Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-08

Y..,ersss'. csa,ssa.n- speech Of the Chair
my telegraph to the Dispasch.l

poTary organization was effected py
naming the executive officers Of the State
Committee. The usual committees were
then appointed. The Committee on Per-
manent Organization reported the name
Of John +. Fitzgerald for president, and
Colonel j. A. Coveney and 7. p. DON
ovand for secretaries. Mr.. Fitzgerald,
upon taking the chair, addressed the
Convention at some length. In the
course Of bis speech he said
Let me congratulate you on the TACT
that this is the first Democratic State
Convention in a quarter of century
which could send forth greetings to the
Democracy of the country over the ma
tional triumph OF our party principles
in the Inauguration of a Democratic
President. After quarter of CEN
tury Of uninterrupted power, welded
with remorseless party ostracism, the
Republican party steps down and out,
an example and warning to us, their
successors, and whether our lease OF
power shall continue longer than four
years and into the quarter century
depends upon how well we have
profited by the lessons oil the
past and hsw zealously and honestly
we strive to carry out the promises
made to the people in our State and
national platforms. We must remem-
Der that we are only in probationary
period. Our triumph was as much the
result of distrust on the part of the
people in the candidate and leaders of
the Republican party as of implicit con-
fdence in US. We were triumphan; on
the faith of the promises made, because
as a pledge Of our sincerity we noml-
mated a man for President who in his
official life was the embodiment of the
sound principles of our party platform.
Honor and patriotism alike demand
that our pledges to the people shall be
kept and faithfully carried out; that
when our years Of probation are at an
end the voters Of the land shall say,
We'll done, thou good and faithful
servants" and intrust us with their
affairs for four years more. Already
is the Democratic Administration,
though only a few months in power,
demonstrating its fitness to control the
destinies Of this republic and its sense
of honor in carrying out its pre-
election pledges to the people.
If anything were needed to prove
| that we are one in name and fame again,
the tender and pathetic sentiments that
came from southern Legislatures and
ex-Confederate soldiers to the sad home
Of a diving soldier Of the republic a
few days ago show that we are one
again that the bitterness Of the past
is gone; that patriotism relgns su-
preme, and that the rebels and traitors
of to-day are those who, for party pur-
poses, are willing to do anything,
whether it be the stealing of the
presidency or the stirring mp OF
sectional hate to the detrlment
OF the business prosperity of our
country. The fire of sectional ami
mostly is dead, thank Heaven the
ashes and embers are cold, and all the
blowing of party bellows, though that
ancient instrument be manipulated by
pre-Adamite and antediluyian, can
never give them life and warmth again.
Fossilism ceases to interest, be it Dem
ocratic or Republican, and masquerading
before the people in the ensanguined
clothing Of the dead and buried issues,
as Senator's Hoar and Sherman are
doing, is as ridiculous sight, were
it not unpatriotic and wicked. as
could be the appearance on our street
of the eccentric individual who adopt
ed in our day as his style Of dress
that of the Elizabcthian period or of
the Pirates of Penzance. The Admin
istration of President Cleveland has de-
monstrated that the rights Of the col
ored people are safe in Democrs'ic
hands. For twenty-four years and a
half the people of this republic have
been outraged politically, and have been
declared Unfit to be intrusted with the
government of the country, or with any
national office, and it was prophesied
by the leaders of the Republican party,
who seemed to think they held perpetual
title TO power in the land, that the advent
of a Democratic Administration would
ruin trade, lower our credit, and bank
rupt the Treasury. The country has now
been governed by Democratic Ad-
ministration for six months, and the
sun has risen and set as usual. Trade
is reviying. Each man takes his place
at his accustomed business as when the
other party ruled and plundered. The
credit and honor of the United States
stand as high as ever, and for the first
time i'll twenty-iour years the tirmness
of MIR. Marcy in the Navy Department
has come back, as witness the prompt
action in the Panama affair.
The platform, which was unanimous
ly adopted, declares that the Demo-
Gratis of Massachusetts have full conf
dence in the President; in his wise
caution, his far-seeing sagacity, his
courage and frmness, his determination
to administer the Government in the in-
terests of the whole people, and his &C.
votion to the fundamental principles OF
the national Democracy; that under
his Administration every reform re-
Qured TO make the Government pure
and honestwill be made; that sectional
prejudice and jealousy will disappear,
and that the civil service will be estab-
lished on the broad basis Of justice and
equality, securing to the Administra'
ton official sympathy with its policy,
not creating an unofficial class, but
giving every citizen who is capable and
honest the right to be selected for pub
lie employment.
The resolutions continue We
therefore pledge to Grover Cleveland
President of the United States, our I'M
faltering support
The platform, after alluding in fitting
terms TO the death Of General Grant
concludes by declaring that veterans
should have the preference in the allot
ment of offices.
The following ticket was nominated
Governor, Frederick o. Prince; Lieu
toon,t Eoyavnnr III III EiimNra