Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-08-30
Mr.. Barbour's Farewell.

Before the adjournment of the Democratic
State convention in Richmond ON Thursday,
Hon. John S. Barbour, who had occupied
seat on the platform all the afternoon, but
who had not spoken since he delivered his adj
dress opening the convention, came forward
and said:
81 have not come forward, gentlemen, to
inflict a speech upon you at this late hour OF
your deliberations, but after the compliment
fary resolution offered by the gentleman from
Montgomery, and passed by your body, [ could
or reference to what l feel l owe you, keep
silent and not present my acknowledgements.
feel that you, members of the Democratic
party of Virginia, have honored me far be-
yond my personal deserts. / feel that you
have extended to me far more consideration
than am individually entitled to; but, con-
ceding all that, believe have tried in my
own poor way to render you the best possible
self the ambition of my life has been to be
useful to my people, and if [ have rendered
any service to draw from you such an express
sion as has been shown by your rising vote
here this evening, it is the great compensation
of my life. cloud applause.)
THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
While speaking to you in all the sincerity
of my nature | cannot withdraw without say
ing something in regard to the position have
Occupied-arduous laborious and taking up
all my time. must say that from 1888 to our
final victory in 1887, and including the cam
paign of 1888, gave my entire time to the
Democratic party. (Applause.)
1t was not only when the election was going
on. l 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 Com
mittee [ would have to stand at my post all
the time. l did it, and your resolution here
this evening is the best answer that could be
made for my own personal self. Applause. !
will not detain you but would like to say
one word about the gentleman whom you have
honored with the high Office of Chairman of
the State Committee. AS a new man, as a
young man, Basil Gordon of Rappahannock,
is not extensively 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 a campaign-the financial
department.
THE NECESSITY FOR MONEY TO RUN
CAMPAIGN,
You may talk about ''boodle'' have heard
a good many greenhOrnS talk about "boOdle. "
How are you going to run campaign without
financial means? Haven't you got to 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 you, i'll a word got
to employ a very large amount OF money to
carry ON the necessary business of the CAM
paign? If any of the gentlemen who talk
about doodle being not the proper thing to
have around-ify you think you can win without
it-go and try it. Laughter
That is the way Malone had beaten you all
the time. You didn't understand it. knew
what it was. l knew we had to organize;
knew we had a little checking to do our
selves. We are all down here scuffiing along.
Most of our people are not very literally sup
piled with surplus means, but the party has
got to provide the necessary expenses Of the
campaign. And let me say here what the Dem
ocratic 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 all over the State come up with
money, with contributions of a dollar or two
dollars apiece and we will have plenty of
money. do not believe in the money of your
rich men. Some of these fellows thought
was Jay Gould or Vanderbilt some time
ago, but there never was greater mistake.
WHAT HE THINKS OF BASIL GORDON HIS
SUCCESSOR.
Well, gentlemen l was going on to state
something about Gordon. Gordon is friend
of mine. He is a firSt-rate fellow. He is a
liberal fellow. He is an educated man and
he has got a great desire to run this campaign.
Well say now, My friend, so far as l am
concerned, would like for you to try it once.
would like to see you gratitied,' and l want
to say further that | believe he is competent
man, and think he is the best man we could
get. was glad to see my associate senator
get up here to nominate Mr.. Gordon. l want
you to recognize him as your chairman, and l
tell you he will do his whole duty tell you
another thing: the poor fellow is now confined
in a Sick-room as an invalid but we hope he
will be we'll in little while. will further
say if | can be of any use to him from my past
experience, such is my friendship for the man,
such is my devotion to the Democratic cause,
l will put myself by his side. cloud APP
plause). / will do it if he wants me- | dc
not want to take any of the credit of the cam
paign. | want him to get it. | do not want
lose, 1T was Gordon That is not fair thing
to do. Inever have gone back on friend
and | tell you if | have anything to do with
this campaign and we lose will take the re-
sponsibility OF the disaster. have suggested
and my friends urged the nomination Of MI
Gordon. will say that you may rely upon
his fidelity, his integrity, and he will get Oh
that high plane that my friend Parson Mas
sey was talking about awhile ago. | don't
know of anybody who can get on that higher
plane better than Gordon SO that in every re
spect | think the Democratic party of Virginia
is exceedingly fortunate to secure the services
OF this gentleman.
BUT GOLD MAN BARBOUR" WILL ALWAYS
BE AROUND.
Now, having made my appearance before
you for the last time in the capacity in which
have spoken, | want you to feel that while
as | can command strength to look the Dem
ocratic party in the face, you will find that
am ready to cooperate in ali the fights ant
the defeats and the privations and in the sue
cesses which may attach to the grand ole
party, which it has been the pride of my whole
life to be associated with.
l am not one of the modern Democrats.
was not born Democrat as old Jackson said
but have been in the Democratic line for Sc
many years that hardly like to talk abou
it. l do not know anybody but my friene
Gen. Taliaferro here and one or two old fos
sis [laughter] around that can 90 as far bacl
as can. | speak with all respect to Gen
Taliaferro.
YOUNG MEMS CAMPAIGN
l have failed to say another thing about Mr.
Gordon. He is a young man; we expect vol
young men to make this fight. When | came
up in 1888, then said that [ relied upon the
young men to do the fighting. 1t is the young
men, the aggressive men, the representative
few, possessing the pluck and talent, who arr
to be the future controlling men of Virginia
and they are the ones who hav to carry OF
this fight.
If you young men let Malone and Qua,
and that crowd defeat us in this election
shall lose confidence as Gen. Grant lost con
1dence in human nature
Gentlemen. [ thank Won again