE speaker) represented
had done everything to heal the wounds Of
the Conservative party. In March it
called State convention of all Conserva-
| tives. Why was not that call acceptedt
He would not use one harsh word towards
| the rank and file of the Readjuster party.
| He believed that they were intent, as they
best knew it, to do their country service,
but it was their leaders who refused.
When the State Convention met DR..
Quesenberry, a Readjuster who voted
against the McCulloch bill, was chosen
temporary chairman. The permanent
presidency of it was filled by Henry G. AL
len, gentlemen you have it in your minds
to send to Congress-, [applause.] Among
the delegates to Cincinnati were James
Barbour and DR.. Moffett. On the cleo
toral ticket were placed three prominent
Readjusters. and in the platform adopted
| by the convention anything to give offense
| to the Readjuster Conservatives was stu
diously avoided. The Executive Commit
tee W hich had given offence to them was
removed to the very last man to conciliate
them. Could we have done anything more
| to re-unite the party?
| WHO ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP IT
| DIVIDED.
But the canvass went on. The Readjus-
| ter party, through their leaders, rejected
every overture. People of Shenandoah,
keadjusters and Debt Payers, united in
asking union. This plan was submitted
by the Democratic Committee, but the Re-
adjuster committee insisted on plan, adj
hitting every man in Virginia to a pri-
mary to decide between the two tickets.
In other words, asking that we should al
] low the whole Republican party to come
to the polls if they chose and say which was
the Democratic ticket. He couldn't for
his life see, if the Readjusters thought
they were majority of the Democratic
party, why they we're afraid of the test by
Democrats. If our ticket had been beaten
in Democratic primary we would have
taken it down and voted for theirs. But
they are not willing to try it! Oh, no!
Don't you perceive that if the debt ques-
ton had been sunk, some eight or nine
| gentlemen, now running for Congress on
that issue, would have had to take down
their flag. Othello's occupation would
have been gone. [App lause.1
READJUsTER LEADERS LEAVING THE
DEBT SETTLEMENT AND GOING FOR
| CONGRESS.
| 1t is a most remarkable spectacle, not
withstanding they say the debt question
is all important, we see leading Readjus-
tiers, Paul, Lacy, Frazer-willing to quit
the field where Readjustment is in con-
test and running for $4,000 seats in Con-
| gress where they cannot work for it.
Sometimes. the speaker thought that if
all the leading Readjusters were sent to
Congress all this fuss about the State debt
would be ended. Laughter and applause
The question, however, now before the
public is to whom will Virginia vote to
commit the National government and the
speaker would like to hear what Capt.
Paul thinks Of Garfield. [Applause.l He
should remember the story of Orpheus in
his pursuit of Eurydice and apply it to his
pursuit of a seat in Congress. And he
should lay it to hear that Orpheus went
to hell after Eurydlce and didn't get her
after all. [Laughter.l
THE PURPOSE OF THE READJUsTER
PARTY.
Why is it, Readjusters, that we cannot
unite in electing President and then di-
vide again? You are not babes and suck
llngs. Can't you readjust your debt next
year-can' It you be trusted by your leaders
to do it? We have the same national OBJ
ject in view, why can't we unite now? The
Democrats of Virginia aided to nominate
Hancock and he has recognized that SER
vice by letter of thanks to our delegation.
There were no other delegates there from
Virginia. There were no Readjuster dele
gates sent. and the reason was that the
Readjuster leaders hadn't made up their
minds who they would support. The lead
ing Readjuster organ advocated an indie
pendent ticket, committed to nothing until