The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-08-14
Nathan Parkins' Speech.

The Florence, Ala, Herald, of August 9th, has
the following reference to speech made by Mr.
Nathan Parkins, rising young lawyer OF that
city and son of John H. Parkins, Esq, of Au-
gusta county, Va. Both the father and son are
Republicans, well a brother of Nathan,
who resides in the county Young Parkins voiced
the sentiment of large majority Of the intelli-
gent, thoughtful Republicans of the South in
his position against the Elections bill, as re-
ported by the Herald. 1t says:
Mr. Nathan Parkins a prominent young law
yer of Florence who offered a resolution in the
Republican County Convention on Saturday,
condemning the Lodge Bill, made a strong
speech i'll support of the resolution He said,
among other things,"I give my whole heart and
soul to these resolutions. am Southern Re
publican and have been SO all my life. This
force bill is not intended to force men to do
right but to force bloodshed, dissenson and a
reign of terror on the South. The BILL if enact
ed, will be disastrous in its consequences to all
alike. Every end Of the bill will be defeated.
II passed. it will so SOdify the South that it will
take twenty-five years for the Republican party
to recover from it,
The brainiest man in the party, James G.
| Blaine, has taken a firm stand against the bill
Some Of our most prominent Southern Republi-
cans, notably Mr.. Coleman, of Louisiana, have
opposed and do bitterly oppose it, II this bill is
not defeated in the Senate, would not give a
snap of my finger for Republican prospects in the
South The mines, furnaces ana factories OF Viz
| Force Bill They need peace. Alabama Is in the
same category with Virginia. II the Lodge Elec-
|
viii be dissension, halt in progress in which
all are Interested and finally ignominious de-
feat for the party We represent"
The resolution to which Mr.. Parkins spoke
and which was unanimously adopted is as fol
lows:
Lauderdale county, Ala, in convention assem-
bled, re- Affirming, as we do. our allegiance te
principles of protective tariff, improvement
of rivers and harbors by the General Govern
ment the upbnilding OF our national commerce
| all, a free ballot and a fair cOunt-that yet we
as Republicans, do most solemnly condemn the
Lodge election bill. recently passed by Congress
That we respectfully, but firmly, protest against
! its passage by the Republican Senate, and that
every iegitimate means That we believe its ef
feots would be futile, that its practical opera
i tions would be fatal to domestic peace, fatal t(
Southern industrial development, and fatal tt
all hopes of Republican success and supremacy
in the South. But we do earnestly favor a fret
ballot and fair count.
Referring again to the meeting the Herait
says:
NAL A. G. Negley, who presided at the meet
| ing of the Lauderdale county Republican Con
| vention on Saturday, is not only man OF not'
ence's largest undertakings and representing
large interests, but he is veteran of the civil
war, who wore the blue and backed his opinions
with his blood O distinguished member of thu
G. A. r., and dyed in the wool Republican. II
his speech secOnding the resolutions condemn
ing expressions
II are not what the Republican party Of Ten
nessee or OF New York may have done, but we
as Republicans cannot afford to have this Bill
passed; it will work our ruin: 1T is unnecessary
atncaed for and lnauise, and its passage will tOl
the death knell of the Republican party. Wh'
Is there that says we have not fair count IL
the 9Th District Of Alabama? No one doubts m.
Republcanism, but have some Of my staunch
est and warmest friends among Southern Rem
ocrats, and this Bill Is intended to break off al
friendly intercourse between Democrats ant
Republicans. unqualihedly favor the resolu
tion.
Such expressions as these from a man Of Mai
Negley's standing, and supported by the actor
of a convention in which the cOlOred vote pre-
dominated three to one, should be convincing a.
to the feeling Of the members of the Republican
party in Lauderdale county. Their action dis
plays wisdom, GOODNESS and Judgment, and set
an example OF patriotism that it would be wei
for other counties to follow
Among the delegates in the Convention, which
was to perfect organization and send delegates
to the District Convention to be held at Deca
| tur, was Mr. Gibbons, son Of C. NJ Gihhens, Esq.
Treasurer of the city of Winchester, Va, and
life long Republican.