The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-08-17

I
ticket, and eloquently reviewing the
great achievements OF the Democratic
party in the Old Dominion lie spoke
in part as follows:
No person is deserving or worthy of
SUCCESS in any venture or undertaking
who cannot graciously and maninlly
bear defeat il it comes.
Without complaint. without bitter
ness, bow to and accept the decision
of the Democracy Of this State ~ lawfully
expressed in this convention.
Your candidates are my candidates.
Your nominees are my nominees. lonr
standard bearers are my standard bear
ers. Your declarations of policy are
those to which shall give my adherence
to andmy support. have never failed
listen To the voice oi Democracy when
it has regularly aud lawfully spoken. |
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 hayedeserted
the party in the past because it refused
to crown them king. am not one Of
these. am willing To serve in the ranks
or elsewhere as the justice and wisdom of
Democracy may dictate.
desire 10 say word to those who
have honored me with their support in
my candidacy. wish To assure them Of
my unbounded gratitude for their warm
and loyal support. Gratitude, which il
the richest and rarcst flower that sheds
its perfume in the human heart, will ever
make me hold these true eand loyal friends
in lasting and loving remembrance. How
ever Others may think, hope that when
my political career is ended itmay be said
of me a. it was said of that greatest OF all
pcmocrats-Andrew Jackson" lie never
failed n friend "
But more important thanconveying to
my friends this assurance of my apprecla-
| ton. wish To bespeak for the nominees
Of this convention heircordial and warm
support. / hope that there il not per
son who in the recent primaries and
mass meetings supported mebut will give
the nominees of today an active and an
earnest support.
The bulk Of those who followed me in
/ the recent fight are the SCARED veterans
of Democracy who. ON many battleiields,
have given to the Republican party proof
of their prowess and patriotism and de
votion to party Disappointments in
party councils will never induce these
veterans to sheath their swords nor to
yield less sharp blade against the
/ common enemy.
| Before the Democratic party came into
power the finances Of the State were de
ranged, the treasury was bankrupt, the
State debt was unsettled, all accruing in
terest was unpaid and the fnancialcredit
of Virginia the lowest OF any State in the
Union. Since Democracy came into power
the State debt has been settled in man
ner satisfactory alike TO creditor and TO
debtor, all interest and every obligation
promptly paid The State debt has been
entirely eliminated as n menace to busi-
ness and to politics, and today Virginia
bonds and Virginia credit are second to
those of no State in the Union.
In the political storms OF the last fifteen
years Virginia has witnessed the wreck
and the overthrow of the Democratic
party in the States surrounding her
Maryland, West Virginia Kentucky and
North Carolina have each in turn surren.
dered and been subjected to Republican
supremacy. During these years Virginia
has stood MS Gibraltar Of Democracy
"a an oasis in the desert of Republican,
ism. This resulted from the fact that the
past record of the Democratic party IN
Virginia has been such as to inspire the
confidence and to hold the affections O
the people.
This success will continue so long as We
are clean, honest and economical in ouI
administration of affairs; so long as W.
give to the State officials who are brave
incorruptible and worthy; so long as W.
appropriate public funds only fol
public good and public utilities; so Ions
as we limit taxation to public needs; sc
long as we Justly distribute taxes betweeT
all classes and all businesses; so long a.
we give to both capital and labor equa
OPPORTUNITIES for increase and for better
ment; so long az we encourage materia
development and progress; 80 long as al
our public institutions are free from sean
dal and favoritism; 80 long as we built
close to and make our party the champion
of the great masses; so long as we d'
not give power to demagOgues, WHIT
promise much and do little; so long a.
the party does not encourage dissenslon
and discord; so long as party fealty AM
party service are accepted as badges o
honor and not causes Of disfayor. 81
long as the Democracy of Virginia vii
follow these policies and principles it j
deserving Of success and it's supremacy
assured.
The voices that speak to Democrac,
from the past, the inspirations tha
spring from the present, the possibilitie
that crown the future should arouse i
every Democrat a firm resolve to adher
to his party and to keep it such that
can and win answer the great deman
: made upon it by Virginia and our com
} mon country.