Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-05-23
pleasure in speaking of the distinguished
services of the man who is our leader.

services of the man who is our leader.
NO BOSS.
We have no boss-no county boss, no
district boss, no State boss. A true Vir-
ginia heart would as soon sell itself to the
devil as to cringe before any mortal man,
be he the grandest Virginian that ever
lived.
We see in the Democratic party some
thing beside machine by which victories
are won. We recognize in it principle, aid
as the greatest mountains are planted on
bases of granite SO the Democracy of Vir-
ginia stands firmly planted. 1t sands to-
day where it has always stood. We recog-
nize our great men who understand us,
whose ability as in Barbour we have too
much sense to let him go unless it would
actually kill him to continue. The DEM
ocratic party is now truer and better than
at any time in its history. Our losses have
been good to us. We have men true who
will before the day of election give us bet
ter organization than even the Virginia
Democracy has ever known. We will set
our faces toward the morning and make
the Democratic party keep time to the
music. We have determined that the dead
past shall bury its dead.
FOR CLEVELAND.
We have fought to inspire, and in No.
vember will roll up large majority fol
Cleveland. GCheers.] We are the only
party that had its birth at the division Of
the people, at the beginning of the Govern.
ment. We have survived every opposition
that has arisen. The Democracy has sood
the same organized force that it was at the
beginning. The Republican party at its
start was the worst thread of party that
ever existed-composed of blacklegs and
scoundrels the world, the iesh, and the
devil Joined it. The Republican party Of
Virginia must have been formed out of the
patches of the brooches of the party at the
North. do not care what happens as to
the split in the Republican party in Vir-
ginia, all we have to do is to look straight
forward to the future. want to say that
| the grandeur and glory of the past is hung
up in the temple of the gods who guard
| the good. l am going to conclude in the
language of friend who led a meeting
some years ago. Said he 81 want you to
hurry up, as there is great deal to be did
and but little time to do it."
THE COMMITTEES.
The various committees were then ap.
pointed. SerYine on them were delegates
from the tenth district as tollows:-
On Resolutions-H. st. George Tucker,
of Augusta; VIM. A. Anderson, of Rock.
bridge, and J. T. Brown, of Nelson.
Credentials-J. T. Coleman, of Nelson:
DR.. Eugene Rogers, of Allegheny, and
Frank Moon, of Buckingham.
Permanent Organization-J. T. Nc.
Kenna, of Buckingham; Pembroke Petit,
of Fluvanna, and ]. K. Edmondson, eI
R ockbridge.
Pending the deliberations of the Com.
mittees, Governor Lee, Senator Daniel, and
Hon. John Goode were invited to address
the Convention, and each was escorted to
the stand amid great applause.
GOVERNOR LEE.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentleman,-To the
representatives of the Virginia Democracy
in convention assembled beg to return my
gratitude for their cordial greeting. The
last time had the pleasure of looking into
the faces of the Democratic host in Virginia
was when was summoned before the par
ty and the banner was placed in my hands
to be carried to victory. have to report
that have peEAmed that duty, and to-day
the Democratic banner floats over the Ex-
ecutive mansion in Richmond. Since that
time the State has been going forward in
everything that marks progress and pros
perity. Her great mountains are shaking
| their sides and the mineral wealth is pour
ing out. Everything is going forward. We
| have had great difficulty with the State
debt question, but we say to all if they will
come to Virginia they need not fear that
| taxes will be increased, for the people alone
have the right to lay taxes. The difficulty
is that large amount of our securities are
held beyond the blue sea. When | tried to
see if the holders of these securities could
not be told what we were willing to do,
found that some of the committee appoint
ed abroad had purchased coupons to sell
to our people with which to pay their taxes.
You can see that under that condition of
affairs their advice to the owners of the
bonds would be to hold them. Our policy
is to give to the public schools all that the
Constitution gives then, to take care Of
our insane, and after that am willing to
say to the bondholders, You can have what
we can spare from our necessities, that
Virginia may again become a united people
NATIONAL QUESTION.
But we have to consider national ques-
tions. The Republican party was in power
twenty-five years and then the change
came. Do you now see soldiers dispensing
elections? Is the navy no longer honored
on the high seas? Didn't Cabinet officers
have to resign under the Republican Ad-
ministration? Didn't we have Black Fri
day? Did they not keep the republic from
gong forward to its great destiny? Each
star now in our flag represents o-equal
State. We didn't like to see some things
that have happened recently. We didn't
like to see the presiding officer of the Uni
ted States Senate attacking the records of
Federal officers whom the Confederate SOL
diers respected l have seen the time
around Richmond when would have been
glad to have welcomed Mcclellan as an
ally, and / have seen the time at Gettysburg
when | would have been pleased to wei
come Hancock as an ally. We want it
known that q soldier of this country can be
Democrat. and that Democrat can be
as good citizen in the South as can Re-
publican.
REACTION.
The Governor here told an incident Of a
cannon that was several tons lighter than
the ball, and when the explosion was made
the ball failed to move, but the cannon ic-
acted with great celebrity; and, continuing,
| he said:
When the presiding officer of the United
States Senate exploded recently the ball
stood still, but the man who attempted to
fire it will, if he has not gone, go out of the
sight of the public mind. l conceive, and
it is conceded by all, that Mr.. Cleveland
will be asked to come to the front again as
the Democratic leader. He came from low
er positions, it ia true, but from positions
of eminent responsibility. They said al
Erie, when he had been elected sheriff;
1--WE have no common man, but one who
knows no friend or foe." They then took
him up and made him mayor of Buffalo.
He there illustrated faith in the people.
Mr.. Cleveland [cheers] then said: "Those
who are not for the people ATE against the
people," From that point he was called
to be Governor of the Eupire State, and
then the people Scaled him up higher"
The present Administration has been, in
the main, more successful than any since
Aud Lang Syne. When see differences
in our State and in the City by the Sea |
hope that all will be sunk in view of the
| DO ko kn.,. o1