Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-07-29
A Few Words for Mr.. Tucker.

the people uttered against him. His
course in Congress has been honest,
upright, and, in our opinion, brilliant.
No member of the present Congress
from Virginia has attracted as much
favorable comment; none have any
where shown more fearlessness in their
advocacy of right; and none have
made speeches which display more
ability. Why then should there be a
change? For no other reason than to
give some other would-be Congress
men the place. 1t is indisputable that
no matter how brilliant; no matter
what peculiar talent one carries into
that body; no matter how honest and
able he may be, he must almost invari-
ably serve probationary term, before
his influence is felt, or before he can
do the slightest thing for his constitu-
ency. Mr.. Tucker has his enemies as
any man in public life is bound to
have; he has covetous eyes on his
position; and he has the enmity posi-
bly, of disappointed office-seekers, but
his enemies are personal enemies, and
his principal opposition that OF the
place hunter. In what portion OF his
district have the people assembled to
demand change, or, if demanding a
change, what reasons have been urged?
None. Absolutely none save within
the last few weeks, and these only on
account of his views on the question
of finance. Let it be remembered that
not long since the democrats of this
country we're not a unit on that
question, and if there be some who
thought they knew all about it, and
now march by right at the head of the
procession, there wei e a vast multitude
who knew they did not know all about
it, and are yet willing to admit some
ignorance and take an humble place
in the ranks.
On the question of free and unlimit-
ed coinage of silver at the ratio of 16
to l., Mr.. Tucker is said, to have
wavered. Was this a crime? If so
many of us are criminals. On no other
question embodied in the Chicago
platform has there been a moment
when his bitterest enemy dared charge
disloyalty. On no great democrat
ic issue that has ever been before
the country since Mr.. Tucker has been
in Congress, has he eyer faltered, or
gone astray. No truer man in his
advocacy of what he believed to be
right, ever crossed the threshold of
the Nations capitol, and his courage
was never better displayed, or put to
more crucial test, than when in a
body overwhelmingly republican, hos
tile to him in every fiber, at the risk OF
losing his seat in that body, boldly and
defantly, he championed the cause of
our minister to England, who had
been maligned by the time-servers OF
of that monster protection, which has
brought more suffering upon the peo
pie of this country, than they would
have endured under any misfortune
less than war itself. The intrepidity
with which he champ:oned the cause
OF Bayard on that occasion may. with
out fiattery, be likened to that Of
Bayard himself when he fought the
battles of the South after the war
when it was bound hand and foot by {
victorious and relentless enemy. Why
should there be a change? Are we. te
have better man? If SO by all means
let the change come. We, ourselves
will help to bring it about. But who
is he? Without disparaging tn,
claims of any, with kindness toward
every possible candidate, and thu
pledge and purpose openly made, and
to be faithfully kept, to support, loyal
ly, whomsoever may be nominated
we do say that we see no candidate il
the field, who will reflect more credi
on the district, or who will be able tt
Congress-, or with the next admins
tration. as Mr.. Tucker.
He was the desk-mate of Mr.. Bryan
for years; he knows every man in tn,
departments or likely to be there t.
whom a Congressman would have t,
apply in the furtherance of any impor
tant business of his district, and com
mands their confidence and respect
But lay aside these motives and rea
sons. What can be said against him
He is in the prime of life. He is sober
industrious, able, willing, experienced
fearless and upright. Why theI
turn aside for another? To many o
us who have seen Mr.. Tucker in Wash
ington, and especially in the halls o
Congress. his standing is no question
of the imagination; to many of us WHIT
have watched his course without bia
or prejudice; to many of us who hav'
supported him because we tried to b,
democrats, and sought neither emolu
ment nor spoils, his career has beer
one of especial admiration, and Will,
we do not claim that Mr.. Tucker is al
that man could be, or all that states
man could be, we do claim that h,
has been as near what democra
should be as any of us need ever hope tt
be.
This district could make no create
mistake at this important epoch in tn,
part it is to play in the next Congress
than to turn Mr.. Tucker down. HI
deserves the nomination for his course
for lis talent, for the contest wagei
against him after he was honestly
elected, for the work he has done, ant
for the work be is still able to do, ani
we beg our people to make no mistake
now, when a mistake might cost us 81
much.
The Times Own Platform.
The Richmond Times has a plat
form. Aponderous platform. Fifteen
gilded planks are in it. Eight are