The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-10-26
THE CANVASS.

/ DRESS OF COL. 1fOlLiDAN --lI1ot U'oiO
BETWEEN FAIRLY AND HARRIS. TIT
CONGRESSIONAL NOMINEES WAR!
TIME
On Monday last after the morning sessio
OF the County Court. = very large audicnc
OF Republicans and Democrats assembled il
the Court House to hear the address of Col
+. W. n. Holiday, OF Winchester, Demo
cratic elector at large for the State. and til
political discussion between F. W. Early
Republican, and Jno. T. Harris. Democrat
the respective nominees for Congress for TIL
| 18th District.
At about IL o'clock,
COL. HOLIDAY
| commenced Il speech of some two tDHrs IL
length. Apart from the sophistical reason
ing and the false conclusions, it might have
been called brilliant effort, for it abountlet
| in Il wealth OF classic lore and brilliant met
ophor, and delivered with clear ringing
voice. graceful gestures and earncstncss thai
would have made eloquent the most com.
monplacc language. it could not fail TO elicit
the admiration of his hearers of whatever
political persuasion. His illustrations were
almost all taken from the dead ages. and
his IDEAS. too, came from the tomb of the
past, to which they had long siEce been
consigned by the onward march of events.
The speech was ornate, classical, scholar
~, but the arguments advanced have
Il g.,fn NJ
the conclusions at which the speaker arrived
were in no instance justified by the. stern
teachings Of history.
He charged the Hepublicaii party with be-
ing the offspring OF fanataeisln, cruelty and
hypocricy, that it was founded o., no consti-
tutional sanction or governmental principle,
that, vampire, like. it was llourishcd BY the
hearts blood Of the people and when that
sustenance was withdrawn it must PEI ish.
He then went on to say that the Democratic,
was par excellence, the partyof fhc constitu
ton, and the tu.wark of liberty, aud after
many other such wild assertions, he closed
with declaring that the next invasion Of the
rights OF the Southern people would be the
introduction OF compulsory education. under
a horde OF Yankee teachers sent from the
North for the purpose. This he said would
demoish the whole social system OF the
South, would dispel the sanctity OF the home
circle and dissipatc the reficing influences
that are now thrown around our children.
Perhaps That portion Of the speech might
have carried some weight with it had our
people not known whats blessing our public
schools have been.
We advise Democratic speakers, in fu-
rure, not 70 try to make 4 bugbcar OF the
public school. That might have done five
years ago, but isn't exactly the most COLI
vincing argument now.
AS VIC have said, Col. Holidays speech
was beautiful and entertaining and so en-
tirely different from the majority of Demo-
cratic harangues, that it was really refresh
ing, but its merit consisted in the language
with which his thoughts were attired. and
which half concealed the error OF them. The
most telling part Of the address was scath-
ing denunciation of the demagogue. and it
was splendid too, but considering that the
Hon. ,Jno. L. was present, it was rather un-
kind, ana might have been regarded as per-
sonal.
THE DISCUSSION.
AT the close of COL, Holidays speech,
Capt. Blmgardner announced that a joint
discussion between Capt. Everett. W. Early
and Hon. John I. Harris would take place;
that each speaker would occupy an hour IN
his opening address and that fifteen minutes
would be allowed each Tor reioinder. Capt.
Bumgardner then introduced
l.. W. EARLY.
After alludins to his Identification mith
the South, and to his record as 4 confederate
soldier, the speaker referred briefly to the
Democratic record Oh the Centennial and
other important measures, and to the en-
couraging outlook for the Republicans in the
approaching national contest. He then paid
his respects to Harris, by reading the Fndi-
Gators report Of the speeches made in the
nominating convention by j. L. Bray, of
Green and Or. A. NJ. Faurtleroy, of Staun-
ton, in which Harris was denounced as po-
litical traitor and charged with almost every
crime known to the decalogue. lie made
several good hits at the Hon. John II. which
were vociferously chccrcd by both Democrats
and Republicans.
followed after the hour had expired and piled
into EARLY rough and tumble, and then this
prince of demagogues appealed to the ne
groes, telling them they ought to vote for
him because his opponent had fought to
keep them in slavery whilst he (Harris) had
not raised his hand. Strange to say the
Democrats even cheered this part of his
speech, which, had it been delivered by a
Republican would have met with storm of
Misses. The remainder of the speech was
series of mud throwing, Astounding in coarse
wit and coarser language, and embellished
with the frequent repetition OF such elegant
and refined expressions as ''that's what's the
matter with Hannah,' and the like.
The joint reioinders were no better, and
reflected no credit on either Of the partici-
pants. tts ass
We cannot but commend the conduct of
the audience. Although the majority was
Democratic, still there was very large pro-
portion OF Republicans, and the utmost
courtesy was shown by both parties to the
speakers Of each. There was no contention
or discord, and with the exception of the
speakers themselves every one seemed to be
in good humor.
BISHOP J. J. GLossBERNER. We had
the pleasure of call from Bishop j. j.
Glossberner, OF the United Brethren Church. |
He has Just returned from an official visit to
his District, composed Of the States Of Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, Iowa,
Minnesota, Wisconsin,, and part of Illinois, |
He has also visited the District composed of
California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washing |
ton, this duty having to be performed alter
nately every year by the Bishops. lie |
attended four Conferences on the Pacific |
slope, and sixteen in Ills district proper He |