The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-11
o Platform amid wild applause.

tho platform amid wild applause. Hs
said -
Fellow. Democrats Of the State 81 Viz
glna J thank you from the lotion OK my
heart for this cordial greeting when tou
give me this evening. / 90 not feel THAI
IL is necessary that L should say 10 you
that am a Democrat, and that l bcieVs
in tho great principle that the pcops
ought 20 be allowed 10 select their TO-
prcsontatiyes I'M the United states Senate.
Appause) II were 70 talk 20 you Tor an
hour. I could not say more 10 you tnan
that
This my countrymcn, IS the FIRST great
assemblage OF tho Democrats OF the en-
tire State OF Virginia that / have ever
had tho pleasure OF attending where
there was not one single member actuated
By any selfish purpose or who had IN MS
heart any motive that was not Of u
purcst description. tApplause>
40 SELFISH AMBITION.
The Democrats who have assembled
here to-day have nor come for tho pur-
pose of promoting selfish ambition. but
they have assembled FOR the purpose OF
promulgating q great principle that IL
dear 20 the hearts OF the people OF this
Commonwealth and every Commonwealth
I'm this great Republic OF ours. We not
only believe i'm these principles. but, as
Democrats. We believe and We know that
the principle IS Democratic from It's very
inception. Everything that has CONS
down to rs through The ages from that
great man. beneath whose picture wa
stand this evening (Jcferson the great
est of an Democrats. teaches us that. as
Democrats. this is a Democratic principle
applause. and the greatest Democrat
living to-day William Jennings Bryan
Qoui app.aasel. not only advocated this
principle I'm the Congress OF the United
States, bat I have from him a letter. In
which De says that no approves and Ell
dorses This movement I'm Virginia. Loud
appause) And James *. Jones'. thu
chairman OF tho National Democratic
party. has come out in "a pubdic letter
and declared that he favora this great
reform. Npplausc) And whom 10 fol-
low in The footsteps OF tho chairman u
the National Democratic Committee. and
the greatest living champion Of popular
rights, the man WHO is recognized as
the most brilliant and most democratic
of our feilow-ciuzcns. We cannot Zoe ssid
90 be advocating a. principle that ID not
Democratic. Appiause)
STARTING A MOVEMENT.
But my cOuntrymcn. / d.d NOT come
here for The purpose of making You a
speech. I came here FOR the purpose
simply % acknowledge tho great c0ur-
tesy and distinction which you have
shown me by calling me- here to speak
20 you upon this great subject We are
not here only FOR tho purpose 0f promul-
eating this great principle. We are here
for Tho purpose OF starting o. movement
that vii go ON until 10 finally trumnhs IN
every State n this Union lAnplause).
Aye my countrymcn. She movement ws
have inaugurated hero to-day places Nir-
g.na in the forefront whore she ought
90 stand. in one OF the greatest move
ments that was over started ln this
Union. Npplause) Virginia gave 10 this
country the Constitution under which we
I've because b. was the action of Nir-
gina which made that Union possible.
And Virginia. bv this movement inaugu-
rated hove to-day win help 10 bring
Democratic principles closer 10 the peo-
nlo of this country. ana to ontrench the
/ Democratic party IN The hearts Of the
masses of ibis country Applause) 80
we are here not only 10 forward tha
movement buf to prove 90 tho world that
there are mo- better Democrats than those
who have assembled in this hall this
evening We arc here FOR tho purpose
/ of raklrdlIng the altar fires OF orr faith.
So that they may burn moro brightly than
/ ever throughout the limits of THIS COM
monwoalth. and so that their light nav
shine in the dark places Of this Union
which have never vet enjoyed thc bless
ines of true Democracy Applauso).
thank you. my friends. for your greet
inc and beg that you viii eo homo 10
your people and spread abroad and keep
alive tho agitation which has boon inan-
curated hero today Anp'ausc).