Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-10-29
70 THE DEMOCRATS.
ADDRESS OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
STATE COMMITTEE.
Epit g me of the Canvass.
The Questions Of toe Day Perspicaci0usly
Presented.
WORK OF CONGRESS.
EXPOSURE OF 1T.
HALF.HOUR HANDBOOK.

OF THE CONTEST.
HEADQUARTERS
VIRGINIA STATE DEMOCRATIC
CoMMITTEE,
RICHMOND, VA, October Is, 1890.
To the Voters of Virginia:
On the 4th day of November next you
will be called upon to elect ten representa-
tives to the fifty second Congress of the
United States, in which body no one will
deny that Virginia should be heard through
those who would voice her sentiments and
protect her interests. The present Repub-
lican Congress deprived her of two of her
representatives, installing in their places
two persons whom she did not regard as
worthy to represent her. That wrong re
mains unrebuked. One of these benefici-
aries of Republican theft was thus afforded
opportunity for eager and insolent advocacy
Of the 'foIce BILL, by which he hoped to
silence the voice of the people at the COM
mands of United States Judge.
The other even more hasty in his eager
ness to insult the people of this State, had
scarcely taken his seat before he was inflam-
ing a negro audience with such incendiary
language as the following
eff it is courage that is wanted. we will
give it by the hogshead, even until the blood
shall run in streams if necessary, till by the
commingly of white mems blood and black
mems blood our country shall be the grand
est and most lasting the world has ever seen
or ever will see."
Surely the Republican party, by foisting
such representatives upon Virginia, not
only inflicted wrong upon her people, but
offered an insult, the repetition Of which
should be rendered impossible. 1t is with
in your power to do this. At the coming
election You should exercise that power to
the utmost, not only to resent the insult,
but to stigmatize and reprobate the many
other unjust and injurious measures pro-
posed by the Republican party during the
session of Congress just ended.
THE ONE DANGER.
So apparent are many OF these iniquities
and so obnoxious are they to the people that
the outlook for Democratic success in No
vember is most assuring. We see but one
source of danger. That is the possibility
of over confidence. Over confidence begets
indifference. Defeat almost certainly fol
lows indifference. Democratic inertness is
more to be dreaded than Republican activ-
ity. In this contest we represent the rights
and liberties of the people, and we have the
votes. It depends upon you whether we
shall also have the victory.
Voting, though simple act, is a sove-
reign duty. The privilege may be personal,
but the power is correlative. It affects
many besides the individual who uses or
abuses the ballot. Its non use may be as
pernicious ns its ill-use. 1t is against indif-
ference, against failure to perform your part
in the government of our country, against
derelction in your duty to society and our
civilization, that we would most earnestly
exhort you.
If you fail to vote owing to confidence
that others will bear the heat and burden
of the struggle and thus victory be achiey-
ed, you will not only be ascribipg to these
nobler part than you yourself are willing
to perform, but will be leaving out of your
calculations the possibility that apathy and
indifference may be contagious. Thus de-
feat may ensue when victory should have
been certain.
THE "OFF YEAR."
The present is an ''off year" in politics,
and the argument will be advanced that be-
cause it is such-because the coming con-
gressional election occurs between presiden-
| tial electiops-the issues are unimportapt
and not deserving of the polling of a full
vote. Never could that argument be used
with less force. The situation and condi.
tions confute it and eliminate from it even
the semblance ofspeciousness. Not in many
years have the people of Virginia been face
to face with so many issues involving their
rights of property, their rights of self-gov-
ernment, and their liberties. Not for many
years has the determination of so many
momentous questions affecting the nation
been dependent upon an election. Not for
many years have the preservation of the
foundations of republican government as
laid by the fathers of the republic, and as
surance of the perpetuity of the superstruc-
ture they reared thereon demanded q fuller
vote.
Let it be remembered that every depart
ment of the national Government is in the
control of the Republic n party-not of the
conservative wing, but of the most reckless,
fanatical, and revolutionary element of the
lparty-an element which, as one of its ora