Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-07-29

IMMENSE RATIFICATION MEETING.


HON. W. D. HILL, OF OHIO, ADDRESSES THE
MULTITUDE-HoN. JOHN RANDOLPH TUCKER
ALSO spEAKs-A GALA DAY FOR THE DE-
MoCRACY OF OLD AUGUSTA.
Yesterday morning-County Court Day-an
immense throng of people gathered IN and
around the Court house in Stanton to ratlfy
the nomination of Cleveland and hendricks.
In the interior of the building, every vacant
seat was occupied long before the nour aP pa
pointed for the meeting to take place, "
o'clock arrived. The galleries Were also,
densely crowded, and every foot OF STANDING
room was occupied except in instances Where
the most consiuerate would not oostruct the
view of those in the rear.
When the hour of 1115 O'Clock arrived, capt.
James Bumgardner, jr., Chairman OF Inc
County Committee. called the meeting 70 OF
der. Col. Skinner was, on motion, calico 10
the chair, and the Editors of the Democratic
papers present requested to act as Secreta-
ries. A committee was then app9lntte4d, com
ford Esq, and Capt. Charles Grattan, 10 walt
on Messrs. Hill and Tucker and escort them TO
the Courthouse. While this committee was
absent. Alex. f. Robertson, ESQ.,, from the
committee recently appointed by the county
Committee to prepare resolutions to be SUD-
united to this meeting, read the following res
olutions, which were unanimously adopted
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas the administration of the Federal
government, now in the hands of the Republic
can party for more than twenty years. has
grown so VIGOROUSLY and f1agrantly corrupt as
even to shock the sensibility of the better por-
ton of that party and led them to revolt; the
the frauds, POPULATIONS and appropriations of
public lands and other property to the use of
individuals and benefit of corporations In
which government officials are directly, or in
directly pecuniarily interested; the pretence
trials Of violators of law, when high public
functionaries are involved even, at times, to
the incupation OF the incumbent of the Presi-
Dental office; the unwarranted assumptions OF
of not dalpoatp ed to the Federal
ment, practically changing our constitutional
system into despotism only limited by the
will of the dominant party, which mas already
refused the Presidency and Vice-Presidency to
those called to these high offices by the clearly
expressed choice of the people; the arrogant
Intervention, in purely local State questions
delegating to ambitious party leaders the en-
ploymenJ of the patronage and power or the
federal arm for the promotion OF partlzan ana
individual purposes; the profigate expendi-
ture of public money from redundant treasury
raised by high and unnecessary taxes, the bale
Decentralization of officials and fraudulent
transactions; these, and many other causes,
have aroused the apprehension of the people to
the imminent peril of our dearest rights and
the safety of the government itself; they de-
mand that honest and trustworthy men shall
be chosen to the Presidency and Vice-Presi-
dency of the United States; Therefore, resolv-
ed
l. That the nominations of Grover Cleveland,
of New York, for President, and Thomas A.
Hendricks, of indiana. for Vice. President ofthe
United States meet with our hearty approba-
ton.
2 We recognize in the nominations of Cleve-
land and Hendricks purpose on the part OF
the Democratic party to make a determined
contest for an honest economical and cOnsti-
tutional administration, and at the same time
to rebuke the crime inflicted upon free ballot
and fair count by defrauding the people of
their duly elected President and Vice-Presf-
dent in 1876.
3. We invite all who are In favor of honest
and constitutional government to rally to the
support of our standard bearers in the great
n nY,1Q mi
and preservation of constitutional liberty.
A. We endorse the Democratic National Plat
5. Justly proud Of her past record, we pledge
our best efforts to make Old Augusta the BAN
ner County in the commonwealth in Novem-
Der next. j
The committee soon returned accompanied
by the distinguished speakers, and their en-
trance was the signal for enthusiastic cheering
and applause.
Col Skinner introduced the Hon. W. d. Ri1l,
of Ohio, in few graceful and appropriate re-
marks. Mr.. Hill, who was received with every
manifestation of pleasure and qualification by
the vast assemblage, commenced by saying,
that when he left Virginia before he hardly
expected to be with again in Presidential
campaign, but it always gave him pleasure to
meet hisfriends in old Virginia, for he remem-
bered with just pride that he was son of the
Old DominiOn,-being a native of the State
In contest like this, we know no North. no
South, no East. no West, but are for the whole
country.
