Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-01
CONVENTION SPEECHES.


Mr.. 81. R. Pollard, permanent chairman
of the late State democratic convention, on
taking the chair, said:
am not insensible of tn honor conferred
upon me in being called upon to preside
over this body of representative Virglnlans
worthy sons of worthy sires. In the keep
ing of such the fair name and fame of the
Old Dominion is safe. Applause. The
railing, the ranting. and the whining of the
apostates vino lately filled these halls are
as powerless to dim the lustre of her fair
name as they will be to deceive the people.
IF thew are representative, then Virginia
has lost eminence.
We are here to equip ourselves with lead.
ers worthy to bear our standards to victory
on the Sd Of November. The contest Is to
be one of momentous Importance. Inc
lines are to be sharply drawn against the
malign influence Of Mahoneism-an in
fiuence that advocates hate instead of peace;
that has sought in the halls and committee
rooms of Congress to blast the good name
and blot the pages of history with foul hbels
against our people, seeking by lying artlr
fee to secure sympathy from Northern re.
publicans and "soap' with which to debase
the ballot. The lines are to be drawn against
corruption in high places, against participa-
ton in politics by judges, against partisan
decisions by the courts, and last, but not
least, against the interference by federal
Judges in the levy and collection of the
revenues of this Commonwealth. APP
plause. 49,,
Crying "thief," they hope to withdraw
attention from their shameful administra'
ton of the affairs of the State during the
two years that they dominated every de-
partment of the government. No such
shallow device will do. The memory sof
the people is too fresh with the develop
ments made before committees of the last
General Assembly affecting officials of every
grade.
In the coming contest there must be no
laggards, no soreheads. All, all opposed to
bossism, to strife between the races. to sec
tional bitterness, to dishonest administra-
tion of the government State and Federal,
must align themselves with us. To US the
political skies are bright and frightening.
The cloud of defeat that so long threatened
and so often overwhelmed US has been into
the bosom of the ocean driven. The Sher-
mans and the Blaines, the apostles of hate
and sectional strife, have been ordered to
The rear by the people of this nation, and
their exemplars in Virginia-the Mahones
and the Bairs-are to be likewise relegated
to private life. Great applause.
The eyes of The five millions of Demo.
Gratis who cast their ballots for Cleveland
aud reform will look anxiously for the shout
of victory from the Old Dominion. Already
the people have twice given an earnest OF
their determination to restore the power to
our party. When that power is secured we
may confidently hope for better days for
the Commonwealth. No more will boss
dare dictate legislation. No more corrupt
bargains will emanate from any department
Judges will not longer disgrace the Temple
| of Justice. Federal judges will no longer
vex our patience with partisan decisions In
the hope of perpetnating the power of their
party by dragging back into politics the
settlement of the State debt. but Virginia
will press grandly to the front in the sister.
hood of States, if not the most populous
vet the peer of any in those qualities which
make o great people-patriotism intelli.
gence, industry, and frugality.
Mai. Holmes Conrad in nominating Gen.
| Lee, said:
! A short while ago convention assembled
in this hall representing 10000 whites and
80 900 negroes. 1t calls itself the represent.
tive party of Virginia. We have seen it be-
for under manifold names and under vari
Gus disguises, but the cloven hoof and sui
phurous smell removed all doubt as to its
identity. Cheers.
Let US not, however, underestimate
Egypt's numbers or depreciate its power. Ii
has proven in the past formidable obstacle
in our path.
Every question of personal consideration
should be pu. aside. Every question o.
mere political preference and mere selfish
ambition should be placed under foot. This
party which we are now confronting en-
blows devices and resorts to means to which
we may never descend.
Who shall we, in this hour, select as the
man of our choice? 1t behooves us now to
give clear and unequivocal enunciation to
the political principles by which we are
guided, to select man the purity of whose
personal and political character will shine
undimmed through all the clouds of smoke
slander and abuse that may be hurled at it.
Who is such man?
"a voice in the gallery: "Fitz. Lee"
1.-THE gentleman anticipates not merely
the man, but the nomination that the peo-
pie" Here the speakers remarks were
drowned by cheers.
When the applause subsidized Maj. Conrad
continued as follows:
"On the 4th day of March last, in the fed
eral capital, an acclaim went up to Heaven
not from the people of Virginia, but from
the people Of this broad land, from the
White House to the Capitol, that nominated
Fitz. Lee, of the county of Stafford.
Who is Fitz. Lee? A voice: "a brave
general."]
The time is past when men, gathering W
the bones of the dead hero, move forward
hoping to conquer by name. We offe
him not for rank, but that in the providence
of God he is to-day the man who has th'
strongest and dearest embodiment of th'
principles of the democratic party
| fCheers.l