The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-16
COL. HoeE a BAcksLIDER.
He Turns Republican and De-
nounces the Administration.

Col. John Hampton Hoge, late con
sui to Annoy, China, has renounced his
allegience to the Democratic party and
appeared before the Republican city
committee Wednesday night and ton
dered his services to that party.
Colonel Hoge was seen yesterday by q
TINES reporter, but he declined to make
o sta tement for publication, saying that
ne would be heard from publicly on his
political views, and that he was merely
a private citizen and could soc no reason
why his political opinions should be
aired through the press.
He admitted, however, that he had
joined the Republican ranks and said
there was no reason why he should re-
main in the Democratic party. Warm
views quite freely. The substance of
Colonel Hoge's remarks to the reporter
is as follows:
There is but one party and half in
existence in the United States, tho Re-
publican party and the ragged edge of
the Mugwumpery composed of Mr..
Cleveland in front, Walter .. Gresham
in the middle, and Wayne Weigh
holding the tail. The man that can
swallow that kind of a political con-
glom Grafton, that Is without principle
and without q policy, they pulling in
one direction. tho so cslled Democratic
Congress pulling in the opposite direc
tion, while every financial, pecuniary
and industrial interest of the country
being pulled to pieces, the country upon
the verge of bankruptcy and the people
destitute and on the point of starvation,
ca in TN,
this is Democracy and Democratic rule
God save the country and deliver us
from our friends.
The day OF sentimental politics is
over and the only sensible thing fer the
South 10 do is to view the situation
from business, practical common
sense stand point | certainly propose
to do so, ard in doing it l exercise the
right of q free-born American citizen,
free TO think and act for myself, free
fem all personal and political ooliga-
tiols and plainly see what every intel
ligent man must see, that Democracy
in its modern accep alton is q practical
failure.
They demonstrated to tho world
their utter inability to manage the AZ.
fairs OF the country. a full and fair
opportunity has been given them. More
tHau % year las OGSoeu Gnu LH0 Ills Oh
the people, instead of being improved,
have grown steadily worse, as the result
of oad judgment and want of fixed
policy and principle. The Democratic
platform of 1892 has been thrown into
the political sewers. !
hMs Are in tho tender mercies Of |
Dam ocratic misrule, which forcibly re-
c.lls that scriptural teaching The |
tender mercies Of che wicked are cruel"
Why from all tho boasted intelligence |
of the Dem ocratic party that has stood |
tho storm of Republican victory and |
Democratic defeat, bravcly fighting for |
the triumph of Democratic principles, |
when victory came to the Democratic |
cause those great leaders were turned |
down and the counsellers and advisers
of tho Democratic adm inistra ton was
sought for and found among the fallen |
timber of the Republican party. Then
again, in Bible language, 1 may say,
Surely the rejected stone has become |
tho head Of the corner
Continuing, the colonel said: 81 see |
in the Evening World of to-day that |
am mentioned as probable candidate |
for commemorative attorney. That is |
without foundation, except in the fancy |
of the editor of the World. l am no |
candidate for commonwealth 5 attorney,
for Congress-, or Tor anything else.
III was twice elected commemorative |
attorney of Montgomery county and re-
signed before the second term was half |
expired, and surely would not become |
r candidate for what l voluntarily re-
signed"