Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-09-26
Z CoMMUNICATED /
SALEM, VA. I
Sept. 10, '76. I

COMMUNICATED.
SALEM, VA.
il. Sept. 10, '76. J
To the Editor Of The NetOs Il se
Yesterday was gala day In Salem.
and feast of pleasure to the good peo-
pie of Little Roanoke Col, HoIli-
day, the Conservative Canvasser. was
here, Gen. Pridemore, the nominee
for Congress, was here. and Governor
McMulliL, the Standing candidate. ,,
was here, and it our opinion that the
Governor wished himself lust nnv-
where else. We have understood that
the Governor, when he is making his
canvass in the western part of the
District. tells IL that "he is strong in
the East" and when he is here that
"he Is strong tn the West.u He adj
mits that Pridemore will detraet from
his strength in the western counties.
but he says he will make up the def.
cheney from Terry's friends in the ems
tern counties. In order, therefore
that the Governor may have his state
nlent certified, we have thought proner
to write this letter, i'm order that he
may have the Information i'm printed
form for his convenience. il was
County Court day, and had been de-
sgnated as the day for a grand Demo.
cratic Rally and the erection of n
"Tilden and Hendricks Flag" There
was a large assemblage Of the citizens
of Roanoke, and every section of the
county was well represented. We
montion this in order that the Cover
nor may not be misunderstood when
ne tells how he was received in Roam
oke.
Col. Holiday, by appointment, led
off, and in his chaste and elegant stvle
delivered the best campaign speech to
which we have yet listened. 1t was n
review of political history for tbepast
thirty years, and ali arraignment of
the radical party for all political
crimes Of the last decade. He held up
the bloody hands and blackened re-
cord Of this political party before the
gaze of the people, and showed TO
them that none else under Gods heay-
en- are responsible for tho pitiable con-
ditions OF our country at this time
1t was just such speech rs every vo-
ter in Virginia should listen to for
once. After holding a large and in
terested audience for about two hours
the Colonel took his seat amid rousing
applause, and Gov. McMullin arose TO
address the people beautiful, grand
magnificent and glorious little county
of Roanoke This announcement
by the Governor was greeted with
great applause, and it was difficult to
restore order. And here we will state
that the Governor is dllUdVs oreeEet7
Nth this applause when lie appears
before Roanoke audience and il is
generally very difficult to restore or
der and not until the old gentleman
has had several Invitations to keen his
scat. However, order was partially
restored, and portion of the audience
remained to listen to that little speech
OF his, in which he recOunts the story
of his youth and early manhood. the
melancholy days between the pIow
handles, and the bard time he had
when he drove his team through this
country, and then how the people, the
dear people rescued him from his Ia
bors and sent him to honor them at
Washington. He made several at
tempts to arraign his opponent for DO
litical inconsistencies endeavored1 to
excite the ahimOsities of the old Whig
and Democratic parties, and claimed
that Tilden d Hendricks and the
whole world had come to his platform
and principles.
After the Governor had finished.
Gen. Pridemore, who never before adj
dressed n Roanoke audience, was in
trodueed by w. Griffin, Esq, our
County Canvasser, in a handsome
manner. 1t only took few minutes
to assure to the General that he had
the sympathies Of The audience, aud
for the people to be assured by the
Generals manner that we were going
TO have a "big skinning," and the
Governor would have one "hiden for
his Pattonsburg Tan Yard. In a little
while the whole audience was uprour-
ious with applause, and convulsed
with laughter, at the splendid points
the speaker made and his brilliant ar
rayof anecdotes so appropo in every
instance. Suffice it to say, that Gen,
Pridemore completely demolished ev-
cry argument of the Governor, and
such "skinning" we never did have
here before. He just fiayed the old
demagOgue alive and it is to be hoped
that Pridemore will forever remove
this old CHI nic sore from the body
polite OF the Southwest. 1t was eX-
tremely difficult to restore order and
retain an audience when the Governor
arose to make his rejOinder, and It
could only be done when it was an
nounced that Pridemore would have
another 10 minutes. We have never
seen a more unanimous and enthusi.
astic demonstration any where, and
even the Governor was not so obtuse
as not to see that the feeling was very
strong against him, and he remarked
that he was very much mortified to
see 1t. IIII FT''
The Salem Cornet Band serenaded
the speakers at night and several
handsome addresses were made. But
whilst this was all going on it was re-
ported to us by one who knew that
thls odd simon-pure Democrat" was
closeted in the Post Office with the
two leading Republicans of the coun-
ty. But we don't think they took
much stock In the Governor. 1t Is
r'prediction, if there is a Republi-
in Roanoke.
We have written this letter to as
sure the Western end of the District
thht we are all in full and working
sympathy with the great Party of Re.
formI and that Fayette McMullin
stands not the ghost of chance in
this county. Hoping to hear enGOur-
aging news from the West, we re-
main, .'.. ...
d.. Yours, &C., ROANOKE.