Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-09-16
THE SPEAKING LAST NIGHT.


McHillin-The Opera House Crowded-Enthu-
siastic Gathering-Mahone and his Methods
Exposed and Radicalism Dissected.
The Opera House was crowded last night
with an appreciative audience which had
gathered to listen to the speech of Hon.
John W. Daniel, of Lynchburg. From the
time the doors were opened, people COM
menced forcing their way into the hall,
and by the time Mr.. Daniel commenced
speaking nearly every seat was occu.
pied, while scores were content to stand
and listen attentively to every word spoken.
The gallery had been set apart specially Tor
ladies, numbers of whom were present. And
here it should be remarked that the puolic
meetings conducted by democrats are OF
such an order that nothing calculated to
shock the modesty of any one is uttered,
and ladies can attend them; while, from
what is daily charged, it is a well-knoWn
fact that the grossness of many of the utter
ances of the adjuster.radlcal candidate
for the Governorship is 80 great that re
spectacle men turn from him with disgust,
and solilouuiZa within themselves whether
= man who is capable of using such filthy
school.boy language ought to be elevated
TO the cubernatorial chair OF q people laying
any claim to responsibility and morality.
Numbers of boys also sat the meeting out,
and Though sometimes the contrary has to
he said Of them) they behaved as they
should do among their elders, and, with
others of the audience, seemed to drink in
the inspiration of the speakers.
At about eight o'clock Major Daniel, ac-
companied by several citizens of this city
and others, entered the hall. when the Alex
andria Band, which had been discoursing
creditable music previously, "struck up
again amid uproarious applause. In few
minutes Mr.. X. Kemper, of this city, ad'
vanced to the footlghts and explained that
in the absence OF Mr.. Samuel G. Brent,
the chairman of The city democratic COM
mittee the duty of introducing Maj. Daniel
to his Alexandria audience devolved upon
him. He then, in ii few wel-timed remarks,
in which he said it was gratifying to see so
many ladies present, introduced the speaker,
and upon Major Daniel advancing across
the stage the applause was deafening. Maj.
| D., when quiet had been restored, COM
menced his speech by saying the vast audi
ence which had evidenced their interest in
what he was going to say By assembling
themselves together, was positive assur.
ance to him that he was in true and
genuine stronghold of democracy. 1t was
not the righteous, however, that he had
come to convince, though he desired to
raise the standard of truth in the camp OF
| the faithful. The concourse had assembled
| under the very shadow of the Capitol, after
nearly quarter of century's stern trial
and tribulation, from which the great party
of the people had emerged purified and
regenerated. During all those years which
had tried mems souls the true patriots OF
which this great party is composed had
never yielded to the seductions of the temp
| ter, but had been content to stay out in the
cold as long as the master OF ceremonies,
| whoever he might be, that roasted in the
national capital, denied them the rights and
prerogatives of citizens. 1t had been four
years since he had had the pleasure of adj
dressing an Alexandria audience, and while
four years is but brief span in the long
train of time, they had wrought stunendous
changes in Virginia aud throughout the
whole country. The year 1881, during
which, as democratic candidate for Govern
or, he spoke throughout the State, was q
bad year for the party of right. People,
| after the political results Of that memorable
wear had been announced, had said democ.
racy was dead and boosted about standing
upon its grave, and the hurrahs Of united
apostacy and radicalism rent the air. Prob
ably it did die at that time, but we had
| lived TO see it arise from its sepulchre in its
ascension robes more beauteous than ever,
| with al immortality before it which sent
| 10Y and gladness into countless hearts, caus-
ing reioicings and pens to ascend from one
end of this broad domain to the other. The
great tidal wave OF democracy had swept
| the entire union, and seated as the chief
magistrate Of the nation man upon whom
the people of all creeds and parties could
rely for justice, equity and truth. The
trbulations of the past twenty-five years
| during which radicalism, combined with
minor local loathsome isms and combina.
| tons; had done its worst can be looked
back at with horror Doubtless but few
parallels could be found to them in history
but, after oil, it had been like ascending the
Black Mountain-a long, dreary, dangerous
ascent-but when once the summit is gained
| the atmosphere becomes serener, the stars
of heaven CLEAN brightly and the glorious
vale Of Cashmere appears. But while much
has been accomplished there are still re.
naming two relics of the detestable sway Of
| radicalism and apostacy-the United States
Senate and he who is still occupying the
guheroatoral chair of Virginia. The form
er still has small republican majority, aud
the latter, the figure head of boss rule, still
occupies position once held by the noblest
aud purest sons of the Old Dominion. To
GUST the latter was now the mission of the
grand cavalcade under the leadership of
General Fitzhugh Lee. The speaker said
he was regular democrat-a red hot rabid
one-though fostering n i'll will toward any
one who exercised his prerogative of differ
ing with him politically. He would say,
however, that when victory crowned the
democratic arms the spoils 1.-THE ofices) be-
longed to democrats. When the canvass Of
1854 was being conducted in Virginia the cry
"Turn the rascals out" was often raised, and
no sentiment met with heartier response.
There had been, however, since the advent
of the new administration much complaint
made of the fact that the "rascals were not
being turned out" as rapidly as it seemed
they should be. He, too, had been one of
the compainers. The procession of out
goers, he had supposed, had not been as
long and broad as it could have been. Col.
L I