Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-08-07
Speech OF the Hon. John s. Barbour at
the Lynchburg Convention.

| of the Hon. John S. Barbour delivered in
the Lynchburg Convention upon his ac-
ceptance of the craftsmanship of the State
Democratic Committee
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention,-l appear before you to express
nv profoud thanks for the great honor
which this Convention has conferred upon
me. l am fully impressed with the difficult
ties and responsibilities involved in the ac-
ceptance of the position. was not an ap-
plicant for it, and had indulged the hope,
In view OF my engagements and business
relations otherwise, that some one of great
er leisure and more active and competent
should have been selected as chairman of
YOUR committee. l have no personal polit-
ical ambitions, present or future, to crafty,
and in accepting the trust do so only as a
u1atter of high duty and obligation to the
Eat party to which we all belong. 1 am
q, Wiling to avoid the discharge of any
not y itch this body of representative men
GUY W, tie may decide to assign me. how
OF our osa conflict with personal consider
ever u may ~iVate convenience.
a'lTs Tbs pomoepa d s pa Fty Of Virginia repre-
sents The great mass ,~tyof the State,
culture, integrity, and prope- " " OUGHT to
and with SuCn elem VloS Iue parry Such
be able to organize its resources i'll =.
form and manner as to- accomplish success.
Nv friends, feel tina t you have entrust-
ed to me duties not only arduous in the ex-
treme. hut of the most sell lous and import
ant character. and in unde rtaking to per-
form them am fully aware tnat shall as
sumo no light and easy task. l am thor
ougbly impressed with the labor thus inn
posed. and am none the less impressed with
a distrust of my ability to satisfactorily
discharge the responsible duties of the po-
sition. I mentioned to friends who spoke
to me on the subject of my possible nOmi-
nation that ought to be excused, and that
there were men better fitted, physically and
in other respects, to take the lead in the
management of this important campaign.
I thought that the younger men of the
party should have been called upon to CON
duct a canvass in which they especially
have so much at stake. To the young men
of the State the domain of the future prop
erly belongs, and they are most deeply in
terested in the consequences of the ap-
preaching election. AS, however, it has
been the pleasure of the Convention to Or
der it otherwise, on taking charge of the
organization l shall rely to great extent
upon the earnest assistance and cordial CO.
operation of the young men of the party to
do the more effective work required to Sc
cure success.
Gentlemen of the Convention, we have
higher duty to perform. 1t will be small
matter to select me as chairman of your
State Committee unless have your cordial
and hearty cooperation. There is but little
point in selecting a chairman of the COM
mittee as mere formality and a figure
Il a4 n u inc
ton from the great body of the party, but
he should also have to the fullest extent
YOUR moral and material support. Under
such influences, and with the combined eff
forts and energies of our party throughout
the State, I believe we will be able to
achieve glorious success.
We cannot allow this Coalition party
to control the destinies Of Virginia. 1t has
already captured and holds control of the
executive and judicial departments of the
STATE, and we must, for our own protection,
if practicable, wrest from them the Legis-
lature. If we fail to do this at the approach
ing election, we may as well surrender to
them the permanent domination of the
State.
Our mistake in the past to large extent
has been made in undertaking the strength
of the adversary.
Experience demonstrates we have a |
powerful and thoroughly y-organized party |
to contend with-thoroughly equipped and
directed by able and astute leadership. We
must meet these conditions with the best
efforts and energies that we may be able to
command.
am not one of that class who believe in |
defeat, but entertain the sentiment that if
the great heart of the Democratic party is |
: oil
mand success. Personally l pledge my
very best energies to the cause.
While l appreciate the great compliment |
lust paid me, Il do not assume it as person |
al to myself. | feel that much of it is due
to a recognition of that sound and conserv-
ative section of the State from which | |
come, and to that invincible Eighth Con-
gressional District, which l have the honor
to represent in the Congress of the United |
States, and which has never failed III its un- |
swerving devotion to the Democratic party. |
Tt matters not what candidates are nomi- |
nated-whether they come from the East |
or from the West, from one section of the |
State or from another-the Eighth District |
has never failed to roll up its large MAORI |
ties, and has always borne the Democratic |
banner in triumph.
| regard my selection as chairman Of
your State Committee also as an evidence, |
to some extent, of the purpose of the party
to give the canvass more practical dlrec- |
ton, as nv experience and pursuits have |
been heretofore identified with the more |
active material employments of society.
have but little confidence in brass brands |
and sentimental displays IN political con-
tests believe in serious and earnest work.
This, in my judgement, will be the best
contribution can make for the exception
al honor which you have conferred upon
me-
A,,art from the effect of the result of the
pepdin z canvass upon the State, the inter
ests of the national Democratic party are
deeply con- ferned. That great party is now
looking forN ard with bright prospects and
high hopes to tthe result Of the presidential
election next yesT. Ii Virginia is carried
again by the Coal 'tion party, it Will cause
discouragement ant. perhaps create dismay
in the hearts of our n ational political allies
throuehout the count w, and the impress
sion will 90 out that V 'irginia, which has
ever been true in the past, has given up her
time-honored faith and pri 1ciples and gone
into the camp of the enemy.
Gentlemen of the Conve ptlon, again
thanking you for the honor yotl have con-
ferred upon me, and for the attention ex-
tended me while making these remarks,
spontaneous with the occasion, SIX to be
excused from furthur trespassing Vi ION the
valuable time of the Convention.
FAIRY GINGERBREAD.-One cupfru of
butter, two of sugar, one of milk, four OF
flour, three-fourths of teaspoonful of soda,
one tablespoonful of ginger. Beat the but
ter to cream. Add the sugar gradually,
lSrrlNH thaT
in which the soda has been dissolved, and
finally the flour. Turn baking pans upside |
down and wipe the bottoms very clean.
Butter them and spread the cake mixture |
very thin on them. Bake in a moderate
oven until brown. While still hot cut into
squares with case knife and slip from the
pan. With the quantities given large
dish of gingerbread can be made. 1t must
be spread on the bottom of the pan as thin
as wafer and cut the moment it comes
from the oven.