The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-09
THAT S nv Speech. !"

After John Goode. j. W. Daniel, J. Ran
Tucker and John 7. Harris had fixed up
the medley called platform at Lynch
burg. and John Goode, as Chairman Of the
Committee on Resolutions, had reported
it, and John W. Daniel had read it with
impressive mannerism the latter responded
to call for a speech, THAT S my speech,
referring to the humiliations and contra
dictions he just had presented. Mr.. Ran.
Tucker repeated what Mr.. John W. Dan
lei said, and Rev. John E. Massey reiter-
ated that which Mr.. Tucker uttered, with
several others of the great orators III
happy accord with the chorus. 1t was as
to say, there was to be no more OF the
ssbest efforts of their lives in this cam
paign of these distinguished gentlemen
that the 'hush" policy was to govern
a still hunt the method to carry on
the canvass. 1t was not so much because
of the belief that silence would be the
choice of these Democratic headlights in
the vital struggle that is before the people
of Virginia. as it was the conviction that
the position of the Democratic party as
reflected in the platform. was totally indie
feasible. that this course was substantially
recommended by these leaders. They can
not explain to the intelligent voters OF
Virginia how it is that they have deter
min ed, in formal resolves, TO approve ev-
erything the Coalition has done, and repu-
date everything the Bourbons have hith-
erto contended for. They cannot go upon
the stump and announce that they accept
the Riddeberger bill settlement of the debt
question which they had denounced as
the sum of all villainies-thelr endorse
ment of the repeal of the dollar price on
the ballot and the whipping-post law, and
all the other sagacious and wise reforms
effected by the C6llition-without blush
of shame and confusion spreading over
their faces. They cannot explain to the
people why it was that few weeks ago
they denounced the appointment of
two colored men on the board of school
trustees for the city of Richmond as an in
suit to the white people of the Stated re-
Election on their civilization and the adj
vanced step to mixed schools, mixed mar
riages and like monstrosities, and now de-
clare for their appointment wherever there
is colored school, with colored teachers
for each colored school, and a distinct fund
under the exclusive administration OF that
race. They well know that any explana-
ton they might attempt would be sur
render of the controlling appeal they have
heretofore made TO the prejudices of the
whites to secure their votes-that it would
expose their falsehoods and receptions
about negro supremacy, and justly entitle
them to the ridicule and contempt of the
country.
They will. too, by policy of silence,
avoid the difficulties in the way of their
embrace of the results of Readjaster sue
cess and the Readjusters Reconsideration
they have denounced as enemies of their
State. public thieves and robbers. and I'M
fit for recognition either in public or pri-
vate walks.
They will escape the necessity of eX-
planning their Janus-faced resolution on
the tariff question, intended to please both
free traders and protectionists, and yet
committed to neither. THAT S my speech,
coming from Mr.. Tucker, refers to the
free-trade side. That's my speech, >
coming from Mr.. Massey and Mr.. Barbour,
refers to the protective side. but neither
will suffer himself to stand before apublic
audience and be subject to criticism from
a political opponent. 1t is a cowardly
evasion of the issues of the canvass-a
humiliating surrender Of everything dis
tinctive in the Virginia Democracy and
an open confession that that party has
neither courage, consistency nor principle,
with which to go before the voters of the
State.