Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-08-30

ment commensurate with their lofty
ideals and aspirations.
CONGRESSMAN swANsoN's GRACEFUL
AND ELOQUENT SPEECH.
A distinct feature of the night pro-
ceediDgs was Hon. Claude A. Swan
sons speech. pledging for himself
and his supporters hearty and
united support in the campaign and
at the polls of his successful COM
petitor and the entire ticket, and
eloquently reviewing the great
achievements of the Democratic
party in the Old Dominion. He
spoke iu part as follows;
No person is deserving or worthy of
success in any venture or undertaking
who cannot graciously and manfully
bear defeat if it comes.
Without complaint, without bitter
ness, | bow to and accept the decision
of the Democracy of this State as
lawfully expressed in this convention.
Your candidates are my candidates.
Your nominees are my nominees.
Your standard bearers are my stand
ard bearers. Your declarations of
policy are those to which shall give
my adherence to and my support. l
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 aspira-
tions. Many persons have deserted
the party in the past because it re-
fused 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 to say word to those
who have honored me with their sup
port in my candidacy. l wish to
assure them of my unbounded graft
tude for their warm and loyal sup
port. Gratitude, which is the richest
and rarest flower that sheds its per-
fume In the human heart, will ever
make me hold these true and loyal
friends in lasting and loving re-
membrance. However others may
think, / hope that when my political
career is ended it may be said of me,
as it was said of that greatest Of all
Democrats-Andrew Jackson-"He
never failed a friend"
But more important than convey
ing to my friends this assurance of
my appreciation, l wish to bespeak
for the nominees of this convention
their cordial and warm support.
hope that there is not person who
in the recent primaries and mass
meetings supported me but will give
the nominees of to day 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
battlefields have given to the Re-
publican party proof of their prowess
tand patriotism and devotion 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 deranged, the treasury was
bankrupt, the State debt was un-
settled, all accruing interest was
unpaid, and the financial credit of
Virginla the lowest of any State in
the Union. Since Democracy came
into power the State debt has been
settled in a manner satisfactory
alike to creditor and to debtor, all
interest and every obligation prompt
ly paid. The State debt has been
lentirely eliminated as a merace to
business and to politics, and today
Virginia bonds and Virginia credit
are second to those Of no State in
the Union.
Il In the political storms of the last
fifteen years Virginia has witnessed
the wreck and the overflow of the
Democratic party in the States sur
rounding her. Maryland, West Vir-
ginia, Kentucky and North Carolina
have each in turn surrendered and
been subjected to Republican su-
premacy. During these years Vir-
ginia has stood as Gibraltar of
Democracy as an oasis in the desert
, of Republicanism. This resulted
{ from the fact that the past record
{ of the Democratic party in Vir-
ginia has been such as to inspire the
confidence and to hold the affections
Of the people.
This success will continue so long az
, we are clean, honest and economical in
, our administration of affairs; sc
long as we give to the State officials
. who are brave, incorruptible and
worthy so long as we appropriate
public funds only for public good
. and public utilities; so long as W,
: limit taxation to public needs; Sc
long as we justly distribute taxes be-
tween all classes and all businesses
so long as We give to both capita
and labor equal opportunities for in
crease and for betterment; so long Al
! we encourage material development
and progress so long as all our pub
lie Institutions are free from scanda
and favoritism; so long as we buile
7 close to and make our party tn,
champion of the great masses; 81
C long as we do not give power to dem
agogues, who promise much and d,
little; 50 long as the party does no