The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-10-11
The Remarkable Speech Of Colonel villas.

On taking the Permanent Chairman
ship of the recent Democratic National
Convention, Colonel Villas delivered the
following remarkable address:
Gentlemen of the Nationa. Democracy
know full well that this mark OF your favor
Is n personal compliment. but recognition
Of the young Democracy OF the Northwest
be Justly their due-tloud applause,-as
tr butte for their lofty zeal and patriotism. for
their long aud gallant struggle against an
Srominp Sa as
prestige and prototyp. OF their coming trs-
umphs. tAppiause.l But am proud. though
honvrei beyond all deserving. in being Sc
lected as their representatives; and gratcful-
ly acknowledge my oblip alton, and render
you hearty thanks for the honor y u have
been pleased to confer: tAppiauseJ NO
their devotion. As 1t has hitherto been. so will
1t abide in the contest now at hand, purer. UNI
selfish. rcsolufe and unainchfng till its greas
object shall be achieved In the restora hon and
security of upright and constitutional govern
ment- loud applause.
Fell0w-delegates, you are assembled to con-
siier a great cause. to pronounce most mo
of u mighty nation of freemen- 1t is for You.
by wise and far-reacafng determination, 70
lay its future course in felicity for many
porous pursuit OF happiness. Fifty-hve m.ii
ions Of freemen who are, and 10000 who soon
will be our nation, earths greatest, noblesf
free society. will rejoice in the well-c Jnsidered
work of this convention. tApplause) Its inn
port and valLe lie not in mere parts an success
in touching the spoiis of Office. 1t Is uooier
opportunity; Inc hour is PREGNANT with
constitutional liberty. strangling In the SURF
of corruption. injustice and favor1tism cries
aloud for resusc tati n. for publication and
reform. (Applause.) An asscmbiage OF poll.
ticians such as long possession OF unlicensed
power creates, but recently filled this hall with
clamor. and it 70 said to have been too wei
manufactured to have been the product OF in
FAINT industry. lalghter.) Tney have an
nounced the r purposes, and they ella m the
submission of the country us II 1t were theirs
pectation of this intelligent peoplel Like some
corporations which have Hourished under
their ausp ;ces, they have issued watereo
stock of pl omises-- laughterl-and every one
confession. They have prom .sed redress only
of wild disorders they have themselves com.
municated to the body polite. daughter ana
applause. They protier the infection to cure
the disease. Laughterl They nave tendereo
nothing adequate or worthy TO the fervent
aspirations and high hopes OF this patriotic
aud progressive people. To country which
tender the renewal of sectional strife. To .
natisn which feels the impulse OF mighty
growth. and yearns for leadership in mob Q
ona ca amisy ana e 10 proud
and sensitive people, demanding deiiverance
from dishonoring corruption, demanding de-
cency In seating ana cleanliness IN uOtulu8
their public stations, they offer the gildei arts
OF demagogy. (Applause,. To the eener-
Gus ardor OF youth. nobly ambitious 10
achieve freeman's manhood. they proner
the elevating sentiments of the party ma.
chine. To the men oil toll. seeking only equal
opportunity to earn freeman 8 livelihood,
they cry: De your masters villains and you
shall have bread" Applause. The burden
of their campo gn IL already made manifest
shouting and. in common political parlancc,
soap" its inspiration and ammunition.
The boistcrous cry of the drill sergeant-the
black list for the heetating. rewards to the
willing This IL the politicians share, while
from the ranks of those who siriass the fruits
of others labor. the copious streams OF re-
cuniary profit will summon the body OF SWEEP.
ened sophistries to the ear Of the weak and
ignorant. The air already is a led with va
pors of visionary schemes Addressed 70 vari
GUS interests and factions of weak and undo
serving men. and some are induced to expect
advantage from the chaotic possibilities OF
irruptions upon the National Treasury. The
history of the Republic will have been
read in vain II such prospect does not alarm
beneath the waves of fraud and vcnaIity. Sns
has seen her chosen servants, her chosen nigh
priests, chosen bya majority of voters ex
ceeding all which were cast to elect washing
ton. Adams, Jefferson, Madisun-I tn nix
might add Monroe-displaced by ch Q tnery
and her people temporarily enslaven b,
fraudulent nsurpation of their places
perverted by the stream OF none,
which flowed from the gaping wounds q
Washington. Can she rise third time 1
again submerged by her enem;ess Gentlemen
no patriot here can contemplate contempt
raneous events without profound conviction
that the duties of this hour rise far beyont
ton before us: How shall we most surel,
fescie the RepublicY know you will par
don me for saying it is no time for persona
devotion or personal canvass No man ha
no. tuhf Cof nof. 10, pr1r rxro for
ences, and we have no personal preferences
No personal objections should weigh IS
feather even against our resOlute choice Q
such q ticket as will certainly unite all friend
Of constitutional liberty, purity and reform
in solid array for the country. Applause.
And this spirit now nnimatcs the cxpectan
every quarter Of this Uni m. A great chang
has been wrought in recent years In Thu
country, not alone in numbers, in persona
and material characteristics, but also in tn
minds of the people, and in the composition
Of its pc itical forces. We have ceased to nigh
iii ffatficidal war; the sin of slavery has beef
purged, the crime Of secession has been pun
ished. Both are at an end, and the chainet
mans sorrows are forever closed, and stan,
in memory only as safeguards for the Nation
al Justice, peace and union forever. !Chee g.
hosr S of internecine 'n Conflict %us
stimulate suitable honor and reward to th
noble men whose lives were offered thel
for their eosntrs salvation ,h but thes
luminosity and springs of action to de
stroy the fruits of their labor and sacrifices
The hour of peace and concord, the embrac
of friends after bitter war. the restored JOY O
happy liberty and enduring union are thei
highest honor; the most noble chaplet tina
ever crowned a soldier memory. Who bares
scar to bleed again, who fans q dying SPAR
of enmity strips the tenderest. leaves iron
that laurel leaf of glCry.-(cheers)-an,
doubly wicked he who perils nations peac
and happiness to serve by such ends q vail
ambition. (Cheers.) The day for such nj
tempts has passed. A new generation is O
the scene of action-an educated an INTEL
gent generation. They understand our inst
tutions; they comprehend the tremendou
growth and capabilities of this country, an
they accept the responsibilities which hav
devolved upon them. Their realizing sense
keen that the welfare and progress OF thi
people demand-have long demanded-an VI
ter and radical change in the administrator
of the Government tApplause.)
They have heard repeated promises of n
form with each recurring election, and wit
disgrace and shame they witnessed each ne'
Administration discover deeper iniquitie
than those it promised TO amend. Applause
There is Q growing conviction that the on
reform which will work all others, and 10 tn
condition precedent of ali, is the utter defeat @