Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1896-07-25
FIRST DISTRICT CONVENTION.
ZION. w. A Jones Renominnted by Ac-
csamnttGn.

| T6SOAU bllC l. II Do OObS tNSSNNAA'>- -
trict of Virginia, assembled at Cape
Charles City, on Tuesday last. The
day was glorious one in every re-
spect. The city was in gala dress,
many buildings, both public and
private, were handsomely decorated,
while flags and streamers were float
ing on the breeze from every point OF
vantage. The commodious hall was
likewise profusely ornamented with
the national colorp, red, white and
blue. Cape Charles fully established
its claim as the convention city of the
district.
The convention was promptly
called to order by Lloyd Smith, Esq.,
of Northumberland, member of the
State committee Prayer was offered
by Rev. w. P. Wright, Presiding Ell
der of the M. f. Church, South. Mr..
IT. J. Downing, of Lancaster, was
elected temporary chairman, who
upon taking the position made very
forcible and eloquent speech that
was heartily applauded. A perma-
nent organization was effected by
electing Marquis Jones, Esq, of Glou'
cester, to the chair and by naming
DR.. Garland P. Moore, of Northamp.
ton. as secretary. Mr.. Jones, in ac-
cepting the craftsmanship, made a
short and we'll put address, which
was well received. Spencer F. Ro-
gers, was named by the Acco-
mac delegation as member OF the
committee on credentials, B. L. Gum
ter, Jr., on permanent organization,
and o. II. Jones on resolutions.
The Chicago platform, the course
OF Hon. ~. A. Jones and the nomi
ness of the Chicago Convention were
endorsed enthusiastically, and reso-
lutions adopted looking to the amend
ment OF the Interstate commerce
law. and to the conversion by the
Government of the battle fields
around Fredericksburg into nation
al park. Chancellor Baily, gray
haired veteran, OF Spottsylvania,
nominated Hon. William A. Jones
for Congress in a forceful and hand
some effort, that swept the conven-
ton along with him. The nomina
ton was seconded by several
gentlemen, conspicuous among
them being Il. Byrd Sears, a talented
and handsome young lawyer, of
Mathews county, whose speech was
the most finished oratorical effort OF
the day. The appreciation of the
audience was marked by an outburst
of applause not often accorded, nor
often so Justly won, by one so youth
full as Mr.. Sears. To Accomac was
reserved the honor Of the last nomi-
mating speech of the convention and
when her talented son, Hon. j. w. g.
Blackstone, arose amidst her dele
gates, massed Immediately in front of
the chairman's seat, there was such
a recognition of Accomac and her
gifted spokesman by the immense
audience as would have made any
citizen within her borders proud OF
their county's prestige and her tai
ented young citizen who voiced her
sentiments on that floor.
Hon. w. a. Jones, was upon LII otlon
of DR.. Quesenbury, of Caroline, nomi-
mated by reclamation. A committee
having been appointed to notify Mr..
Jones, who was in town accompanied
by his wife, of his nomiL stion, and
conveying at the same time from the
convention an invitation to address
that body, he soon made his appear
ance in the hall, and was conducted
to the platform amidst perfect
tumult of applause. Mr.. Jones felt
and fully appreciated, as was evi
denced by his voice and manner this
spontaneous outburst OF the love and
appreciation of his people. He made
noted speech in many respects, and
one that in some uttcrances marks q
new departure from the usual plat
form utterances of democratic speak
ers. He spoke in strong terms of
those of his party associates in Con-
gress, who acting in concert with the
gold standard republican party,
thereby enabled the money power
OF the land to corner gold, depreciate
silver and paralyze the industries Of
the country. He spoke of the Chicago
platform, as a new declaration of in
dependence for the American people,
and Of the nominee of that conven.
ton as q Moses to lead the people Of
this land out of the misery and de
SPAR than now overwhelmened them.
H. solemnly declared, that he firmly
believed that the men who controlled
the actions of the Chicago Conven-
ton were guided by the hand OF
Ommipotence itself, for no mortal
unless so guided and so protected,
could have resisted the powerful
pressure that was, made upon the
delegates to that convention by the
combined money power of the East
to betray the sacred trust placed in
their hands by the oppressed people
of the land. The republican party,
he said, had absolutely no relief to
offer the suffering people, that pro
lection their vaunted panacea for all
our woes, had been tried again and
again, and that it has miserably
failed to give the relief promised by
its advocates; that in consequence it
had again and a gain been repudiated
+1,o ,oo,>1o. ~ hos haan in