The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-06-28
NO. 10

strong in the imbecility of ''innoeuous des-
uetude. and deserves to live as a remi-
nlscence OF promises forgotten and pledges
unredeemed.
There are those in this land who seem
TO believe that the mission of the Repub.
llcan party is at an end; that the enamel
patton proclamation, Appomattox and the
constitutional amendments are at once the
monuments OF its gICry and the grave
stones of it's demise. But the work of the
Republican party will never be done until
every American citizen enters into his un-
/ questioned inheritance, of liberty, equal
rights and justice, until representation in
congress IS based upon votes freely cast
and fairly counted, until adequate provis-
ion has been made for the helplessness and
OLD age OF the disabled veterans and the
widows and orphans of their dead comrades
until policies of government which those
insure national and individual prosperity
| are firmly established, and until patriotism
and loyalty are the only qualifications,
except fitness for official position in the
service of the Republic. There are those
IN the land who insist that the Republican
party keeps alive the old time sectional
feeling, and that it refuses to let ''the dead
past bury its dead The Republican
prrtY longs and prays for the coming of
the millennium of its hope when in spirit
anu III u uGu NdSOH dflu DlXOn'S line Will
be botted out forever; when fraternal ties
and common interests unite us all; when
the whole people are found rejoicing to-
gether that the inherited institution of
human slavery was destroyed by the JUS
tlce OF God, glad together that the holy
bonds OF union could not be severed; hope
full together for a magnificent national
destiny; loyal together to common
country and its unconquered flag.
But when that glad time comes, black
and white must march side by side IN the
broad sunshine of safety, and lie down to
peaceful Slumber in the untroubled shad.
ows of protected homes.
The Republican party turns to the New
South with Wide-Open arms. 1t offers
loyal assistance in the development of its
agriculture, the opening of its mines, the
building up of its manufactures. 1t pro-
poses to break down the barriers of I'M
pleasant memories, with the hope of a new
prosperity.
The great distinctive issue of the
present campaign is the issue of the tariff.
10 the support of a protective tariff there
will rise up an overwhelming army of
Intelligent, thoughtful and pracaical men
and the East and the west. the North and
the South, will join hands together to
forever exterminate in this Republic the
pernicious doctrine of free trade.
AS we gather here We remember that
other great Convention had in this city in
1860. We remember how it was inspired
with the wisdom and courage to select
that great man of the people-that Moses
who led us through the parted waters of
the sea, past the wilderness Of battle, over
the Jordan OF safety, into the promised
land. In 1884 we were driven back into
the wilderness again. God give US the
wisdom to find another Moses who can
limit our wandering to four years instead
of forty.
The mighty past is with us here to-day.
1t fills us with that same spirit of free
dom. patriotism and devotion which
breathed into the common dust of ordi-
nary humanity the sublime inspiration of
heroic deeds, Let US read its lessons
rightly and hold its precepts dear.
When Robert Bruce. King of Scotland,
lay upon mis- dying bed he requested that
his heart should be taken from his IMAM
innate body and borne by knightly hands
to the Savior's sepulcher. After his
death, James. Earl of Douglas, undertook
the sacred mission, and with the heart
lncased in golden casket set out upon
his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In their
way thither, himself and comrades were
set upon by a great host of Moorish war
rlors. Though they fought with all the
valor OF mortal men, they were BORNE
backward by sheer force of numbers, amt
their overthrow seemed certain.
When Douglas, drawing from his bosom
the priceless casket, cast it far out into
the midst of the oncoming hosts and cried
out, LEAD on, heart of Bruce. we follow
thee.' And the knights of Scotland,
never defeated while following Bruce,
pushed forward and won the day.
Let this Convention find a Douglas for
our Bruce. He viii! take the soul of our
great leader into the golden, casket of his
love, and with it lead US on to certain and
splendid victory.