Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-09-13
The Canvass in the Southwest
SDeech of Hon. Abram Fulk-
ersOn at Abingdon.
Reported for the Alexsn dria Gazette J

The following Is Mr.. Fulkerson'a
speech at Abingdon last Monday:
Feuo,o citizens Of Washington county:
1t is usual in ibis State for the public
servant 10 give some account oil bis
stewardship 10 bis masters-the people.
1t is not usual in Virginia for the pub
lie servant TO be condemned without a
hearing. Especially is that not so IN
this free and independent 9th district Of
Virginia.
Two years ago the readjuster
party of the 9th district honored me
with a sea. in the U, S. Congress. The
de M ocratic party of the district oppos-
ed my election with a candidate, and
so did the republican party. l was
th ere fore free TO act in Congress as l
saw proper without regard 10 party re-
trains, or caucus rule, either of the
democratic, or the republican party. l
did not enter The caucus Of either party
iu Congress because l knew that If |
did 80, 1t would identify me with that
party and l would be compelled to act
with the party into whose caucus l
went, with regard TO every measure
that came before such caucus. There
fore as was elected, as an indepen-
dent ieadju.ter TO represen. the interest
of Virginia TO the best of my ability
and according to the dictates OF my
conscience, thought it better to act
independent, and so I did act.
Now, the first message OF the Pre'l-
dent 10 Consres, omitted to use the
word. n olth and South;' ignored sec
tons entirely. That wa. an indication
10 every one that tho policy promised
and assured tie South, that there would
be new d, psrture, would be carried
out. Every man in Virginia | suppose
and every man in the South was rtjoi'
ced to find one message, the first mee-
sage from a President since the war
that lid not indicate one policy for the
North and another for the South. l
endorsed tn President to that extent.
Fellow citizens, l am sorry 10 say
that single act Of tie President was !he
only act so far AS | know that mhnltes-
ted any interest or any friendly iee'ing
towards the South. (Applause aud
cries Of that so') Witt that SINGLE act,
emitting the words North and South
10 lis message, ceased, the most liberal
policy voted to repeal the tobacco
tax which draws from Virginia about
s7,009, 900 a year. supposed that II
the administration aud lis supporters in
Congress felt any desire 10 give the
South material aid, that here was an
opportunity TO doit. But in the House
upon the repeal Of the tobacco tax
eyery republican of the House, with she
exception Of the Southern republicans,
voted against its repeal. and every
democrat, with few exceptions, voted
for its repeal.
Fellow citizeus, We are on the very
threshold Of another canvass for Con
cress. The issue in this canyass forced
upon the people by General Malone are
three, and only thieo. These issues are
peculiar. They are characteristic Of
their author. a, l stated .hey are three
in number. First, the Administration;
second, Malone. Deli.ive laughter.
Third, the caucus. [Again derlsiye
laughter Those are the three issues
ia this canvass as l understand ii ;
forced inio the canvass by Generel
Malone himself. Now 10 endorse the
Administration is 10 endorse Malone,
to endorse Malone is TO endorse the
caucus, 10 endorse tie caucus is 10 en-.
dorse Malone. (aughter) TO endorse
Malone is 10 endorse the a d,nnistrar
ton. Laughter and loud applause
IL
Fellow citizens, the next issue in this
Campaign is General Malone. l have
been the friend of General Malone for
ten wears, as everybody knows; up tc
the last election, certainly. There !:
nothing personal between us now.
stood by him in his railroad fights, be-
cause 1 thought il was proper to put
these railroads together. He came into
our party IN 1877. He Was not in pow
or then. / thluk he was greatly abused.
I stood BY HIM when he lost his rail-
roads and when all his sunshinny
friends, who had enjoyed his free ticket;
were going back on HIM and kicking
him around. l then said would no
desert him {; he had been my friend when
he was in prosperity and l would die
before would desert him when he was
in adversely. l said to myself, any
body can kick dead lion, but it take:
o brave man to sand up and fight for &
man when he is do IN in the ditch, and
everybody Is jeserting him. I did
stand by him. lie had no power thea.
In order to gain power he vas compell-
ed TO advocate those things which wer'
really of interest 10 the people popu
lar things, popular measures. The verl
moment he got in power 10, 1881. alter
we had gained the victory, then 1t wa
that he parsued policy that l coul'
not endorse, and one that no homes
man could endorse If hc understood |
as do. Loud applause
General Malone has forced himsel
into this canvass and, therefore, he il
an issue. lido not speak of him as
man. but / speak Of him as an Issue II
this canvass and in. that Wow he is
IL -.