Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-24
MIR. MOyTAGUE's SPLENDID SPEECH
He Discusses National and State
Issues In n Brilliant Effort.


very fattering tribute to the popu-
larity OF the candidate for the attorney
generalship was paid when Mr.. Ellyson
rose to introduce Hon. A. j. Montague,
of Pittsylvania county. In doing this the
chairman spoke of the late Robert IL.
Montague. father of the nominee. VINO,
he said. was one of the most eloquent
and gifted men of his day. and was great
Nv skilled in debate. Virginia, he said,
loves to honor worthy sons or worthy
sires. and so the Democrats had chosen
a son of that distinguished states
man In the person of Andrew jackson
Montague, who, like his father, he sald'
was one of the most gifted speakers IN
the Commonwealth. Mr.. Montague was
greeted with great enthusiasm as ne rose
TO speak. He said:
Ladies and My Fellow Citizens: should
think that after the excellent speeches
TO which we have listened, all that would
be necessary for me to do would be, as
we lawyers say, to make a profound
obeisance and retire. Permit me 10 say
however, that | am profoundly apprecia-
tive of the genuine and good endorse
ment given me, which permits me 10
appear before you as a representative Oh
my party, humble as / am You nave
been well reminded that IL is Just thir-
teen years ago that the Democratic parry
resumed the government or our state
We can never forget that. No man VINO
loves Virginia can forget the sun tnae
then broke in on our beloved state Inc
state of affairs up to that time huhg as
pail over us. The courts OF Justico
were corrupt, and ignorance, II not cor
ruption. was exhibited in many high
Ri M
who had borne the chains of oppression
could bear It no longer, and in the capitoi
was heard the cry of man from 'ne
western portion of Virginia as he rushed
10 the door, shouting: This way, iree-
men,"
DAWN OF BRIGHTER DAYS.
"It was q gladstone cry and marked
the dawn of brighter days. At that time
our public Institutions were threatened
10 be submerged; the professors in our
schools were leaving; public honor was
turned into disorder; justice was an UNI
known quantity. Then Democracy tri-
umphed. and we have accomplished
much. our record is behind us. 1t may
not be all that could be wished put we
may well challenge comparison with that
which Is behind il. We love this great
government of ours. 1 believe In local
patriotism. Back of us Virginia mas
enshrined traditions which ought TO be
an inspiration to us. Home, sweet home,
has the greatest claims on our DEVOTION
We want pure judges in our common
wealth l want to see the Legislature
stimulated. / want TO see better roaus
all through this Commonwealth, for 1t
is certain that prosperity is concomitant
with good highways Civilization ana
public highways go hand in hand and
in support of this statement the speaker
quoted numerous instances in ancient
history where civilization and progress
had brought with them better roads.
PLEA FOR BETTER ROADS.
Continuing. he said: "You people who
live IN cities know nothing OF the con-
dition OF our country roads. In fully
two fifths Of this State the public roads
are I'm such a condition as TO amount,
practically, during the rainy and winter
seasons. to a social and Industrial block
ade." The prosperity Of the Valley OF
Virginia the speaker attributed to the
macadamized road which threads IT.
Pm a believer i'm public education"
he continued. Universal suffrage can
only be maintained by universal educa-
ton. Prosperity Is I'm education; the
fortune of the country is to be found
inside its schools, and the wealth OF the
country has its origin in its institutions
of learning"
Mr.. Montague warmly advocated wis
dom and economy in the direction of the
affairs of State. He spoke In glowing
terms of that which Virginia has done for
heroism in the maintenance Of her dis
abled warriors, and other great works
Of charity and mercy, all OF which, he
said. were pleasant TO contemplate. He
dwelt upon the adverse agencies which
threaten the liberty OF the State, and par
ticularly to that which we call the Fede-
raj Government, which" he said
threatens TO reach over our State lines
and fetter US in doing what we have a
right to do. We have a right to free
government of our local affairs, yet we
have seen ourselves overreached."
TOUCHES UPON NATIONAL ISSUES,
Mr.. Montague then directed his remarks
to the financial issues and tariff iegisia-
ton of the country. He bitterly ar
raigned McKinley's inconsistency in in
PRODUCING into Congress during his SER
vice there a tariff bill with the avowed
object of reducing the surplus in the
National Treasury. and when he came
into power he had tariff bill introduced
TO increase the surplus. Thomas Jeffer-
son has said, he continued, that there
should be special privileges 10 none and
equal justice to all, and he contended
that whoever read the tarif bill could
not fail to see that the Republican watch
word is Special privileges to whoever
can get them and equal Justice to none"
(Applause.) The speaker inveighed against
the Republican system of taxing ourselves
into prosperity, and defined the word
"tax" as being synonymous TO take"
The tariff bill had been adopted for the
remuneration OF those who had put the
party in power-the Sugar Trust and
Others. When we protest against these
things, said Mr.. Montague, we are called
demagogues and Anarchists, but II is
not demagogis to speak ones mind.
though we are told by executive authority
TO keep quiet and walt till the impeach-
ment period arrives.
STEADY DECLINE IN VALUES.
The speaker asked what difference a
tax makes IL there Is nothing TO tax ana
values continue TO decrease. Since 1878
there had been a steady decline In values
throughout America and the world. Peo-
pie who honestly believed In freedom or
thought were threatened with removal
from high places by the money power.
and he alluded In scathing terms to the
intimation given TO president OF an
American university who favored the
free coinage OF silver that his services
were no longer acceptable, and whose
place would have been filled by man