The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-17

ciall--The Democrats Of Birmingham
were astir at an early hour this morn
ing. The approaching visit OF Senator
Hill had boon heralded to all the
people of Alabama, and incoming trains
from, early night until morning, brought
to Birmingham enthusiastic Democrats.
An escort, consisting of Frank
O'Brien, proprietor of the Birmingham
Age Herald, and several other promi-
nent Democrats. had met Senator Hill
at Jackson last evening and had accom-.
panied him over the State line to Bir-
mingham. 1t was $40 this morning
when the train, bearing Senator Hill
and his party, rolled into the Birming.
ham station, but largo crowd had
already assembled and tho Senator was
loudly chcered as he and his party
passed to carriages, which conveyed
the visitors to hotels.
Here the visiting party became tho
guests Of tho Hill Club of BIRMINGHAM.
and were objects of true Southern hospi'
tality. Senator Hill was assigned by the
management of the hotel to the bridal
chambers.
The streets wero crowded when, at
ll:30 this forenoon, q committee of
nine leading citizens, headed by Colonel
Hewitt. and a delegation of the Irish
Club, led by w. p. German, escorted
Senator Hill and his party to the opera
house, whore the meeting of tho day
was to be held.
The house was lavishly decorated for
the occasion, the most conspicuous
emblem being the national colors and
Emerald Isle.
Prolonged cheers from the multitude
greeted tho appearance of Senator Hill
and his party. AT signal from the
manager the band played an air of
welcome. To Colonel Hewitt was as
signed the honor of introducing Sena-
tor Hill.
The colonel performed this duty in a
very pleasant manner, paying q high
tribute to the distinguished guest.
After the applause which had greeted
bis appearance had subsidized, Senator
Hill spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Democrats
of birmingham: / do not disguise the
pleasure which l feel in being offered
the opportunity of visiting this beauti
full city. If there is any spot in tue
Southern States which can properly be
termed the new South it is this civ of
Birmingham.
81 have heard of tho wonderful in
dustries of your locality and of your in
creasing population and wealth and r. =
sources OF every kind, but have not re-
allied the m SO fully until my visit at
this very time.
when l was invited by the Legisla.
turo OF the State of Mississippi to ad-
dress that body upon the political is.
sues Of the hour, l accepted the invita-
ton with on intention of stopping off
here for few moments, if offered the
opportunity, that l might see for no ysel.
what the patriotic, energetic and enter.
prising citizens of this city had accom-.
piished Your triumph here in every
department. is the wonder of the world.
There is no example of it in history.
The place where this city stands, only
ten years ago, was an open plain and
now we find one of the most thriving
cities of the whole South am here to
speak word, not for any individual
or individuals, but to speak in behalf
of the principles of the great party to
which am proud to belong. If there
is any wrong in this, am guilty of that
offense. The chairman, who introduced |
me, has stated something of my early
history.
ITO SIdlou NOW started Oil In life, |
not exactly like this but something like |
1t. Ihat started off without anything
in this world, and | am here to tell Won
that have held my own ever since.
My sympathies are with tho people
who have grown up from poverty, and
who now have q large influence in the |
control of the public affairs of the conn |
try.
II am rejoiced to know that there are
no classes in this great land of ours.
am rejoiced to know that it is q country
where the people rule and where eyerv |
citizen, no matter how humble or uncui- |
tured he may be. has the same rights as !
the wealthjest citizen OF the land.
THAT is the Democracy of which I |
propose to speak upon this occasion. IL |
has been we'll said by another that
the democracy is sentiment not to be
appalled, or compromised. 1t knows no
baseness; it covers to no danger. Il is
destructible of despotism. 1t ia tho
sole conseryator of liberty, labor and
prosperity. 1t is the sentiment of eoual
rights, of equal charlottesville verv
law OF nature itself, pervading the land.
I'm word, this Is the sentiment which
actuates the great political organiza-
tion OF which l speak of to-day Itisa
party with grand history. Other par.
ties have come and gone; the old Fed
eral party came and went; the Wbip
party followed and disappeared; the
Know nothing party came for a while
and then was wiped off the face of the
earth, but the old Democratic party,
founded by Jefferson and sustained
by Jackson, exists to this very hour.
Defeat has not disheartened its mem.
bers. Disasters have not terrified
them. 1t survives every disaster and
IA conoae forth 70 a.,