Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-06
vice-President Stevenson.

That must have boon an admirable
speech which Mr. STEVENSON made in the
Watterson Clubhouse at Louisville on
Thursday evening last. Such speaker 10
a tower of strength to the Democratic
party in the campaign. Everybody expects
the candidate tor Vice-President to make
speeches If he is n captivating orator as
MIR. STEVENSON evidently is, and everybody
desires to hear what he has 20 say. WHITE
LAW REID, the Republican nominee, would
contrast unfavOrably with Mr.. STEVENSON
in a Joint debate of which, however, there
Is no prospect. seeing that MIR. REID is not
likely 10 accept an invitation to lock
horns with the Democratic nominee.
We knew that Mr.. STEVENSON was n bold
man. The thousands of Republicans whom
he decapitated under the administration
of Mr.. CLEVELAND will testify 90 his nerve
and his boldness. He was Democrat
then AS be is now, and held that under q
Democratic President the Offices should be
filed by the men who were respons oeiof
tho proper administration of the govern
ment. Ia his speech at Louisville the
other night be began by saying that he'
like ABBAHlM LINCOLN. was kentuckian.
Rather a singular boast for sound Demo
Graf to make in rebel ~ State. lie did
not stop g. contradict the stories which
had been put into circulation connecting
him with rebel organizations and - rebels
themselves, but boldly and unhesitatingly
showed that these stories were necessarily
false. seeing that he was loyal Unionist
from the beginning to the ending of the war
between the States. When the great
Illinois senator, STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS,
ranged himself on the side of the Union,
and declared himself for the most
thorough preparations for war, MIR.
STEVENSON, who was devoted 10 his for
tunes, ranged himself on the same side and
declared for the same policy. Those who
recollect how the Democrats of Illinois
always followed STEPHEN A. DoUGLAs, and
almost worshlpped him, will recall ut
once the vast influence which he exercised
IN favor Of restoring the Union by force If
necessary, and how his counsels to that
effect strengthened the Union cause and
made successful war possibll-
ity. All leaders, Republicans and
Democrats, or rather, Republicans.
Democrats, Old-Line Wings, and
what not, had had their eyes turned upon
MIR. DOUGLAS, and when he spoke he spoke
for war as preferable to disunion. Hevolced
the sentiment of the northern masses. OF
course ADLM STEVENSON WAS one OF the
men who sided with Mr.. DOUGLAS. 1t Is
incredible that living in MIR. DOUGLASS
State, and having supported him through
thick and thin ia his great popular sena-
torial contest with MIR. LINCOLN, Mr.
STEVENSON should have been anything else
than a Union man from the beginning to
the ending Of the war between the States
II he had been an Indiana Democrat his
position might have been different, but as
a follower of STLPHEN A. DOUGLAS he could
not have been anything else than Union
man. Let that story be buried out OF
sight. STEVENSON was u DOUGLAS man ana
therefore a Union man.
But rs soon rs grIm-visaged war had
smoothed his wrinkled front, MIR. STEVEN
son became an advocate of peace policy.
lie held that the perfect restoration OF the
Union was TO be wrought out not III the
spirit of hste. but in the loftiesI
spirit of patriotism. Such man
was necessarily opposed to the
rascally reconstruction measures, and was
a real friend of a true and lasting peace
between the North and the South. And
il goes without saving that such man Is
opposed to the force bill, defeated IN the
last Congress. but revived IN the recent
Republican national convention aud made
plank in the national platform laid down
at Minneapolis.
We some time ago suggested that Mr..
STEVENSON should be invited to make at
least one speech in Virginia during the
pending contest. His speech at Louisville
shows that he is regular Hoosier
stumper." IRt us have him in Virginia II
possible. He is worthy to hold mp the
hands Of Mr.. CLEVELAND.