The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-08-23
A GREAT DAY
FOR DEMOCRACY
Judge Rhea Makes the open
ing Speech of His Cam
palgn at Gate City
Ioct Saturday,
Last Saturday.

Last Saturday.
The Hon. VIM. F. Rhea opened
the campaign in the Ninth District
at Gate City on Saturday. The
court bouse which is one of the larg-
est in the State, was filled to over
flowing. The Judge was in fine trim
and made a most excellent speech.
The Big Stone Gap Band was on
hand and rendered some excellent
music. :,
Judge Rhea was introduced by Mr.
Ezra Garter, who spoke as follows;
Mr. CHAIRMAN. My FELLOW CITIZENS, LADIES
AxD GENrLEMEN
am clad 70 greet so many loyal demo-
Gratis together with the youth ana peau'!
of Scott county here today 10 near
the opening speech in the coming cam
paIgn that involves the same prIhciP''s
and issues that our foreiather' fought 10
nreserye more than century ago at Lex
! iupton and Yorktown. IL Is Tor the people
of this nation to determine whether OF
not this republic, conceived IN liberty ana
dedicated to the true principles that all
governments derive their just power 10
Govern from the consent of the governed
shall not perish from the earth.
The hosts for this mighty contest have
already been marshalled, and upon the one
side we have the republican party, backed
and supported by the corporate weai'h ,, OF
A.. .,tir~ .yo.Nh --i'h W. az
,n,. 1,,rne ,iorId, w,,u hin. AhchiIIey ~
Ire nresidental candidate, and Mark Hanna
az its general manager. asking the people
70 endorse the present administration ana
70 continue them in their high'handed
nolicy of plundering the high seas, SUP
DUNG every nation and people who possess
less nhysical strength than we.
Unon the other hand, we have the OLD
time honored and liberty-loying demo
cratic marty. tho bulwark Of our political
and civil liberty, with that princely knight
of the Mains. William Jennings bryan, as
onr leader supported by the toling mt-
lions of this nation and the liberty loving
neonle everywhere, striving to perpetua'e
bore in the western world the proudes'
nation. the grandest republic, ana the
most bene6cint government 'ha' the sun
of heaven ever sbOne upon,
| |
cuss the issues involved in this campaign
but it is only my pleasant duty to introduce
TO YOU the speaker OF the day. Ana an
proud TO say that he is no stranger to you
and TO the people Of Virginia. dc has
| unclaimed the principles OF democrac!
p mon every stump from Lee to Accomac'
Two wears ago the banner of dcmocrrc,
7 IN t,e ninth congressional district wa
a trailing in the dust. The democrats VIII
snhlime faith and npdaunted courage me
% IN convention in the City Of Pulaski an'
brought forth that old banner and place.
If in the hands of young man ~h'
c nledced his faith, and his energies. tina
Q he would 90 forth to do their biddlng7
and when the sun had done his day's worl
u and retired TO his western home beyOh'
y. tbe Rockies TO battle in the placid water
of the Pacific on the 9Th day OF Noyembe
S following, he would return that banne
without stain and upon it inscribed J.
shining. clittering letters "yictory wo
7. Inv the loyal democrats, and the 9th con
q gressional district redeemed now ana LOT
ever more, and that the chilling WINDS G
y that autumn eve would sing sad requler
- over the tomb of General Walker. Ina
: same man is bearing our banner today !
y this contest and is here awaiting 10 az
a dress YOU, which | shall no longer della!
~ II gives me unspeakable pleasure to intro
duce him to YOU as our present congress
man and next representative in the led
q eral house of legislation the honorabI
VIM. F. Rhea, of Bristol, Virginia.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Carter
d Introductory remarks Judge Rhe
n came forward amidst tumultuous ar
&c plause. which lasted for several min
y utes. The court house was racke
Of and damned and standing room wa
I, at premium.
Of Rhea, after few preliminary n
rs marks, spoke of his contest wit
lie Gen'l Walker before the RepublIca
lie committee. lie referred to the fa'
is that Taylor, of Ohio, who represent
is McKinley's home district was ehal
i'll man of the committee and Republ
ne can, and that the other Republican
he on the committee were men
he national reputation, namely; Man
IN of Ilinoise; Hamilton. OF Michlga
j. and Burkett, OF Nebraska. The
- with the three Democrats on the cor
:. mittee gave him seven votes. II
II speaker said if there ever was al
H merit in Walkers case he had den
T. onstrated beyond doubt that he hi
X no influence with Republicans.
II When the speaker referred
II Bryan as our next president, pand
II monium broke loose and it was SOL
II time before the applause subsidized.
II The speaker referred to the Ia
H that he was before the people a secol
II time the candidate by reclamation
II the Democratic party. lie said tn
Il two years ago when the banner
!! Democracy was placed in his han