Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-27

ABLE DEMOCRATIC EFFORT.

tttsftttte~ tUfn Uf2aHtctHoh-'Ne' ""
icek for the Rrppsisesn Ticket.
cosre<pondeoceofth the Richmond pispa'ch.l
sorrn BosToS, August 20, 's5.
Nv telegram OF last Monday only
gave in brief a report Of jubilee-day
with the Democracy of this county.
would be negligent in my duty as
correspondent did not refer to il more
ct length.
Assoon as |, became generally known
that Hon. Thomas ;. Whitehead oil
Lynchburg, was present, the inpsuence
OF the crowd to hear and welcome INN
increased. and at IL o'clock the court
room. which had been kindly granted
by Judge Armistead, was packed with
people.
MIR. WHITEHEAD
was introduced in a very handsome
manner by Hon. Paul {. Edmunds.
In beginning the speaker said 1t gave
him great pleasure to meet the people
Of Halifax, and especially under such
bright auspices and in such an era OF
hopefulness for the Democratic party OF
the State and Union. lie was not GER
tain that he could reach the fsttering
standard erected by Mr.. Edmunds IN
introducing him, but he could give his
reasons for being a member Of the best
and purest political party that has lived
in Virginia since the wsr--the Demo
cratic party.
Mr.. Whitehead briefly and pointedly
alluded 10 the importance OF every cltl'
zen taking an active interest in current
politics, and then drew mastery com
harrison between the Democratic and
Republican parties. Local, home, self
government and supremacy seemed to
be the keynote Of this portion OF his
address, and with sunlight clearneSs he
showed the record Of the Democratic
party towards this end, as well as the
black pages Of Republicanism which
ever denied the right Of the people to
control their representatives aud rule
themselves. but had time and
again never hesitated TO lay for
chile hands upon the govern
mental machinery Of sovereign States.
One will look in vain, said he, to dis
cover any back-down from that mon
s,rous position. They still in their
platform, through their press, and by |
their public speakers upheld and JUS
titled all their former acts of usurpa-
ton. The animus Of the Republican
party has ever been for sO-called !
- strong" government-a theory which |
surely and certainly tended towards |
Capitalization. concentrated power in |
the hands of a few. and which eyentu-
ally would end. as history showed, in |
monarchy, oppression, and tyranny.
The speaker then turned his atten-
ton to the Republican State ticket.
John S. Wise had said, " Lead on,
master. Ill follow thee Was such |
man fit 10 be Governor Of Virginia; |
Who Was worthy that office who ac-
knowledged any man master? You
colored men. who once were really and |
truly slaves, II YOU were now to rise up |
and own any man living your master |
would forfeit your birthright and would !
not deserve your liberty and freedom.
iCries Of "Dat's So" and deep-chest-
ed d" Ughs."l
The objections Of some Democrats 70
President Cleyeland's slowneSs III turn
ing out Ofiice-holders was then met and |
handsomely treated. lie sternly re-
buked sore-headedness. and said that /
the great question now was not one Of
spoils. hut with us it was whether
Wise, Wood, and Blair or Fitz Lee.
Massey, and AyTes should preside over
this Commonwealth; whether Ed
munds. Noblin. and Jordan should be
sent to the Legislature from Halifax,
or whether. in their place. should be
selected well. the thing has not yet
brought forth, although laboring long
and earnestly. lCheers.l
The Republican platform was han
died with gloves off, and occasion was
taken TO illustrate that precious pro-
ductioh by and anecdote Of Chicago
pressed bacon, which an old gentleman
said, " could do more d splitter
ing and fixing and kicking to have so
little grease than any meat he ever put
in fiying.pan." So with the Repub-
lican platform. What difference be-
tween IT and the Democratic platform,
which came out boldly and solidly upon
every public question, especially as to
labor. free schools. and opposition TO
the internal-reyenue system-a system
fathered and fostered by the Republic
can party, and which had wrung $780,
100000 from our farmers.
Referring TO the State debt, Mr..
Whitehead said that all differences on
this yexed question had been adjusted,
and now there is no longer bone Of
contention between the original Read
juster Democrat and the Debt-Paying
Democrat. Malone and Wise only
wanted to keep it an issue before the
people with the hope Of again hosting
themselves to place and power.
In bitter terms the speaker de-
nounced the Republican platform for
chaTacterizing the Democracy of the
State, and the people Of this section
especially, as murderers, ballot-box
stsflers. and assassins. And what can
be thought Of the man who, in the face
of the whole country. before a United
States Senate committee, had attempt
ed to defame and blacken the reputa-
ton Of the people Of his native State
Who would think of voting for Fit,
Lee for Governor had he been guilty o.
such an actf But no, thank God
fitz Lee was Of other stuff. He be
lieyed in defending standing by, anC
protecting his people, rather than ira
ducing and slandering them.
just here MIR. Whitehead addressed
himself particularly to the cOlored mer
in the audience, Of whom there wer
many. have heard many publ
speakers essay this difficult task, bu
mono so well as Mr.. Whitehead. L
plain. homely, old Virginia language
talked TO them as one frank, homes
man speaks to his fellow-men. In fee
ing terms he paid tribute to the iideht
Of the "ole nanny" who rocked tn
cradle Of his infancy. aud said the frs
l.