Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-17

Remarks Made by Mr.. Heckc ut the
CITY Committee Meeting.

At the meeting Of the city Democratic
Committee last Friday night. the recent
victory i'm Jackson Ward was, as
might have been expected, the
prominent topic. and the Jackson
Ward members OF the committee
were the lions Of the hour and
were congratulated on every hand on
their splendid management Of the cam
paign. Mr. Henry j. Heeke, the we'll
known Brook-avenue groceryman. who
was one Of the prominent eyangeists in
the political revival in the part Of the
city Familiarity known as Africa" was
in particularly high spirits and surprised
his colleagues by delivering an impTomptu
speech anent the victory in his ward. BY
"a unanimous vote Of the committee the
speech was ordered 10 be spread upon the
records of the committee. and, by the
courtesy Of the committee. the Dispatch
is permitted TO publish exclusively that
part of the record containing Mr. Heeko
grafton.
Mr. Heeke. rising TO a question Of
privilege said: Mr. President and Cen
tlemen: Homer has told us how mighty
Hum fell before the cOnquering arms Of
Greece. Plutarch has given TO the world
the story Of LeOndas and the pass OF
Thermopylae In later days that sweet
est of bards, Tennyson. has sung TO
us OF the charge OF the Light Brigade"
at Baiaclava: but who shall tell us OF the
glorious victory in Jackson Ward In the
ides Of May? That the history of that
memorable triumph may be handed down
10 our children and our chldren's chill
drel, I break the long silence and speak TO
you of the day that tried mems souls But
speak not for myself. though / was where
the fray was bloodiest all through the
long hours OF that summer day. But
whore was that degenerate descendant OF
the Irish kings who. scarce a fortnight
ago. with faint heart and ashen LIS
cOunselled peace with Africa? Let echo
answer. He was not at the First Pre-
cinct for / was there. when James Bahcn
rallied his falling cohorts for one last.
desperate effort; not at the Second Pre-
cinct, for / was there. when John Mitchell
fell. bleeding at every vein. and saw
I'm death his eyelids close. calmly as TO q
nights rcpOse. like flowers at set OF sun.
not at the Third Precinct. for ! was
there. maddened with continuous con-
nict and drunk with victory; nor was he
al the Fourth Precinct. for ] was there
also when the smoke Of the battle had
drifted away. and the red sun sank be-
hind the western hills. and bade Us good
hlehI an, / bvtNlhk me. that peace
loving scion of the house of Brian Boru
was. like Achilles. skulkins iu his tent
while others bore the heat and burden ~
the day / could 90 on thus forever. but
what boots IL now 10 give utterance 10
these bitter thoughts, Grim-visaged war
hath smoOthed its wrinkled front. and all
The clouds that lowered DER our house
in the deep bosom Of the ocean buried
The Democrats of Jackson Ward extend
10 their brethren OF Madison, Marshall.
Monroe. Jefferson. and Clay the hand OF
fellowship--they have come. they have
seen. they have conquered. In haec OHM
mcminisse juvabit.'
Moved. that Mr.. Heeke's eloquent and
impasslOned philippe be spread upon the
records. Agreed to unanimously"