Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-05

are beating against tnelE phisou-"o'e
tonight all through the length and
breadth of this Commonwealth. eager
to know II on the morrow they can
sing the song OF deliverance OF their
race, their party and their State. Oan
you refuse their en,reaties and deny
their appeals ? By your heavlng
bosoms and flashing eyes, 1 know you
cannot that you will not, and tomor-
row we will say to the world as Gen.
eral Bee said to his troops at the frst
battle of Manassas. Look at the Viz
ginians, standing ike stone wall. ,"
Col. Smith took his seat amid tEe-
mendous applause.
After the band had discoursed more
eulivening music, Mr.. Bendheim agsin
advanced aud introduced Hon. Claude
A. Swanson. In doing so he paid lit
ting tribute to the public services OF this
well-known VirgiUisn.
Mr.. Swanson was greeted with long
continued applause. When it finally
subsided the speaker began by saying
be was glad TO be in Alexandra on this
occasion. II was to him dear and
good old city, and bis soul reverted to
the conflict here five months ago In
which be was D central figure. Alex
audria was first to choose delegates TO
the Norfolk convention 10 favor Of the
nomination of the speaker for Governor
OF the State. He had rejoiced ct his
Marepgo and bowed submissively to his
Waterloo. But" said he, "Im yours
to serve at sill times, and hope | may
yet, as a member of the House OF Rep
resentatives, have an opportunity to
serve old Alexandria in some material
way" The speaker said 1t might yet
be in bis power to further the exertion
now 10 progress for the erection OF the
Memorial Bridge across the Potomac,
which would make the beauty OF this
locality unexceled by any In the world.
| There would be nothing In the future
concerning the welfare of the city which
would not enlist the interest and exer-
lions OF the speaker. He thanked the
people of Alexandria for their support
| last spring and said DO matter what
other short comings might be charged
10 him, he never forgot friends, and this
act OF friendship would be remembered
to his dying day. "Now," said he, "the
best way to prove your loyalty to me is
| to show the same interest 10 Mr. Mon
tsgue. To true democrats defeat affords
the best chance to manifest devotion to
the party, and such spirit is 10 marked
contrast to that OF one who deserted the
party because he was not crowned
king. This individual Is now a repub-
lcan, a 6gurehead OF that party In its
futile attempts to elect governor"
The speaker eDjoined his bearers to 60
to the polls early and work assidiously
to roll up as large democratic majority
ss possible. Many scar-honored demo-
Gratis had followed the speaker five
months ago. They bad stood at the
passes OF Thermopyloe and were ready
to hold them again and strike similar
blows for democracy. Mr.. Swanson
said he was present to speak in the In
terest of the candidates for governor,
acknowledgements, attorney general,
and the gentleman who is the nominee
OF Alexandria city and county for the
House of Delegates. The speaker said
the democratic party was now confront
ing common enemy, and each and
every member of the party was called
upon to help give the republican sspl-
rants a Waterloo on November 3.
| He went on to chow that there never
had been time In the past twenty
years when more important issues were
before the wealth than now.
The speaker then 10 a succiDct, graphic
and convincing manner portrayed the
past history Of the State, its struggles
| and its triumphs, and showed that dur
ing the past fifteen years the democrats
| had been in control the Old Dominion
| had forged ahead wonderfully. The
public debt had been placed on satis
| factory basis to both creditors and tax
payers, and taxes had been reduced
from 90 to 40 cents on the 800, public
schools and other institutions Of learn.
ing had been increased a hundred fold
and the benevolent institutions OF the
State augmented to their present salts
factory condition. He referred es.
pecially 10 the Soldiers Home at Rich
mond. Fifteen years ago, when the
democrats came in power, they found
the treasury exhausted. Public officer,
were compelled to sell their warrants
to Dote.shavers at discount of % per
cent. Now every warrant was honored
the minute it was presented. Mr..
Swanson rapidly reviewed present con-
ditions, defying aoy one to gainsay or
refute his staten ents. The democrats
had collected and disbursed over $780,
900 900 10 the past fifteen years and but
one caee of EN- beZzlement had occurred.
That was Of the small cum Of 81 500
and the delinquent was exposed
and lodged In Jail the day the act
was committed. This showed the
party could be trusted. He then
pictured the capacity of those who
had been placed ut the head of affairs.
1t was rugged and honest democracy
and Mr.. Hoge nor any one else could
point to anything wrong on the part OF
the officers OF the State. 10 referring
to the readjuster issue and the noble
work OF the democratic party In elimi-
mating the public debt from politics,
Mr.. Swanson said old Virginia had
emerged With no stain of Reputation
upon her fair name. The speaker at
Que time branched off on national is
sues, and showed the terrible injustice
prscticed by the republican party 10
their tariff measures by taxing the ne.
cessaries OF life and increasing the bur.
dens OF the poor man and placing the
Injuries OF the rich ON the free list. He
defended the constitutional convention
from the ssperson that 1t purposed dis
fraDchising white men, and said from
the days of Jefferson down to our time
the democratic party bad Tough! for en-
frsnchising the white man, and the
party In Virginia today was just as much
bent on that as ever. In order to carry
out their purpose 1t might be necessary