Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-25
FRIDAY EVENING. OCT. rs. 1901
TIE SPEECH Of Mr.. John Hsmpto

last night was listened to sttentiveiy oy
q large and representative audience
oomposed Of republicans and democrats.
The speaker made many specious o.:
guments In his attempts to prove tns'
the people should relegste the demo-
cratic party to the rear and turn over
the eubsrnatorial chair to him. Like
all apostates from the democratic party,
he labored strenuously to give his audi
ence some logical re ,son for the change
that has come over the spirit OF his
dreams and reproduced many OF the
hallucnations of a third OF century
ago when carpstbaggers were endeavor'
ing to transplant New England notions
into the Old Dominion. Later dissp-
pointed and disgruntled democrats
mounted the readjuster hobby and re-
produced the same Elusive pictures,
dsxzled many unthipkiug people and 10
an evil moment as table democratic gov
eminent had to give place to men
aeerie from which the State has never
fully recupersted. The folly was soon
manifest, and 10 few years time old
Virginia shook of Mahonelsm, Arthur
ism aud every other exotic and replaced
the democratic party In power and the
good sense of the majority OF the people
has kept 1t 10 their control ever since. 30
far az we can see they haven't the slight
est inclination to try any more exper-
iments after their soul experience OF q
score of years ago. Mr.. Hoge last night
drew graphic pictures of this rise OF
Newport News, the growing importance
of Norfolk and other Virginia cities. 1t
must have occurred to him that ell these
changes have taken place since the
democratic party was recalled and
placed in charge of the reins OF the State.
He also alluded to the wealth Of West
Virginia, but certainly be must be
aware of the fact that the development
of this portion OF old Virginia was in
eyItable and that the republican party
had no more to do with it than the
man in the moon. Some people In his
audience, calculated to 90 of half
cooked, may have been impressed with
some OF the arguments used by the
would.be Governor. To such, since
they have had a good-night's rest, we
can only urge the Injunction, Audi
alteram partem. The democratic party
may be likened to the old lady OF
Thresdneedle street. ct times probably
not 10 the vanguard, but safe, and st
che end OF the race generally 10 the
front rank. This has been the case
since the beginning OF the century
when it's founders were rocking the
cradle of the Infant republic. The time
has come when by the shifting OF the
scenes the United States have allowed
a deorepit foreign nation to unload Its
dependencies upon them and tempo
rAry squirt Ia all lines of business has
resulted. The reaction will come sooner
or later when, like the Roman empire
Of old as depicted In prophecy, II will
be found that the iron and clay will
not mIngle aud the colonial possessions
of this country will prove to be rope
of sand. The original domain stretch
ing from ocean to ocean rendered us a
compact people. Now We are polyglot
in speech aud with some territory
nearly seven thousand miles from our
coast. Mr.. Hoge, like many others,
bias become intoxicated with the pic
tnre aud is endeavoriDg to enthuse
Others. Only sporadic cases Of expsn'
sion exist 10 the State; it will never be-
come epidemic. While there are many
good, honest and trustworthy people
in Virginia who are impressed with re-
publican dreams, none should lose
sight of the fact that there Is tall to
the kite, nor should they forget its trail
Ing over our fair domains years ago
when black spirits and whites mingled
and presided over our destinies.