Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-08-16
Synopsis Of the Speech Of Hon. ]. Ran
dOlph Tucker.

The following is synopsis of the
very able speech delivered in the late
Conservative-Democratic Convention
by Hon. J. Randolph Tucker. It gives
the points of that speech which deserve
the consideration of all. Let none fail
to read and study this synopsis, which
we publish as follows:
Much has been said of Bourbonism.
What is this?
Is it BourbOnism to hold, az the plat
form does, to the equality of right of all
men Then are we Bourbons.
Is it to claim freedom of press, of re.
ligfon, and of person, under ha6eas
corpus. fair jury trial, and a pure, up
right. and nom partisan judiciary
Then are we Bourbons.
Is 1t to have elections free from fraud
and free of military and civil officers
and of citizens?-tO claim that it is g
tissue of misrepresentation to say that
the Conservative Democrats favor tissue
ballots and other frauds in elections.
We believe, and are Bourbons enough
to hold, that liberty is essential to pro.
gress and prosperity. Liberty is the
personal right of self development OF
each man against the interference of all
influences by government or others
with the individual right of the man,
We claim that this liberty is best se.
cured as Thomas Jefferson held lin the
language Of the platform), by securing
to the State the administration of Oul
domestic affairs, and anti-republican
tendencies are prevented, while the in.
tegrity of constitutional power of the
Federal Government is the security o1
power at home and safety abroad.
If we permit the domestic affairs o1
Virginia to be regulated by Federal
power we are subjected to the power Of
aliens to our interests and to our rights
We believe in that Democracy which
taxes the people only to the extent thai
is absolutely needed for carrying on
government, and leaving in the pockets
of the people, tor their personal use, al
not required by government for it's le.
gitimate purposes. Tax the people on
~ to secure their protection and theil
liberties, and not for the upholding o.
special interests and monopolies.
Our Bourbonism consists in putting
political power in the hands of those
best fitted to exercise it, and to require
1t to be exercised only for the protec
ton OF the lives, liberty, and property
of the people.
As to the public debt, the platform pre-
sents clear ground for all good men tt
stand on. The CONSERVATIVES Democrat,
party wishes to lift up and restore tn,
credit of the State, which has beer
damaged by the doctrine of reputation
Virginia is able and willing to pay
her just debt. Her prosperity is denied
by the Readjusters. We claim she il
on the high road of progress in wealth
In the last decade her population has
increased % per cent. Have we beer
breeding drones and idlers? Are no
our people industrious? Does not thi
increase of laboring force indicate in
crease of wealth? Have we increased
% per cent. in population and decrease,
In wealth 25 per cent? This is absur'
and q calumny on our people.
The agricultural product of Virgins
in the last decade had increased IS pc
cent. Then, how could the value O
real property have decreased? Is no
the tree valuable in proportion to it
fruit? And is real estate less valuabl
when its products have increased? ?
The product of iron had increased Ii
the last decade At per cent. The gros
product for the census year ending Jun
l, 1881, was 81, 900 tons. In two fur