Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-08-17
Mr.. Barbour's Farewell

seat on the platform all the afternoon, but
who had not spoken since be delivered his
address opening the convention, came for.
ward and said:
II have not come forward, gentlemen, to
intlict speech upon you at this late hour Of
your deliberations, but after the com pliment-
arg resolution offered by the gentleman from
Montgomery, and passed By your body, 1
could not, with any regard to my own self
respect, or reference to what l feel l owe
you, keep silent and not present my &C
Acknowledgements feel that you, members
of the democratic party of Virginia, have
honored me far beyond my personal deserts.
feel that you have extended to me far more
consideration than | am individually emit
tied to; but, conceding all that, l believe l
have tried in my own poor way to render
you the best possible service that l could
command. If know myself the ambition
of my life has been to be useful to my peo-
Pile, and if have rendered any service to
draw from you such an expression as has
been shown by your tisDg vote here this
evening it is the great mpensation of my
life. Loud applause.
while speaking to you in all the sinceri-
ty of my nature cannot withdraw without
saying something in regard to the position l
have occupied-arduous, laborlous and TAX
ing up all my time. l must cay that from
1883 to our final victory 10 1887, and incIud.
ing the campaign of 1885, gave my entire
time to the democratic party. Applause
1t was not only when the election was
going on. knew before what we had to
contend with. knew the desperate man
at Petersburg that we had to fight. and
knew if occupied the position of chairman
OF your State committee l would have to
stand at my post all the time. did it, and
your resolution here this evening is the best
answer that could be made for my own per
sonal eelf. Applause 1 will not detain
you, but would like to cay one word about
the gentleman whom sou have honored with
| the high office of chairman OF the State com.
mittee. AS new man, as young man,
| Basil Gordon, of Responsiveness, is not ex
tensvely known. desire to say that he
has been on the committee as part OF the
staff of your late chairman since 1885. He
has attended all the conventions and he has
done his whole duty. He has contributed
literally to that necessity Of campaign-
the financial department.
You may talk about Doodle. l have heard
good many greenhorns talk about Doodle.
How are you going to run a campaign with
|
organize your party; haven't you got TO put
your men in the field haven't you got to
provide means for the speakers; haven't
sou, in word, got TO employ very large
amount of money to carry on the necessary
business of the campaign? II any of the
gentlemen vino talk about 'booCls' being
| not the proper thing to have around-if you
think you can win without t-go and try it.
| Laughter.
"Thet is the way Malone has beaten you
all the time. You didn't understand it, |
! knew what it was. knew we bad to organ
ia; knew we had little checking to do
ourselves. We are all down here scufiing
along. Most of our people are not very
literally supplied with surplus means, but
the party has got to provide the necessary
expenses OF the campaign. Aud let me say
here what the democratic party Of Virginia
ought to do. 1t ought to provide its own
money, and it could be done by very little
contribution from everybody. Let it be
done by every one. Let the democrats oil
over the State come up with money, With
contributions of a dollar or Two dollars
apiece, and We will have plenty of money.
l do not believe 10 the money of your rich
men. Some Of these fellows thought was
Jay Gould or Vanderbilt some time ago,
"WelI, gent emsn, / WAS going on to state
something about Gordon. Gordon is e
friend of mine. He Ia frst-rate fellow.
lie is a liberal fellow. He is an educated
man and be has gos great desire to run
this campaign. Well, I say now. My
friend, 80 far az l sm concerned would
like for you to try 1t once. would like to
see you grati6ed,' and want to cay further
that believe he is competent man, and /
think be Is the best man We could get. !
was glad to soc my associate senator get up
here to nominate Mr.. Gordon. want you
to recognize him as your chairman, aud |
tell you he will do his whole duty | tell
you another thing; the poor fellow is now
conSned In sick as en- invalid, but
we hope he will be we'll in a little while. |
will further say if I can be of any use 10
him from my past experience, such is mg
friendship for the man, such is my devotion
to the democratic cause / will put myself
by bis side. Loud applause l will do
it If he wants me-. | do not want
10 take any of the credit of the campaign. |
want him to get ii. do not wantit to te
said. We'll, Barbour did IT, nor if
we lose, It was Gordon That is not |
a fair thing to do. / usver have gone back |
on friend, and I tell you if / have any.
ing 10 40 WIN tulS cHuiphlSu huu We ioso /
| will take the responsibility OF the disaster.
I have suggested and my friends urged the
oomioation CT Mr.. Gordon. will cay that |
you may rely upon his fidelity, his integrity,
aud he will get on that high plane that my |
friend Psrson Massey was talking about |
awhile ago. don't know OF anybody who I
can get on that higher plane better than
Gordon, so that In every respect think the
democratic party of Virginia is exceedingly |
fortunate to secure the services of this gen.
temsn.
NOW, having made my appearance before
you for the last time in the capacity in
which have spoken, want you to feel
that while the puliations 90 through my
body, as long as can command strength to
look the democratic party in the face, you
will fad that am ready 10 cooperate in
all the fights sud the defeats and the priva-
tions and in the successes which may at.
t.ch to the grand old party, which it has
heen the pride of nv whole life to be aSso.