Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-09-16

a story is told OF the President that is sug.
pestive A delegation of malcontents from
neiobhorins State called on him recently
to complain that the official axe was not
welded with the deXterity they imagined it
should be- The President listened patient
w to them. and at the conclusion SAID
HGentemen, the best answer can give you
is to tell YOU of the reflection Of farmer
when he stood in the midst of q patch OF
cleared ground and explained to an &C
quaintance why he did not grub up all the
stumps He said he was removing them
one at time and moved thus slowly Tor
fear of breaking the machine. Let Air.
Cleveland alone, and when he leaves the
| Presidential chair he will leave full crop
of democrats in the subordinate positions
to the satisfaction of that great party which
elected him. Major Daniel then proceeded
to show the reform going on in the several
departments of the great government; de
nounced the internal revenue system with
which the country is useessly saddled, aud
showed its injustice; exposed tho navy
swindle, and said while the republicans had
spent $500, 600, 900 on q navy the country
hardly possessed vessel suitable to navigate
Goose creek eulogzed the present admin.
istration for abolishing sectionalism said it
made no difference now whether an appli.
can't for Office followed Sheridan down the
Valley of Virginia or Stuart; rejoiced that
the reign of the Goth and Vaudal was over
and that an era Of good feeling and brother.
" love had succeeded it; said Robert. f.
Withers could now represent his country far
beyond the seas without first having to get
on his knees and beg for the position by say
ing he was one of the truly loyal;' and up
hold the administration for leaving the Wen
ma court, after 1t refused to receive MIR. kei-
ley, without Q representative from this coun'
try Major Daniel then directed his re-
marks toward State politics, and his erposc
of Mahoneism was severe. No party, he
said, was ever forced to such straits as Gen
eral Mahone's in its efforts to get up al is
sue in Virginia. 1t said Of the previ
cause Arthur is for u.s." of the present it
could say, 1--WE are against Cleveland be.
cause Cleveland is against u.s." They had
a platform big enough for Barnum's circus to
stand upon. The speaker said he liked to
read and study platforms, but in this in
stance would rather vote for Fitzhugh Lee
with no platform than for Wise, Blair e
Co. though they stood upon platform COM
posed of bibles and hymn books. The
Major then proceeded to dissec5 and hold
up to ridcule the platform of the opposition
party, exposed the hypocrisy Of its framers
accused them of stealing all its more re-
deeming planks from the democrats, and
gave an interesting history Of the sway Of
Mahoneism in this State, showing the party
up in all its hideousness, the seishne<s ever
exhibited by its leader; showed how tlc
latter swamped the Atlantic, Mississippi
& Ohio r. R., put S25, 900 q yesr into his own
pocket and walked out of one door while q
I'D 80, al Iocn lad tla
democratic party Of the State from all the
foul aspersions cast upon it by Malone and
his horde showed where the former was
the actual friend of the working man, the
free schools and everything else calculated
to become beneficial to him; proved froE,
official statistics that more children were
going to school and that more school houses
J were in existence under democratic man
agenent than under that of the reudjuslers;
excoriated the different individuals on the
Malone ticket, showing up their history,
their adroit tricks for their own aggrandza
ment; read the oath drawn up by Malone
} and administered to his dupes during their
sway in Virginia. spoke highly of Mr. Mas
sey who could associate with thieves as
long as he did and not become contami-
mated; paid just tribute to MIR. Ayers,
the democratic nominee for the Attorney
Generalship, and said he was g hard work
ing, earnest democrat who was worthy Oft any
position to which the people could elevate
him. The Mai or then proceeded to read the
extract from the readjuster platform, which
accuses the democratic party of being an
"organizsd band Of assassins, ballot-box
suffers" &C., and appealed to his audience
to know if they were going to take scor-
pion to their bosoms like Mr.. Wise (who en-
dorsed such falsehood) in preference to
General FitZhugh Lee, who is the champion
of brotherly love and truth, and whose en-
try everywhere is marked by enthusiasm
among all good people, irrespective Of par
ty. The speaker concluded Ivy saying one
of The most striking passages IN holy writ
was HE came to his own, but his own re-
ceived him not" General Ftzhugh Lee,
the true representative of the Southern gen
tleman, the honor and chivalry OF the Old
Dominion and the apostle of brotherly love,
who is sowing the seeds of peace wherever
he goes, has come TO his oWn May it not be
said we that have spurned him from us and
taken in his stead Il renegade. Major Dan
iel occupied about two hours in the delve-
ry of his speech, which was one of his hap
piest efforts. It was decidedly poetic, en-
trancing in its style, and when the speaker
would run on breathles5 for some seconds in
a strain of eloquence the audience was cleo.
triied and thrill Of enthusiasm pervaded
the souls of all.
Upon the conclusion Of Major Daniels
speech he introduced Hon. Benton McMil-
lin, Member of Congress from Tennessee,
who was present. Dir. McMllin made a
short but excellent and forcible speech, in
which he showed up radicaism and Ma
honeism. He counseled earnest action on
the part of democrats at their coming State
election, and paid deserved encomiums to
the democratic candidates for the various
State Offices. He interspersed his remarks
with amusing anecdotes which were highly
relished by the audience.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. McNIillin's re-
marks he and Major Daniel were greeted
by scores of Alexandrians who availed
themselves Of the opportunity of being in
troduced to the speakers and others who
accompanied them. At about half past ten