The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-15
MONTAGUE AND WILLARD.


4
| Yet we find our first duty at home. The
| honors and duties OF the Federal Govern
| ment appeal largely to our most ambitious
citizens: but the administration of our
domestic institutions is the first con-
sideration of the intelligent patriot. Where
the citizen is touched once by Federal
| power. or once needs Federal aid. he is
| touched hundred times by the State.
| and hundred times needs the State 5
| AID. II is OF more Importance to any
hamlet in this State to have an honest.
clear-headed, courageous justice of the
| peace than to have the right kind of a man
as President of the United States. The
Just, wise, and economical administration
OF local government is more essential to
the welfare of the. people than the sue
cessful administration of the foreign pol
Icy of the Republic. The suppression of
crime. the maintepance of law and order,
to the many rights and duties of home
citizenship, the upbuiding of popular edu-
cation. the care of our eleemOsynary in
Stltutions all demand the sacrifice of the
nrst ana best fruits of our citizenship.
Though the fundamental creed of the
democratic parity never changes. yet to
us glory it may be said that its princi-
pies have adapted themselves. and will
ADAPT themselves.I to the varying needs
and exigencies of a free people Conse-
guently, today. we must realize, our
state has entered upon an era of mate
fldl, commercial, and educational adj
Nancemen mt; and our people must be con-
graduated that the Democratic party
VIII guide and administer our government
as ii proceeds uIfon a career of such po-
tentialities. Indeed. II is essential that
or I.irty shall administer it, for it can
not now be safely administered by any
other hands.
our party has been the faithful custo-
dlan of cur public free school system.
We have done the best We could with the
means at our command and within the
limitations of our constitution; yet many
realize that the system cannot be greatly
improved until our school terms are
longer. our school laws wiser, and better
educational advantages are brought with
IN the reach of our children. Moreover,
II is essential that this system shall be
50 conducted that the people may know
mat the public free schools should not
educate oar children away from labor,
but toward labor. Our children must be
taught to coin their thoughts into work
no less than into words. Therefore, our
people nope FOR. and will energeticaly
deNise, at no distant day, some means
Whereb by we may begin a wise and eff
cleht system of industrial mechanical ed
ncAtlon. When this is done we can
leid, ana of mine. We need not then
sell abroad the crude products of our
great forests. fields. and mines. and buy
back the articles manufactured therefrom
enhanced In value forty. fifty. and q hun
dred-foid- We need not then sell. as we
DO now. our Drawn and buy back brain
we VIII then develop our own resources.
make our own wares. build up our own
people in thrift. in intelligence. in com
fort and in happiness 1t is, therefore.
our duty to foster and improve our sys-
TEN oil public instruction, for the cause
OF true popular education and free gov
eminent Is one and the same
Larger and better things seem in store
LOT the commonwealth. y new constitu-
tlon now framing by our ablest and best
men gives every promise of meeting the
hopes and needs of progressive and pa
triotc people. Under this instrument
must be established and operated an eco
1.,,tr I.f,.t,
viii fully protect the rights of man and
of property; which will invite immigration
and capital; and which viii at the same
time enable us TO care for our disabled
and needy Confederate veterans and our
eleemosynary and educational insttu-
tons. Under such an organic law. con-
strued upon the fundamental lines of free
government, the pathway of our future
will be luminous with peace, prosperity,
and glory.
Afterward came an excellent speech in
his support by Hon. Claude Swanson and
Capt r. c. Marshall. both defeated cam
didates for the office, in which they
pledged him their hearty support. Rep
resentative Swanson said in part:
Mr.. Swanson's Speech.
Gentlemen of the convention, your
candidates are my candidates. Your nom
inees are my nominees. Your standard
bearers are my standard bearers. Your
declarations of policy are those to which
/ shall give my adherence and my sup
port. ! have never failed to listen to the
voice of Democracy when it has regularly
and lawfully spoken. l am not one of
those whose devotion to Democracy is
measured by the extent to which it may
honor me or crafty my aspirations. Many
persons have deserted the party in the
past because it has refused to crown them
king. / am not one of these. / am will
ing to serve in the ranks or elsewhere as
the justice and wisdom of Democracy may
dictate.
THE bulk of those who followed me in
the recent fight are the Scared veterans
OF Democracy who, on many battlefelds,
have given to the Republican party proof
OF their prowess and patriotism and devo-
ton to party. Disappointments in party
councils will never induce these veterans
TO sheath their swords For To WELD a less
sharp blade against the common enemy.
Speaking for myself and for my friends,
| will say that we have marched and re-
joiccd with Democracy in the brightest
days of its triumphs and glories; we have
followed it and stood steadfast in the
darkest hours of defeat and gloom we
have stood in the front rank in its fiercest
battles and storms, and in the coming
battle of November and in all others,
where Democracy Is engaged, We will be
found Valiantly contending against its
foes and Will redden the field with the
blood of its enemies. Those who calculate
Republican victory from Democratic dis
November next. as heretofore, Will wit
ness a great Democratic victory.
The Democracy of this State with con-
hdence appeals to the voters for an en-
dorsement of its splendid administration
of State affairs. The Democratic record
in Virginia during the fifteen years of
Democratic rule challenges criticism and
is unsurpassed by the administration of
any State in the Union. whether under
Democratic or Republican rule.
In the political storms of the last fif-
teen years Virginia has witnessed the
wreck and the overthrow of the Demo-
cratic party in the States surrounding
her Maryland, West Virginia Kentucky
and North Carolina have each in turn
surrendered and been subjected to Repub-
lican supremacy. During these years Vir-
ginia has stood a Gibraltar of Democ-
racy as an oasis in the desert of Re
that the past record OF the Democratic
party in Virginia has been such as to in
spire the confidence and to hold the af-
fections of the people.
This success will continue so long as
we are clean. honest. and economical in
our administration of affairs; so long as
we give to the State officials who are
brave incorruptible. and worthy; so long
as We appropriate public funds only for
pubic good and public utilities: so long
as we limit taxation to public needs so
long az we justly distribute taxes between
all ella Sses and all business; so long as we
give to both capital and labor equal OPP
portunities for increase and for better
ment; so long as encourage material
development and progress; so long as all
our pubic institutions are free from scan
dal and favoritisrh: so long as we build
close to and make our party the cham
pion of the great masses: so long as we
do not give power TO demagogues who |
promise much and do little; so long as the |
party does not encourage discussions and |
discord: so long as party fealty and party |
tod nf