The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-07-18
THE SOLID SOUTH.
JOHN A. BROOKS ACCEPTS TINE VICE
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.

An Era of Progress-No More Solid South.
Agitation-Legis iation-Execution- Faif-
Party. ..t..a aLA
This is an era of 4rogress. Progression
is everywhere manifest. Manufacturing
Interests are springing up all over our
dnnntry. Agricultural and mining inter
Asts are rapidly developing. Public
srhools and churches are dotting the land
over Progress, progress everywhere.
/ believe in governmental progress. The
policy of the government should at least
keep abreast of our advancing civilization.
Amid this onward march of financial edu-
Optional and, moral interests, we cannot
hope to draw our inspiration as states
men from the resolutions of '98 or the
dead issues of the sixties.
80. In this evolution of government, the
law Of ''the survival of the fttest" must
reign supreme. That not fit to survive
must die.
Polygamy, the divine right of kings,
Journalism, slavery, are dead; the whisky
traffic must die.
These moral revolutions are governed
by the law of trinities. There must be
the truths evolved into law, and la fly,
the execution of the law when formulated.
The period of agitation is one of long suf
fering and sacrifice, the epoch of martyrs.
ME end to be obtained the incarnation
oFtruth in the public mind and heart.
To effect the policy of the government,
the incarnated truth must be crystallized
into law, and the law enforced. --rrt
But there must be in the government a
power adequate to such Capitalization and
enforcement. ..N lt ... ID
In republican governments such as
ours this power must be political party
believing in the principle desired, and
which will enact it into law and enforce
the law when made. ~. .&trits ~
A familiar illustration of all have said
is found in the history of the downfall of
human slavery in this country. Agita-
ton, ceaseless, tireless agitation, mark
ing it's pathway with the blood of the
martyred dead. r.-.-,-
The incarnation of the great truth of
the fatherhood of God and the brother
hood of humanity; the slow but steady
rise of a party committed to the princi-
pie, it's formation into law and the en-
forcement of that law until the shackles
fell from the limbs of every slave in the
land.
AS an old STAKEHOLDER, am here to-
night to attest my joyful acceptance of
the results, and speak for nine of
my section. Gen. Fisk whom for the first
timeI meet to night, helped to form the
party that was mainly instrumental in the
accomplishment of this result. l. on the
other hand, stood with the party commit
ted against the principle, and did all ia
my power to prevent it. | come today,
across half the continent, to say to him
that he was right and l was wrong, and
now, over the bloody chasm of that dreary
past will clasp his hand and say that let
there be no further animosity between U.S.
Tonight let us send forth the cry, with
clasped hand, no more sectionalism in
American politics! No more solid south
nor solid northl
If it We're mine to curse, could almost
say, palsed be the hand of the man that
would go down into the bloody grave of
the sorrowful past and drag to light it's
unhappy memories.
The last quarter of century has been
an era of agitation.
Questions of living interest have been
most earnestly discussed upon the ros-
trum, in the pulpit and in the press.
These are the living questions of the
day Has not the agitation gone on long
enough? Has not a long suffering public
the right to demand laws that shall
remedy these evils? Has not enough
martyr blood been shed?
But what party shall remedy these
evils by the formulation and enforcement
Of sslch laws as shall meet the demand of
the public conscience?
The two old parties have been promis-
ing such revision of the tariff as will re-
move its inequalities and reduce the
burdens of taxation to peace basis.
What have they done? Absolutely
nothing to this hour
They have looked on from year to year
while ouuc country is being filled with the
pauper, criminal, communistc and an
archistic elements of foreign lands. Yea,
have extended the franchise in the vari-
Gus states eff the Union to these ignorant
hordes as also to the ignorant negroes of
the south, and opened schools in the form
of saloons to prepare them for citizenship.
All this has gone on in the face of the
fact hat our municipal governments are
becoming the synonyms of all that is
vicious and corrupt in politics, and with
out one single effort to remedy the evil.
The ignorant, the thief and the thug are
invested with every right of citizenship,
while that most intelligent class of citi-
Gems, which owns one-third the property
of this country and one half its intelli-
gence, are barred the right to defend
either their property or sons from ruin
Trusts and monopolies have multiplied
al over the land. A few men of capital