The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-09

upon every side Of every public question
and wrong In all OF them. has deter
! mined this year to run without any plat
from at all. and upon every question that
arises to let every man be law unto
himself. Did you ever think OF It? The
average Virginia Democrat goes to the,
polls to vote against somebody, or some
mea sure, never TO vote In favor OF a
measure. There Is much talk among
them OF let's get together and the Of
tener they meet the further apart they
get. Many harmony dinners are given,
and those who attend leaIe the banquet
hall with an acute attack OF political
Indigestion. But there is one occasion
In which Democrat is In his proper
element when he shines in the most
magnificent splendor. and where the haH-
mony is 80 intense it rivals tn emusic Of
the spheres, a 81 this is particularly true
OF the Virginia Democrats. frefer to
the Thomas Jefferson dinners There he
forgets the busy, busting, progressive
present and delves Into the past to his
hearts content; he renews his allegiance
to Jefferson. descants upon the past s!o-
rious history of his country, eulogizes
the once great men OF his party. al OF
whom are, unfortunately. dead, deplores
the great corruption and wickcdness OF
the present, eloquenty declalms the Dec
lara ton: OF Independence, bows his head
and rccites the Bill OF Rights, returns
to his Nome and the next morning as a
sworn Judge OF elections is ready to STUFF
ballot bax or steals vote, whether It
be from one OF his own party candlda tes
or Republican. and then thinks ne IS
doing Gods service.
Jefferson's Beliefs.
"Thc irony OF It all is that Jefferson
did not believe In single principle they
now proposes to endorse. The party, as
national organization. is drifting, drift
inr they know not where. Destitute OF
lead and measures, confronteu by a
thoroughly organized. we'll equipped OPP
position, It can no longer be regarded as
a potent factor In national affairs. IN
Virginia 1t exists as society heid To-
gether BY the love OF office and brood.
Ing over the passions ana preJuu1ces u u
a long buried past. @
"But We see the dawn OF brighter
and = better day. A generation has passed
SINCE the curtain fell upon that great
tragedy which was enacted for four long
years and closed at Appomattox. Another
lreat war has been fought The sons and
ora ndsons OF men who wore the Gray
united with the sons and grandsons OF
the mon who wore the Blue, and keeping
step to the music of the Union. with the
one great flag OF our country, proudly
Ut furled, under tho leadership Of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, Wood, Green, Fftzhugh
Lee and Joseph Wheeler, added new ulster
to American arms. The active WORKING
thinking people OF to-day was born since
the Civil War passion has given way to
reaton and common sense, the shackles
or prejudice havo4ylelded to sober second
thought the electorate has been SO cur
tailed that the busaboo Of negro domi-
lHtion,n always a falsity, has no power
tc brighten or hold the faithful together.
-Four years ago we met In this same
Academy OF Music ana placed our stanu-
ard In tho hands OF that gifted and elo-
1uent Vlrginian, John Hampton Hoge, OF
Roanoke, he made brilliant canvass,
and thrilled the heaHs Of the people with
his n,atchless oratory.
Charges Of Fraud,
'The people were with him, but the
Judges Of election we're against him,
prominent Democrats OF Yirginia declared
that he was elected by nearly 1000 ma
jortty, but the fraud trlun1phed and another
nan has been drawing his salary, Since
that time he has passed away to that
undiscovered country, from whose bourne,
no traveller ever returns and to-day,
I'VE sigh fer the touch of q vanished hand
end the sound Of a voice that is still
'Memory recalls another distinguished
member Of the conyenton, one who
fought the battle OF Repuhllcanism with
The same yalor. the same impetuous rush,
with which he fought the attle OF the
Lost Cause General James A. Walker,
he upon whose shoulders fell the bloody
mantle of that illustrious chieftaln, Stones
wall Jac kson, has crossed oyer the river
4 ~ raSt under the# shade oP tha traes
md We pause to cast sprIg OF I'M
%,nortelles upon his resting place.
We all know hat elections in Virginia
have been q farce, 80 much so that lead.
'pg Democrats, friends Of ths present
government say that ne decent man
Mould have accented the seat In tho
limited States senate now held by Senat or
Martin, because 1t WAS obtained by fraud
v, hes friends Of the senator retsr IN kind