He was at the Chicago Convention. 1t was
the largest convention ever held, and COM
posed of some of the best and ablest men which
the country contained. He saw no hurry in
its deliberations, nor any attempt to abridge
the freedom of speech. In that convention.
he had favored the nomination of Thurman
for President; but the majority thought prop
York for President, and that gallant son of In,
diana, Thos. A. Hendricks, Tor Vice President,
who had once before been elected to that Of
f1ce Mr.. Hill then paid his respects to the Re-
publican platform, and derisively remarked,
that it was good one, but if somebody would
AL tall n Iaxri r,
thor of the New Testament, he would never
read it again. [Great laughter and applause.
He then reviewed the The tariff policy of the
Republican party, of which subject Mr. Hill
is a thorough master, and analysed it to the
complete satisfaction and great amusement of
the vast crowd.
Mr.. Hill, after elaborate an exhaustive re-
view OF the tariff question, then dwelt at some
length In an impressive manner on the frauds
and corruption of the Republican party, and,
as an illustration, he remarked that the Re-
publican House of Representatives at one time,
ed 296,O00,000 acres of public lands to rail-
roads, but now they strenuously oppose such
a policy. The democrats, at the last session of
Congress, restored 100,000.000 acres of these
lands to the people; but these bills, which orlgi-
mated in the Democratic House for the restora-
ton OF these lands, were now hanging fire in a
Republican Senate And SO throughout his en-
tire speech, Mr.. Hill fortified his position by
ready and opposite illustrations. He said,
moreover, that he would not begin to enumer,
ate all the frauds which had been perpetrated
by the Republican party, as he wished to re-
turn to his home in Ohio in time to vote at the
October election, intimating that if he once un.
dertook it he would hardly get through before
that time. [Great Laughter.] Mr.. Hill, also,
paid his respects to Billy Malone in very
fOrcible manner. He said that, until very re-
Gently, few Republicans in the North knew
where Billy Malone came from. Malone re-
minded him of an old fellow who had been on
debauch, and in his extremity embraced
amp-post. Afterhe had vomited pretty free
~, he was approached by a little dog. In be-
holding the discharged contents of his stomach
which fellow X.
ed: Boys, know where got that beer from
know where l ate that bologna, but I'm blast
dog" And SO 1t was with great many Re-
publicans in the North who knew nothing
about Billy MahOne's antecedents until they
ascertained he had been a Rebel General. Mr..
Hill spoke eloquently and forcibly for one hour
and half and he was frequently interrupted
with laughter, cheers and applause. His effort
was mastery one in every respect, and we
hazard nothing in saying that Mr.. Hill has as
warm friends and admirers in this part of old
Virginia as he has in Ohio.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN RANDOLPH TUCKER
At the conclusion of Mr.. HIPS speech, Col.
Skinner, the Chairman of the meeting, sug-
gested an adjournment to the Court house yard,
as there were hundreds on the outside who were
unable to get in. This suggestion was imme-
diately adopted, and soon the vast crowd on
the inside, united to the impatient and eager
concourse on the outside. created a sea of up
turned faces which extended from the Court /
mouse to New Courthouse street and complete
~ niled the yard in front of the Court. house.
n laDle was promptly brought forward which
Mr.. Tucker assembled, and from this improvis-
ed platform, he was visible from every part of
Inc public square which his clarion voice
we can assure his friends at distance that
lke OLD wine, his virtues seem to increase with
| us MS years For two long hours and ten minutes
| ne heIo Inc multitude enchanted. He is just
| ~ regarded as the expounder OF the constitu-
III tlo IL, IN the House of Representatives, and
| IN oeal1ng With the hideous usurpations and
rang corruptions of the Republican party, he
otu SO from constitutional standpoint His
atIItude on the tariffquestion was defined satis-
lactoriiy TO his friends and greatly to the dis
comntore OF his enemies-if such there be, He
was warmly congratulated at its close. and
Hsauy invitations were extended to him to
WISH other portions OF the district. Those who
nave often heard him, pronounce his effort YES
| teroay one OF MS ablest. Hurrah for Tucker !!
! DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.-The alarm of fra
was sounded on Friday afternoon about four
O'Clock, which created considerable commo-
| ton in the city until its exact location xros