Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-08-11
Speech of Capt. G. Julian Pratt on Second
ing the Nomination Of Capt. Jas.
Bumgardner, Jr.

ing the Nomination of Capt. Jas.
Bumgardner, Jr.
In the recent Democratic Congressiona
Convention held in Lexington, in second
ing the nomination of Capt. Jas. Bumgard
ner, Jr., Capt. G.. Julian Pratt made the
following eloquent speech
| should prove recreant to the feelings oi
my heart, and fail to represent that large
; class OF my own people whose faces are
bronzed by the sun of Heaven, and whose
hands are rendered horny by honest toll,
were l not to add my tribute to name be-
fore this Convention.
AS l have listened to the presentations
; of this galaxy of distinguished gentlemen
my heart has throbbed with pardonable
pride and patriotic devotion.
1t is well, sir, that we possess such a
wealth of ability, and too much has not
been said of any one Of them, as to follow
the footsteps of Tucker demands distin.
guished qualifications.
The eyes of a nation have rested with
pride upon the representative whose name
is synonym for all that is exalted in char
acter and pure in politics.
l
her sons, and in her consecrated coronet
no brighter or purer gem adorns her queen
ly brow than the gifted son, who has hon
ored every position to which her love and
confidence have called him.
"Wearied with victory" he voluntarily
lays aside the trials and trusts of official
life in the service of the State, let us hope
only to honor the Commonwealth with his
splendid character and qualifications upon
a broader field.
"God give us men! time like this de-
mands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith, and
ready hands;
Men whom the lust of lucre does not kill,
Men whom the spoils of Office cannot
buy,
Men who have opinions and will,
Men who have honor, men who will not
| lie"
| 1t is unnecessary for a citizen of Angus
TIA, speaking in behalf Of her true and tried
Democracy, to assure the members of this
Convention of her loyalty to the party nom
inee.
| Come he from the mountains, Piedmont,
| Southside. Or the Valley, when the wisdom
OF this Convention shall make its selection,
the friendly rivalrieS which now exist will
be forgotten in the united effort to win the
victory, and he to whom the honor falls has
but to sound the party slogan, and it will
be worth 1000 men.
But from among the many worthy of the
trust there is one pre-eminently fitted by a
combination of qualities and qualifications,
to whose hands we may confidently com
nit the standard with no apprehension as
to the result, and it behooves us to be wise
in the selection, if we would maintain Dem
ocratic supremacy in this District.
We have to combat an unscrupulous and
intelligent foe, one possessed of that feline
popularity which rises into life after every
encounter and stands ready to profit by
any mistake, and while We may not de-
scend to the methods of our adversary, du-
ty demands that we should take every hon
orable advantage and commit our interests
to one whose intelligence, activity, and
freedom from past party antagonisms, pc
culiarly fit him to become the champion of
our cause, and fearlessly to strike the
shield of his adversary with the ringing
point of his lance.
The Republicans will doubtles nominate,
justly the most popular man in their party,
a citizen of Augusta, not untried in a can
vass, and not without honor, even among
his own people.
To meet this difficulty, am here to Sec
ond the nomination of one who can COM
mand not only the full and hearty support
OF his own party. but whose personal pop
ularity will do more to eliminate the dis
turbing element which exists in this can
vass, disguise it as VIC may; will make the
deepest inroads upon the respectable por-
tion of the Republican vote, and to pledge
you the largest majority for her favorite son
rxyt,, ,,nl, hoo, IL L
Augusta.
And | am justified in this statement when
I assure you that such unanimity has new
er before prevailed in the councils of our
people, and such emphasis has never be-
fore been accorded to the aspirations of
citizen, coming, as we Go, to you, del
egated by the largest and most representa-
tive conventions of the Augusta Democra-
cy which have ever assembled in the coun-
ty to assure you that there is but one SEN
timent among our people as to the man
they prefer to represent her in the national
councils.
Whatever the occasasion, her presence
has been the inspiration of confidence from
the dark days of revolution until now, and
this District looks with the same assurance
of success to her Democracy in the hour of
political trial as did our sires to the strong
arms and liberty-loving hearts of her stall
wart sons in the darkest days which ever
shadowed nations hopes.
What shall say of that unsefish patriot
ism which has ever distinguished her? AL |
ways delighting to honor the distinguished
sons of her sister counties with self-ab- |
negation which commends her, low that
she asks for her son the representative hon
Or, l believe, gentlemen, in view of her
yrIl ant hav ,x,1
could not confer this distinction upon one
whose past services and present fitness bet
ter entitle him to the position.
A youth, he entered his country's serv-
ice, and bearing himself as became Vir-
ginlan through all the vicissitudes of the |
strife, in the hour of defeat like his i'm
mortal CHIEF, he sheathed his stainless |
sword and consecrated his life to his State,
because, to use his own words
''Ihe claims OF Virginia to our sacrifices
and exertions are now paramount to all |
other considerations.
10 every demand made by the party or
the people he has cheerfully responded, and
the duties required have been faithfully |
honestly, and courageously discharged.
For earnestness OF purpose, untiring Wig |
lance, and party fealty, no man is his su-
perior. Every campaign bears testimony
to his ability as canvaSSer and ceaseleSS |
worker for the cause
For Is years, as the Chairman of his par /
ty, the splendid majority of his county is
largely attributable to his superb organiza-
ton and personal effort. !
James Bumgardner is the soul of honor,
and no man in the Commonwealth has a |
warmer place in the affections, or is held in
higher estimation for his sterling integrity
nv those who know him best
=, Fully equipped as a representative, back
ed by popular demand for his nomination
at home, which insures larger majority
than NV man exon in Anrlssfa can com. !