The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-27
DEMOCRATS RALLY
econcluded from Second page.)

project and profit by all that Is vile and
low; that as party we are allied with
ths most vicious classes, and that a re-
turn TO power OF she Democratic party
means the reign of lust and crime and
the utter annihilation of all that is noble
and yirtuous in our city; that stealing
VIII be the order OF the day and jobbery
and municipal dishonesty tho logical se-
ouence OF Democratic victory.
but this cannot be true. because the
men VINO stand for election on the Demo-
cratic ticket are cfsizons whose past re-
cord for good morals Is in itself pledge
OF good government; such a government
as shall be based upon the highes, moral
virtues and most sound and broad
economic principles.
But It has been charged that our
homes will be ruined by rum; that our
sons will become drunkards and our
daughters size victims of debased and
debauched husbands when these Demo-
orats Gomez nto power, as If only a DEM
ocrat loved a dram, and no one else
drank whiskey.
TT is charged that then too the Sab
bath day, that day SO dear to every
American will be- de:ec:ated. and that
the sanctfty OF the Sabbath Will be sue
ceeded by .t?e sin OF the wicked.
But let US zee. What, gentlemen. is
the record of the Democratic members OF
the present Councils as to whiSkey and
the proper observance of the Sabbath?
| ann i@nppy TO say that they voted to
adopt the liquor ordinance when proper
ly amended, which ordinance not only
provides the amount of l.cense to be
paid in order to sell liquor. but to whom
It shall be sold-that is. ti,ai 1t shall not
be solid to minors and # sold that A
heavy penalty shall be paid by the
trar6gressor.
And as to the Sabbath, taat not only
shall all bars, restaurants. places OF bu:.-
ness. etc. be closed at midnight on Sal.-
urday night. but that these and all other
placez OF secular resort and p:otit stall
close a that hour and shall remain
closed till Monday morning
But is this all? No. These Demo-
crafts in our Councils have not only sup
ported these meafurea, but they ,:,sve
heartily supported all mea sures that had
for Their ain and end the purifying OF
The moral atmosphere of GU. community
ana ehe advancement of our Important
commercial and industr.l interests.
Les us now turn for few moments
TO 'hAe conS!dera ton of a pers onal mat
te:. l have been charged by the Pilot
with having acted in bad faith toward
the Reform Administrator, having be-
trayed tile trus, that had been reposed
IN me by my constituency, and that or
gan has had the temenity to call me to
account for having said that l not only
never been anything ese
NOW l distinctly cay. and do not
Tear successful contra d.ctton. that | can
produce. should ! so elect, such CONNIE
tent witnesses as 20 establiEl beyond per-
adventure the fact that before finally
agreeing 10 allow my name to be put on
the P:ohiblt.on Reform ticket, that
Informed enc of the leaders of shat oar
ty. who came to see me, that l was then
democrat. and had always been one.
To say tilat as a Prohib!t.onists
fougnt 1.-THE Democratic Tickle. Is TO allege
mat which cannot ibe proven, except In
so far as the whole movement at that
time was conteg. by TIE voters in gen
eral, asa!n.t the manner of Government
then in vogue.
Now, as 20 the pledge. That pledge
was honestly. given. and. as its !mpor.
was explained 20 me before ! signed &
mas been conSc!ent!ou5ly kept. assertions
20 the contrary notw.t1 sta nding and
when some twenty months ago va:
called to an account for alleged viola
tons OF this pledge, which | contandsi
that l had kept, / demanded az my nigh.
J'at my name should be taken from d,
which reque;l, was refused. And. why +?
Almost as soon As the great victory CT
1894 was won. the party that was ulacsd
In power by the Democratic voter: of the
CITY of Norfolk. some $500 in number
began to employ ways and means ITO ad-
vance Prohibition distinct!vely 10 ale
utter disregard OF the immense numbe,
OF Democrats who had made the success.
of Prohibition Reform possible
To this objected. claiming tha: the
bat,le was in the interest of reform, and
that the Will of the people as expressed
IN the election should not be perverted
but that the best men should be elected
by the Councils for the offices Within
the gift of those bodies.
Party building was not an issue be-
fore the people. and to take victory for
municipal reform and transform il if
possible into prohibition party by
dividing the spells of office with that end
III view, was TO take mean advantage
of an unsuspecting and confiding con-
stituency. What moral right had this
prohibition party who We're enjoying the
fruits OF splendid victory won by Dem
ocrat tic votes, the strict Prohibition vote
at this time not exceeding 500. 10 take
that victory, and by the partisan distri-
button of the emoluments of office. seek
to perpetuate the Prohibition party, or
by political legerdemain to transform
themselves into the present Citizens
Reform party?
Now. gentlemen. if consistent eff
forts toward good government and vot-
ton constitutes bad faith, If voting on
all important measures. both political
and commercial. with the end in view
of securing the best results for the city
which l serve must be reckoned as