Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-10-09

people OF thls,cOmm0nwealth untll
show him to be as compared with
his great uncle what Louis Napol-
con was to Napoleon the Great,
unfit to ill the least Of his high
stations, unfit to be trusted with
any Of his responsibilities, and
nothing more and nothing less
than 'the nephew Of his uncle
If he is more than this, let him
drop the tomfoolery Of his guage
and tinsel pageants! Let him stop
blowing his tin.horns Let him
show that he has an INTELLECT as
well as a uniform and meet me in
courteous debate where the people
who are yearning for joint discus
sions may hear both sides of the
political issues OF the day
| charge that the present can
vass, as now conducted, is doing
this State great and irreparable
damage. | charge that the Demo
cratic leaders, instead of seeking
to enlighten the people By joint
discussions, are studiously endeav-
oring to keep people from hearing
our side Of the question. | charge
that their only hope OF retaining
supremacy in Virginia is by sup
pressing the discussion of the real
political issues and feeding aud
inhamiDg their followers by parti-
zan falsehOOds and bitterness not
only against Our leading measures,
but our men.
see it stated that General Lee
does not deal in harsh terms and
abuse in his speeches. | do not
know how this may be, as he has
never permitted me the honor of
hearing him; but be that as it may
no man is honest who denies that
the canvass, now conducted by the
Democrats and led by Lee, is a
canvass of bitterness malice, abuse
aud bloodthirstiness against every
man in Virginia who is a Republi-
can.
There is not a Republican in Vir-
ginia whose honesty, whose truth
fulness, whose courage, whose pri'
vate life, whose domestic circle, is
not invaded and assailed in this
canvass both the Bourbon press
and by the Bourbon speakers.
There is not a Republican in Vir.
ginia whose social life and busl-
ness status is not affected by his
politics injuriOusly as far as BOur.
bOnism can affect 1t. There Is not
an active Republican in Virginia,
whatever may have been his past
record or his present character,
however long he and his people
may have been Unidentified with
Virginia interests, who would not
be driven with howls and jeers and
desecratlOn from the State forever
if it were in the power Of the Bour-
bon leaders to do so. | say this
solemnly and thoughtfully, and |
say it with Il sense Of my RESPONSE.
bility, both to my God and to my
fellow.citizens. | say it mOurniul-
" because | know what blight
and curse to my beloved STATE is
the presence OF such a spirit. | do
not believe that spirit exists in the
masses Of the Democrats. | be-
lieve there is a much more catholic
feeling among the masses which
tolerates and respects political diff
ference, but when they support
their leaders they become response
BILE for their acts and place it in
their power to give expression to
this terrible and vindictiye Ostra-
cism. [ care not what the words
of General Lee upon the stump
may be; | charge that in the way
this canvass is being conducted,
denying our party all recognition,
banding his followers with onesid-
ed appeals to passion, keeping them
from hearing our arguments, fill
ing them with every imaginable
slander and abuse of our men and
measures, infuriating them to the
point Of wOnderous malice against
us, their brothers,..I charge that
this spirit which bestrideS the black
Confederate stallion and rides
through Virginia today Is "A dis
grace to the civilization, the human
ity. the spirit of forethought, free
speech and free government, and
is as cold and cruel, malignant
vindictiye and pitiless as the spirit
of death on the pale horse OF the
Apocalypse. is
Virginians Men Brethren
Democrats and Republican, alike
Yet men9&ho twenty years ago
tramped this old Valley as the rag
ged followers of Robert L. Lee, and
remember lis greatness, his simp-
lIcity, his patience, his love for his
fellow-man, and fOrebearance with
the faults and differences of other
Civilized men, christian men. linen
of broad views and liberal senti'
ment-honest men-thiuking men,
| call upon you here today to look
upon the canvass now led by Fitz-
hngh Lee Look upon its foolish
and childish ganze and tlnSeI
Look upon its folly and
vnnitvl Inok at its utter absence