Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-08-18
GENERAL WARTS APPEARS.

the Committee appeared upon the stage
with General Watts, who was greeted
in the most enthusiastic manner
He was introduced by Chairman
johnson, and said:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of this
AT twenty minutes past eleven o'clock
magnificent Convention:-Words are
absolutely useless to me on this occasion
10 express the emotions that well up from
my heart-to express to you my feel
ings and my gratitude for this honor
you have confided to me tonight. It
is not often that one meets with a re-
s~ponSibility so great as this, and at the
same time with In honor so high. l
realize, my friends, that his is a great
responsibility and a high honor, en-
fetrred by your generosity and your
judgment here tonight, and 1 would not
eyade the n while gratefully thank
ing o for the other, n l pledge to
you that in the campaign to come l
will strive to bring TO its full fruition
the splendid work you have begun.
-Four months g the Democratic par
ty of West Virginia began to take an IN
ventory of its losses and gains, n its
assets and its liabilities. she found her
forces scattered and her hosts dis
persed, yet still defiant. Her ship rode
on rough waters on a high sea-, and as
she took her bearings h saw in front
of her a bold, blatant foe, eager for
another contest for supremacy. L will
O detain you with the origin OF my
candidacy. Suffice it to say hat 1 saw
the old ship battling in distress, and L
could hear her timbers creak in the
gale. 1 heard the drum beat in the
morn, and l knew that behind that re-
Yetlle there stood a host of Democrats,
ready to redeem the State from its de-
feat of 1894. When my opponent at
Parkersburg compared the Democracy
to the poor, who we have always with
Us, he little thought that his jest was a
solemn truth. Nearly a century G
Thomas Jefferson founded in this coun-
try a party whose principles will last
Is long as liberty lives and the people
rule. In 1892 he drafted into law the
money of the Constitution, and that
law and that money was endorsed by
Hamilton, advocated by Jefferson,
championed by Hamilton and approved
by Washington. and so long as the
Democratic party was in power it was
goode enough for this country and for
all the countries and people of the
world. It remained for the Republican
party in 1878, backed by wall street
and Lombard street, to strike dawn
this money OF the Constitution.
1 shall not take time at his late hour
to take up that question. 1t is sufficient
20 say that the storm, rising in its ma
jdsty, and gathering force by the de-
termination of the people to have the
silver dollar of the Constitution, 16 to 1,
Independent of the rest of mankind, has
swept like a tornado all across this
broad land. n tonight Hon. w. j.
Bryan is speaking in New York, TO a
thrOng SO vast that they cannot hear
IL - 7 ..I-@ - a.,--ssz,-
occasion tonight when Wall street a
been invaded by the champion of the
people. that the people will rule. This
is a tight between the millionaires and
Ehe masses, and whether this Republic
of Jefferson Is to be preserved or given
over 20 the money power-whether Wall
street or the people shall control the des-
TIMES OF the country.
I VIII not take up any more of your
time. 1 ave already been in many
parts Of the State, and have grasped the
hands OF many Democrats and some
good Republicans. 1 find that the
farmer Republicans are coming, step by
sep and shoulder to SHOULDER, in favor
OF the reconciliation of silver, and West
Virginia will roll up a safe majority for
Democracy and silver. When you go
home, do not relax your efforts. Re-
member that eternal vigilance is the
prics of liberty. Speakers cannot win
this fight. IF 1 go into 1t, you must sus-
tain me, and then it will be an easy
matter to win, for I VIII travel with the
tide. But If I go forward, and you lose
interest, 1 cannot win. 1 want to go
into every county, and want h people
at their homes to support me. and 1 beg
TO say, in conclusion, that I am most
profoundly grateful for this honor, n
evidence OF regard and faith, and hope
ne shall have a ticket which from top
10 bottom will command the support of
the people of the State. 1 thank you,
my friends.
AT the conclusion of General Watts
speech he WAS given a splendid recep-
ton on the stage, scores OF men shaking
him by the hand.