Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-09-28
SPEECH OF THOs. F. GRADY.
Tsmmany's Silver-Tongued Orator
Speaks in Staunton-He Makesa
Fine Spaech.

As Hon. w. C. P. Breckenridge was call
# by the National Democratic Committee to Ne
c York, his appointment to speak here on Ia
b Wednesday, Sept. 2lst, was filled by Thos
b Grady, of New York city, prominent al
i able and eloquent member of the Tamman
organization. He was received with great el
' thusiasm. When he entered the COURTEOUS
escorted by Capt. John N. Opie, Chairman
the Democratic County Committee, and othe
prominent Democrats, there was great chez
ing, and, as proposed by Capt. Jas. Bumga
diner, three cheers were giving successfully fo
Tammany, Senator D. B. Hill, and CLEVELAND
He was briefly introduced by Capt. Opie a
a Tammany tiger without spot, who ha
come here to assure the Democracy that tn
Empire State of New York was safe and woul
cast its vote for Cleveland and Stevenson.
Mr. Grady then delivered an able and clio
quent speech which was not only strong il
argument and eloquent in expression, but
sparkled with genuine Irish wit and humor
which was frequently greeted with great ap
plause, and was universally recognized as one
of the best and most entertaining speeches
ever delivered here We have space only tc
give mere sketch of the line of thought, and
not its eloquent passages and coruscations Of
| of wit
After thanking the audience for their very
cordial greeting, he commenced by saying
that, as the Chairman has stated, he came
from New York to assure Virginia that the 36
electoral votes of New York would be cast for
Cleveland and Stevenson, and for the cause
and principles they represent. This, he said,
was no time for dissensions, or personal disap-
pointments, or side issues, for our country
calls. our liberties are at stake, and he felt sure
that Virginia, the brightest and best of all the
Republic, can be depended upon to do her
patriotic duty in this important crisis.
He knew, he said, what it was to have IA
vorite and to be defeated. He was sorely dis
gruntled when Cleveland was nominated, and
would have been in Europe, but for the cholera
scare, for he then thought that defeat was in
evitable; but then came the Second sober
thought" and he saw that with united action
victory could be obtained.
Go back, he said, two years to- get the gauge
of this campaign. Then the Republicans went
before the people with the Force bill, the Nc
Kinley bill, and their wasteful extravaganza.
when the people rebuked the Force bill and
condemned the Mckinley bill, and the Repub-
licans were so utterly defeated that their par
ty was reduced to mere faction.
In the mother countrv-considering my
ancestry only stepmother to me-though q
monarchy, when the ruling party was defeat
ed by majority of only 40 members in the
House of Commons, every minister gave up
his seal of Office; but when the Republicans
were defeated not by 40 merely, but by lao,
no minister gave up his seal of Office
1t is the purpose of this campaign to make
effective the victory of 1890. Elect Cleveland,
and they will give up their seals, never, never
to take them up again.
The atrocity and infamy of the Force bill
will not be abandoned by the Republican par
ty. They await with eagerness the opportu-
nifty to fasten it upon you. The fraud and
expressions of the Mckinley bill will be con-
tinued in contempt of public opinion.
He was not, he said, Virginian, wished
he were,-and had not the inspiration of the
spirit of patriotism that all Virginians, de-
scendants of patriotic forefathers, should
have and he Is not a true Virginian whose
vice does not ring in clarion tones for popular
rights and personal liberty. The Republicans
object to our calling their elections bill a
Force bill You know something about force
even since the war. They want fair and free
elections? Think of it. The party that stole
the Presidency in 1876 say they want fair and
free elections! II is enough to make the an
gels weep. After the passage of the Force
bill there will be no more fair and free cleo
tons in the South. The Oldest and most re-
spected citizen, whom every one knows to be
qualified voter, may go to the polls, when a
deputy appointed by Federal machinery. may
object, and he is denied the right to vote.
On the contrary, another whom you know
not to be entitled to vote, is allowed to vote.
The people may elect man, and one who
was not even candidate may be given the Of
flee. The elections should be under the cen
troll of the people, and no party should have
the power to perpetuate itself. Stamp out
now and forever the power to destroy our
liberties at the polls, and then we may con-
slider other questions.
Can Virginians hesitate to do their duty
when their liberties are at stake? If so, blot
out the glorious names on the pages of her
history.
The Virginians in colonial times objected to
unjust taxation, and took the field and faced
all the dangers of the revolutionary war, from
which clash of arms sprang the best govern
ment ever devised.
Some seem to like tax The tariff is a tax,
and most unjust tax. They promise the
farmer the gift of home-market. The home
market means that he can kept his produce at
he me, because it wont pay to take it away.
Tax means take. take and it has no back
action.
The idea of the Republican party is to tai
YOU at its own sweet will and as much as pos
sible. The Democratic idea is that you shoult
be taxed only to that amount necessary to de
| fray the expenses of the government econom
ically administered, and for no other thar
government purposes. The Republicans claim
the light to tax you for other purposes.
There is no way to get money for the gov
ernment except to take it from the pockets
the people.
In 1861, owing to a little unpleasantnes
existing at that time, the government needed
great deal of money, and put a tax upol
everything. Wealth was then taxed as it ha'
never been before, and that was the onl.
pleasant recollection be had of the war.
Since the war many of the taxes have beel
taken wholly off the rich, and others reduced
whilst they have been increased on the masse
and poor people. The Republican policy is Ii
/ behalf of the rich, and discriminates agalns
the poor, whereas the Democratic policy
that of equality-taxing all in proportion t
| their ability to pay.
The poor were taxed through the high tarifl
which imposed greater per cent. OF duty OF
the articles they consumed. When the pee
pie complained of the burden OF taxation
they were told to grin and bear it for awhile
and when the war was over they would be n
| ieyed." There is an impression that the wa
was over q years ago, and so it was SO far
the combatants were concerned, but those VIII
| h ad no time to take part then have continue
it to this day.