Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-08-05
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
FULL DELEGATIONS FROM ALL PARTS
OF THE STATE.
PROCEEDINGS OF The CONVENTION.
THE ROUTINE WORK-NOMINA-
TIONS-THE PLATFORM.

close-fitting suit. His presence was greet
ed with loud and enthusiastic applause.
When this had subsidized, Mr.. Barbour
walked to the edge of the platform and
thanked the convention for the warm re-
ception it had rendered him. He then
read some remarks to the convention. He
said: 'For the first time since 1856 [cheers]
the Democrats Of the nation have elected
their President, and the executive depart
ments at Washington are filled with the
men of their choice The powers of the
federal government will be no longer ad-
ministered for the oppression of our people,
and our rights and liberties will now re-
ceive that protection and recognition to
which we are entitled under the constitu-
ton and laws of the land. [Applause.]
'sNot only do we realize the operation of
these important facts, but there is every
reason to indicate that the advent of the
Democratic party to power will be
continuous and permanent. The Demo
Gratis have control and possession of the
government, and have come to stay. The
wise and prudent man who directs the ope-
rations of the government will, in my
meet all the requirements of his
position, and give full and just satisfaction
in the discharge of tie duties of his high
Office. He will give us honest government,
reduce expenditures and tighten the bur-
dens of taxation, and, in a word, will re-
store the government of our fathers.
81 know there has been some complaint
about the hardness of the administration
in making removals from Office, and that
the battle cry Of the last campaign to
turn the rascals out has not been fully
executed. About this, my friends, we
must exercise some forbearance. 1t will
all como around in due course and order
"The Democratic administration has
been in power but few months. A great
deal had to be done; the government had
to be put upon new tack and to take a
new departure. Important questions
the interests of thirty-elght States
and Territories had to be considered. Con-
tracts involving millions of dollars had to
be made, and frauds to a numerous extent
to be uneartbed and arrested. The politi-
cal machinery of this vast country could
not be altered within this limited time"
Mr.. Barbour said that he knew that the
President had parently been tardy in re-
moving the offensive partisan postmasters
of Malone in Virginia. The majority Of
these, he declared, had already been re-
and arrangements were being made
for the decapitation of all that remained.
[Cheers.l
Of the nominations of Mahone's conven-
ton Mr.. Barbour said: "There is about the
of the other side nothing to
cause alarm. We know we'll who they are
and what they are worth. With all the
odds against us we beat them in 1883, re-
peated our victory in 1884, and with the
changed conditions which now exist in our
favor we must win. Fully as 1 am i'm
pressed with these views OF our prospects
Of success, it would be unwise to under
rate the strength of the enemy, or to shut
our eyes to the fact that campaign of
unusual vigor and bitterness will be inau-
rated on his part. The violent denuncia-
ton and imfammatory appeals to the low
est passions of their followers permeate
nearly every paragraph of that remarkable
paper which has been put forth as their
platform"
About the work of the State committee
last year, Mr.. Barbour said: "The impress
sion has gone forth that this committee did
not do in 1884 the fair and square and Wig
orous work that was done in 1888 l want
to say for the information of this represen-
tative body, and of others, that that com
mittee did as earnest and strong and active
work in the last campaign as they did in
1885,"
Mr.. Barbour's remarks were often inter-
rupted by loud applause.
TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Mr.. Barbour then introduced Mr.. Robert
5. Crockett of Wythe county, as tempo
rary chairman of the Convention. This
gentleman is about so years of age, was a
gallant Confederate officer, and an original
Readjuster but quit the party before the
canvass of 1881. He was law partner of
MIR F. S. Blair, Mahone's candidate for
Mr.. Crockett, after thanking the copven-
ton for the honor bestowed upon him,
said: cit is true you have q crafty foe with
which to contend, one we'll supplied with
all the sinews and appliances of modern
warfare. It is not wise to underrate his
strength. That you can defeat him there
is no doubt; but it will require both wis
dom and labor. He has selected his own
He is going to make the
in Southwest Virginia. He has
thrown down the gauntlet; you have pick
ed it up. Your clans are already marshall
ed for the conflict. Their beacon fires are
already b-rning from the tops of the
mountains. Their bugles sound the alarm.
They are stripped and eager for the battle
of ballots. The contest is nearing. Let
it come; 1 repeat, let it come. In 1884
they gave the enemy his Trafalgar, and in
this good year of 1885 they will give him
his Waterloo.
Mr.. w. Taylor, of Richmond, was made
temporary secretary.
Various committee were then announced.
The members of the State committee for
the 10th district are as follows
Samuel j. Graham, Rockbridge; James
Bowler, Allegheny; Edward Echols, Au-
gusta; Camm Patteson, Buckingham; John
D. Horseley, Nelson.
A reception was then taken till o'clock
P. NJ, and on re-assembling the
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
was effected.
Mr. A. Brown Evans, chairman of the
made u report on permanent
with H. R. Pollard, of King
and Queen, for President, and with vice
Presidents for each congressional district.
Hon. Taylor Berry, of Amherst, from this,
the tenth district. John Bell Bigger was
made permanent secretary. with a number
Of assistants, and j. G. Moon, of Rich
mond, sergeant alarms.
In assuming the duties OF chairman, ME-.
Pollard said: 'The railing, the ranting
and the whining of the apostates who late
~ filed these halls are as powerless to dim
The lustre Of Virginia's fair name as they
will be to deceive the people. If they are
representatives, then Virginia has lost pre-
sminence. We are here to equip ourselves
With leaders worthy to bear our standards
% victory on the third of November. The
contest is to be one ofmomentous importance;
he lines are to be sharply drawn against
he malign influence of Mahoneism, an in
luence that advocates hate instead of
,eace; that has sought in the halls and
committee rooms of Congress to blast the
,ood names and blot the pages of history
With foul libels against our people, seeking
y lying artifice to secure from Northern
republicans sympathy and soap, with
which to debase the ballot. The lines are
rawn against corruption in high places,
gainst participation in politics by judges,
gainst partisan decisions by the courts, |