The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09

Union tonight in the interest of the
Saratoga ticket. Tho meeting was pre-
sided over by. Ex-President Cleveland
and addressed by Governor Hill.
Early in the evening the large hall
was crowded and Ex-President Glove
sland in calling the meeting to order
said:
MY Fellow Citizens: 1 acknowledge
with much satisfaction the compliment
paid me by my selection as your presid-
ing officer tonight. 1 am glad to meet
an assemblage of my ellow-townsmen
on an occasion when their thoughts
turn to the political situation which
confronts them, and at time when
their duty as citizens, as we'll as mem
bers of grand political organization,
should be o subject CT their serious
consideration.
'1f may be INDUCED few moments
l shall occupy that much of your time
in presenting some suggestions touch
ing tho condition and responsibilities of
Democracy to the people of the country
and the obligation and duty at this par
ticular time of tho Democracy of sour
State. Tho Democratic party has at all
times been my profession, and by tradi-
ton the party of the people. 1 say by
profession and tradition, but by no
means intend to hint in tho use of this
expression that in its conduct and &C
ton it has failed to justify its profession
or been recreant to it's traditions.
"It must, however, be admitted that
we have had our seasons of revival
when consciousness of what tcue Dem
ocracy really means has been especially
awakened, and when we have been un-
usually uroused to lively appreciation
OF the aggressiveness and activity
which conscience eXacts Of those who
protested Democratic faith and who are
thus enlisted in the peoples cause. We
contemplate tonight such revival and
the stupendous results which have thus
far attended it.
"In view Of these things we cannot be
honest and sincere and fail to see that
stern and inexorable duty is now at
our door. We saw the money of the
people unnecessarily extorted from
them under guise of taxation. We saw
that this was tho result of scheme
porpetrated for the purpose of exacting
tribute from tho poor and, for the ben
eft of the rich. We saw growing out
of this scheme wholesale debauchery
and corruption of the people whom it
impoverished.
1--WE saw party which advocated and
defended this wrong gaining and hold
ing power in tho Government by shame
less appeals to tho selfishness which it
invited. We saw the people actually
Furnishing the bonds of misrepresenta-
ton and misconception which held
them, and We saw sordidness and per-
version of all that constitutes good
citizenship on every hand and sturdy
Americanism in jeopardy. We saw a
planning to retain partisan ascendancy
by throttllng and. destroying freedom
and Integrity of suffrage through most
radical and reckless legislation.
eve saw waste and extravaganza
raiding the public Treasury and iusti-
fled in official places, while economy in
Government expenditures was ridiculed
by those who held in trust tho peoples
money. Wo saw the national assem-
blage of the peoples representatives
transformed into q nero semblage of q
Legislative assembly by the brute force
of violently created majority and by
unpreced ented arbitrary rulings, while
it was jeeringly declared by those who
usurped it's functions to be no longer
deliberativo body.
Then it was that tho Democratic
party, standing forth to do determined
battle against these abuses which
threatened the welfare and happiness
of the people, called upon them to trust
1T, and promised them that tho warfare
should be relentless and uncompromis-
ing. AS tho results of the struggle then
entered upon, never has the resistless
force of awakened thought of our coun-
trymen been moro completely demon
strated, and never has the irresistible
strength of the principles of Democracy
been more fully exemplified. From
West and from East came tidings OF
victory.
''In the popular branch of tho next
Congress the party which latoly i'm
pudently arrogatcd t, itself the domino
ton Of that body will fill hardly more
than one-fourth of it's seats. Demo-
cratic governors occupy tho enemies
strongholds in Iowa, Massachusetts,
Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan. In
Pennsylvania tho election of a Demo-
cratic governor presented conclusive
proof of Republican corruption ex-
posed and Republican dishonesty de-
tected, but with all these results of lust
and fearless Democratic policy our work
Is not yet completely done; and want
to suggest to You that any relaxation of
efforts within the lines established by
the national Democracy will BIO viola
ton of the pledges we gave the people
when we invited their cooperation and
undertook their cause.
Il do not forget that we are gathered
together to ratify State nominations
and that wo are Immediately concerned
with the State campaign. 1t seems to
me, however, that while national CUES
tions of greatest Importance are yet I'M
settled and when we are on the eve of
al L., \. 'ol.