Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-08-25
AYoung Democrats View Of It.

Editors indicator: ~s
AS an humble member of the great Com
seryative- Democratic party, I attended
the deliberations of its convention assem-
bied in your city on the 18th inst. to Sc
lect a standard-bearer in the campaign
about to be inaugurated, and my heart was
reioiced as l listened to the speeches OF the
honorable gentlemen who presented the
names of their respective fayorites for the
consideration of that body. My personal
knowledge Of the candidates led me freely
to endorse every wold that was said in
their behalf. When the gifted son Of AL
bemarle was placed in nomination. and
looked into the faces of that sterling dele
CATION which the good old county had sent
to express their preference and endorse
their selection. felt that this was in it.
self an omen Of a grand struggle with the
powers Of weakness, and an earnest and
magnificent effort in behalf Of the cause,
and knew that should the choice fall up
on Capt. Woods, the responsible position
would lave defender whose gallant bear
ing would satisfy every ambition OF our
hearts III the honorable, honest and fear
less devotion with which he would conduct
the campaign. AS 4 citizen of Augusta
every sentiment woke responsive echo
when. the name of Skinner WIS announced
We all knew he would have been worthy
of the trust; that his record would be alike
honorable to himself a'.d his party--a gen.
tlemen in whose splendid character and
attainmcnts We could rep 'se with perfect
confidence. But Mr.. Editor, there was
feeling akin to the Olden time, and the
memories of the past and the enthusiasm
of by-gone days awoke to life when the
banner was given into the hands of the
gallant q 'Ferrall" of Rockingham. am
fortunate In being able to call by the name
of friend, the champion of our cause-fOr-
tunate esteem myself to have been asso-
ciated with HIM intimately during the days
and years that tried meme souls, as we
marched and starved and fought in de-
fence of the bright banner which went
down upon the field of Appomattox with
no tarnish Of dislionOr upon It's bright
folds, and mo- stain save the tears Of our
people upon its escutcheon. In no hour of
danger was the li.htest distrust of that
chivalrlc soldier--the CLEAN Of whose sabre
and tossing plume ever led the assault up
on the invader and the way to victory
The manly courage which induced boy of
fourteen to assume the res possibility of
father to orphaned sisters and brothers
and husband to widowed mother, protect
ing. providing for and sustaining them up
to years of manhood. The patriotism
which left behind him the home of youth
and owed ones, and placing all upon the
altar of country, battled bravely for the
cause of justice, liberty and truth-receiy-
ing wound after wound in defense of his
country's honor, dearer than life, or
friends, or me,-With courage which
knoU no fQi1-ha cfruok ofQodu hlOUo nm
til the close of the struggle, and folded the
flag of his battalion amid the acclamations
of victory, when there was no organized
government to whose keeping be could en-
trust the prisoners captured in the last
fight upon Southern soil. Long after the
flag of our grand old hero had trailed in the
dust at Appomattox, and johnson had
yielded IN North Carolina, the hills of this
Valley echoed to the rriumphal tread of
O'Ferrall's troops. and the c0l0rs commit
ted to his keeping were sacredly defended
and never surrendered.
Such high and noble principles, such
dauntless courage is just what we need to
actuate the leader of our party in this cam
paign--a soldier who never saw the enemy
but to strike; and upon whose banner vic
tory loves to perch. Laying aside all coun-
try pride. encumberiug the widespread
popularity of our candidate, the growth of
observation, as the people of this District
have seen him fight the battles of the
Democratic party in the scarcely more
peaceful struggles of debate with tie enc
mics of liberty and law in every contest
since the war. feel that with heart full
of pride and affection for the boy soldier
of Albemale, and the mature veteran Of
Augusta, we have done our duty in en-
trusting to the daring, aggressive, chival-
ric representative of the young Demoera-
cy of the 7th District the standard of our
party, and my word for it, the foeman will
be vanquished. and with folds untarnish-
ed OH the 7th of November, your colors
will wave proudly over this citadel re.
deemed from the enemy, and with soldiers
pride we will point to the gallant OFFER
rail- as the leader who won the victory; or
the smoke-stained and battered fragments
will attest the daring qallaatrq with which
it was borne, and the steady courage by
which it was defended.
Y&UNG DEMOCRAT.