Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-10-03
Speech of Senator David B. Hill.

The following are extracts from the
recent speech of Hon. David B. Hill
before the Democratic State conven-
ton of New York
We also declared in favor of repeal
of that last relic of post bellum par
tisanship, the Federal election law,
which invaded State rights, menaced
the liberties of the citizen, multiplied
Federal officials, involved the expendi-
ture of millions of money, continued
sectional animosities, and were as i'll
conceived, unnecessary and impotent
for the prevention of fraudulent prac
tices and the promotion of pure cleo
lions as they were vexatious and often
sive in their enforcement.
| / point you to the fact that the Dem
ocratic party, although entrenched for
four years with the distribution of all
the official patronage incident to the
execution of this powerful law, yet,
with patriotic self-sacrifice, deliberate
ly cast aside all the power, influence,
and patronage involved therein, subor-
ldinating temporary selfish interests to
the public good, wiped those laws from
| the statute books within the first year
of our administration, and at the ensu-
| ing congressional elections the spec
tacle will be witnessed, for the first
time in twenty-four years. of State cleo
lions, conducted as they, of right, ought
to be, without Federal interference,
dictation, or intimidation = without
Federal supervisors, marshals, or other
obnoxious Federal agents or instru-
mentalities, but with State officials,
selected or chosen by the people them
selves, according to State laws and
usages, an eXemplification of the prin-
ciples of home rule in States, and a vim
| dicatiOn of the doctrine of sovereignty
| of the States, as it was recognized by
| our fathers, from the foundation OF our
| Government until that evil day in the
sixties, when the Republicans, although
a minority party, owing to our own oil
visions, accidentally obtained control
of the country We rejoice that, with
Democratic national aseendancy, the
country consistently returns to the
simple methods, the sound principles,
and the correct administration of pub
lie offices which characterized the
earlier and better days of the Republic
These are Democratic and patriotic
sentiments. The following, relating tc
religious tests, is also put well, and
meets with cordial response from ev
cry right thinking man:
The Democratic party in this State
stands, as it has ever stood, for that re
ligious liberty which is guaranteed tC
all by our Constitution, and l arra1gn
the Republican party for its covert
sympathy and encouragement OF thai
prescriptive spirit which attempts to
set up religious test as qualification
for official preferment in this land OF
freedom, and which is propagated by a
certain secret political organization,
which deserves execration at the hands
of every fair-minded man, but which
the Republicans last week distinctly
refused, though urged, to condemn
Our duty is plain, and we shall perform
it, and if, perchance, adherence to the
right brings disaster, we shall bravely
accept our fate, and take our places in
private station by the side of our pre-
scribed fellow-ci citizens until reason, jus
tice, and true religious freedom shall
again resume their away, as surely they
will.
There is nothing more detestable
than what our statute of religious free
dom calls:
1.-THE impious presumption of legis
lators and rulers, civil as well as eccle
siastical, who being themselves but
fallible and uninspired men, have as
sumed dominion over the faith of 9th
eTs, setting up their own opinions and
modes of thinking as the only true and
infallible, and as such, endeavoring tC
impose them on others, have establish
ed and maintained false religion over
the greatest part of the world, and
through all time"