Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-11-28
A Magnificent Speech.

We give below the speech of John W
Daniel, delivered at Richmond. at thu
Democratic Jubilee there last week
.'Magnifcentn is the only word that viii
apply to it:
The widest cheers greeted Major Johr
W. Daniel. and 1t was several minutes be-
fore be could speak. The widest cheers
greeted him as he spoke, and at times he
had to stand for minutes until the ap
plause subsidized. He said:
With thankfulness to Almighty God
who hath given US the victory, with joy in
your Joy, and gratitude for the joy of all
I hail you, brother Virgin1ans, brother
Americans, in this happy hourl Where
fore ''has the city cast ier people out upon
her ?'' Wherefore is the nation dashed into
an ocean of fire. Wherefore have the
streets run flame, and seeming break into
fiery pathways to the skies Wherefore
are these grand hosannahs uplifted to 1.-THE
tingling stars p
Right has broken the chain of might.
Virtueehas-stricken down eorruation. The
onward tread Of Imperialism has been ar
rested. Sectionalism is rebuked. Union
ism is triumphant. "Public Office is a
public trust" has been proclaimed as by a
trumpet's blast.
"Tell the TRUTH" as by light flashed
down from heaven, has been blazoned
upon the armament in a rainbow of peace.
The nation wears crown of civic vic
tory, unspotted by single drop of fratri-
cidal blood.
The Constitution and the Union are re-
welded. Up from under the fresh two
dollar bills of Dudley, up from under the
lying wires and prison-bar suits of Jay
Gould, up from under the fierce grip of
one hundred thousand placemen, up from
under the clubs and bulldog revolvers of
the deputy marshals, up from under a
mountain of lies and threats. the unmag-
netized, unpurchasable, unterrifed Dem
ocracy has risen in mighty majesty.
TIE people have risen to their full sta
tue, and have come again unto their own!
The spendthrifts and the spoilsmen of the
treasury; the rambling recreants from
official duty; the greedy monorolists; the
ambitious conspirators; the ''soap" ballot
manipulators, and the false counters, and
the plotting lobbyists; the star-route
thieves, the land grabbers, the civil-service
debauchers-have heard a voice crying
through the wilderness OF Earring faction:
make their way straight; Grover Cleve-
land and Thomas Hendricks are Presi-
dent and Vice President of these United
States They shall not be counted out !"
- ~ this saying the "voice of the peo-
pie is the voice Of :. ~ ~!
"Around the feet divine of Him who -.
My truth shall make you free, forever free
Break, break, and clash and clang, ye chorus of
praise,
Till earth one grand deliverance shall see."
Break, burst ye fetters Clashing changing fall,
Break, grind to shapeless dust your cruel mass
Free feet! Free souls! Free hearts are marching
To God and TRUTH Stand back and let them
passr'
My countrymen, you celebrate the
greatest event Of the nineteenth century
lone OF the greatest events of history.
Magnificent is the spectacle-the greatest
republic, the very blossom of the ages,
with fifty-fve millions of freemen, chang
ing it's rulers at its own free will without
cannon shot or bayonet thrust.
The contest was between the Republi-
can party and the republic. Thank God,
the republic has won This mighty issue
of free thought will break over every mon.
archy of the Old World, Every pillar of
the French republic will be strengthened.
The liberal movement in England goes
forward with incalculable refreshment
and reinforcement. The spirit Of Jeffer-
son reinfuses itself into every fibre of our
national being. Had the result been
otherwise, the hand upon the dial of time
would have been turned back century.
Let US take to heart the lessons Of this
victory. Democracy will never crow over
an honorable foe when he is down. It
comes not for Vengeance. 1t had rather
pick up than cast down-but hits hard
where needful. But be it remembered
that the Republican leader-one of the
most brillisnt men of his generation
after tremendous campaign, has been
beaten by his own record. Had he been
in his public career public servant in
stead of self-servant, enriching himself
in devious ways, he would now be Presi-
dent.
Had not Grover Cleveland been an hon
est man who dedicated himself to his pub
lie trust, with a record as spotless as the
driven snow, he would not now be Presi-
dent.
The pointing of this moral in the strug-
gle, aud the adjoining of this tale in
the triumph, worth all the breath, and
brain, and handwork of the canvass. 1t
is the glory of the Democracy and of the
nation that one who had rather be right
than President is both right and Presi-
dent.
All honor to the unflinching old-time
Democracy! to the patient, long suffering,
long toiling Democracy, that never flick
cred in faith and never languished in la
Dor.
All honor to the Independent Republi-
cans who came to the rescue. But for
their aid our flag had gone down. These
Independent Republicans, led by Beecher
and Schurz, and Pound, and Curtis. and
Higginson, and their associates have been
in this contest true as steel to conscience
and to coun try. Stout of heart, and of
head, and of hand, they deserve all the
good fame that lives in the name of patri-
OF.
The hearthstone of Democracy is warm,
and there is light in the dwelling to well
come them. Long may they abide with
us Let them have an honored seat in the
councils of the nation.
1t is we'll for the North that this thing