Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-08-16
Mckinney for Governor.
]. H0gG Tyler for 1t Governor
R.Taylor Scott Attorney General
Basil B. Gordon for Chairman Of STATE
Central Committee.
lReported for .Staunton VINDICAToR.]

RICHMOND, AUG. 15.-Yesterday the
Democratic State Convention, the largest
political deliberative body that ever met
here, assembled in the immense Armory
Hall at noon. The hall which will hold
5000 people, was densely packed. Of that
number fully 1000 were Democratic dele
gates and alternates in such high spirits
that the slightest occasion brought OIL
great cheering. This was shown when
Senator Barbour with Senator Daniel came
on the stage and the band struck up ''Hail
to the Chief, 4" and the uproar was tremen
dous. Mr.. Barbour, as State Chairman
raped the convention to order and address
ed it as follows:
MIR. BARBOUR's SPEECH. y
Gentlemen Of the Conoention
Before calling the convention to order it is
expected, as Chairman of the State Democratic
COmmi ttee, that should say something, how.
ever brief, in regard to the general condition
OF the Democratic party of Virginia, its pres
ent surroundings, as we'll as OF the duties and
responsibilities OF the hour.
A glance at this large and imposing body OF
representative Democrats assembled in cOun.
Gil here to-day furnishes from every section OF
the State the best evidence of the power and
vitality of our
GRAND OLD POLITICAL ORGANIZATION,
and gives the best assurance of the deep inter
est felt and the profound SOlicitude every
where manifested in the result of your deli
beratiOnS.
Since 1883 the Democrats OF Virginia have
wrested from their political opponents (and
now hOld) the legislative and executive de-
partmentS OF the State government, and to a
great extent through their friends, the judici-
airy also. We have eight out of the ten men,
and both senators. We do not see anything in
this statement especially to alarm the timid OF
discourage
THE DOUBTING THOMASES
of the party. 1t is true, however, that the
margin between the electoral tickets at the
Presidential election last November was
small, and too close to be comfortable in so
of the last election returns will show that
nearly the entire cOlOred vote of the State was
cast SOlidly for the Republican ticket, and to
an extent, perhaps, not justified by law. Some
frauds were perpetrated against us in certain
sections which ought not to have been permit
ted by our local managers, and some indiffer-
ence prevailed perhaps to limited extent
among the Democrats in other localities But,
on the whole, in looking over the State | can
not discover any positive general loss of DEM
Ocratic strength at the last election. There
was some falling off in our vote in the Eighth,
Third, and Second Congressional districts,
and corresponding relative increase of Re.
publican strength. But the compensation
came from the splendid canvass made by our
friends in the Fourth district, and in the large
majOrities given for us in the Sixth and
Seventh districts, and by the Democratic vote
cast in the Ninth, Fifth, Tenth, and First dis
tricts, which, combined, brought up the aver
age and saved the State.
We are on the eve of another general cleo
ton, and you have been convened to nominate
your candidates for Governor, Lieutenant
Governor and Attorney General, to serve for
four years from and after the first of January
next. In making these nominations the con
VentiOn has
HIGH DUTY TO PERFORM
to Virginia and to the Democratic party. II
is especially vital that the selection Of the
candidate for Governor, whose position usuaI |.
ly imparts the most influence and popularity
to the ticket, should be made with the utmost
care and consideration.
We must lay aside all personal ambitions
and preferences and name that man as our
Standard-bearer, who has ample qualifications
to fill the Office, and at the same time is most
available in other respects to make vigorous
and successful canvass before the people of
the State. The present is not a favorable time
to experiment with the relative popularity of
individual candidates. We cannot afford to
lose the election in November or to surrender
the control of the State Government to the
tender mercies of the Republican party of
Virginia. General Malone is now marshaIing
his forces for the campaign. He doubtless
expects, with the question of protective tariff,
and perhaps some backing and filling in re-
gard to the settlement of the State debt, to
divide our party and draw recruits to his own
standard. do not know that the general SUBJ
ject of tariff is essential for consideration now
The reduction of our excessive Federal taxa
ton and tariff reform is demanded by the
country. In all State conventions of late
years, in all our platforms OF principle, we
have proclaimed opposition to the system of
direct taxation on the parto the Federal Gov
eminent as
UNNECESSARY AND OPPRESSIVE.
except in time of war, expensive and dlstaste-
full to the people in the method of collection,
and have demanded its repeal. When we get
the tax taken off tobacco and other products
of the fields and orchards, it will be full time
to spring the question Of a protective tariff
For myself, under the circumstances, would
like to see Virginia first protected and her
material interests of whatever kind promoted
before giving our attention SO exclusively to
sO-called American industries We are not
making national platforms this year in
State election and can we'll give the tariff
rest. We have more difficult problems to
solve.
l dismiss the subject of the State debt with
the single remark that, having declared in all
our platforms since 1888 that we would ac-
auiesce in the law known as the "Riddleber-
ger Act,' do not see that it now remains an
open question, or how the Republican party
OF Virginia can, with any consistency or good
faith, repudiate their own legislation and at
this late day go back on their own adjust
ment.
OUR POLITICAL SITUATION
in Virginia is unlike that in other States, AMI