The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-09-28
For the VALLEY VIRGINIAN.
MASS MEETING.
THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETING
IN PAGE-A GRAND FIZZLE-TIIE SOW
EREIGNs WON'T ENTHUSE.

THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETING
IN PAGE-A GRAND FIZZLE-THE SOW
EREIGNs WON'T ENTHUsE.
After advertising for two or three weeks
by posting mammouth pictorial handbills all
over this and adjoining counties, besides no.
tices in all the papers, for a Grand Mass Meet
inc of the unterrfied Democracy, to be held at
Grove Hill, in the upper end Of this county,
on the 18th inst, and notifying them Of the
extensive arrangement for the acconlmoda.
ton of multitude. and every other induce
ment offered by the announcement of the
certain presence of their great leaders. and
large photos of the great reformers at the
head OF their bills, which they thought would
surely bring 'em; indeed they had scattered
these advertisements so profusely, that cas-
ual observer passing through the county,
would have imagined John Robinson's cir
Gus and menagerie was on the qui vire-the
GREAT day finally arrived, and to their utter
dismav. what result Instead of the thou
sand OF yeomanry, perhaps if the men, women
and children, ETC.. had been carefully emu
merated, might have reached the enormous
number of four hundred.
When YOUR correspondent arrived on the
ground they were about given the finishing
Stroke to the rearing of a very ugly pole, up
on which was piece Of calico with the words
Reform, Tilden and Hendricks" When
this part of the programme was through, the
Luray Band were notified to repair to the
stand, about 200 yards distant, and blow
em up, and after very considerable effort
in that line, they finally succeeded in draw
ing about one-haH the crowd. Col. Splitter
then arose and in his usual happy style, that
is, in reminding them of the necessity OF yot-
ING the Democratic ticket, he introduced
Capt. Harry Riddleberger, who commenced
the same speech he made some time since in
your city, but could see the Captain was
moi easy; disappointment was depicted i'll his
countenance, and the was recalling that old
adage, misery loves company all OF q sud-
den he turned around at the sound Of q We
hicle. which drove up in rear OF stand,
smile lighted up his manly face, he had the
satisfaction to know that he was not the only
man vino was fooled all the way over to Page,
to talk to trees, for he found he had the sympa-
thets,of others in the arrival..o the Hon. K. r..
Withers, Col. O'Ferrall, Col. Skinner and
Gen. Echols, whereupon he soon closed his
piece, glad of the opportunity.
Next came Col. O'Ferrall, with the same
speech he made at pole raising in this coun-
ty some time ago. which, of course, was the
hypocritical clamor about political corrup-
ton, etc., and think the Colonel has been
studonsly employed, lat least since he beat
Harris,) in culling the most opprobrious. ep-
ithies, and vulgar denunciations With which
to embelish his bitter speech against the Re
publican party, and after an Intellectual ef-
fort by telling stale anecdotes to enthuse the
crowd, he closed bis piece.
1t was then announced there would be an
intermission for short time for refreshments,
after which, the Hon. 4. x. Withers would
address the vast audience.
kl,avy l,o1 fsr,iS n1
Band was again called into requisition to
blow 'em up, but they would not come worth
a cent. Col. Withers, however, commenced
his speech, which 1 was really anxious to
hear, but was debared that privilege, for at
this juncture of the proceedings, it was dis
covered that there was something more at
tractive to the vast audience, in the shape OF
a s'Hobby Horse show some one had set
up during intermission: and had attracted
more than his half of the vast crowd, where
upon there was visible commotion among the
managers and whippers-in, which soon proved
effectual in stopping the circus performance
and getting the crowd again to the stand'
but after short time it was apparently man
Tested that they had heard enough for one
day, for at the first cry Of a fight the crowd
broke and fled to the scene OF the conflict,
which was beneath the pole they had reared
in the morning. Col. Withers seemed very
cool and not at all excited, only remarking,
sslet them fight, men, and listen to me-" It
was not long, however, before they had quell-
ed the riot and peace reigned once more
Col. Withers continued sometime. and closed
with tribute to the women of the Valley,
which was so unlike the former slang and
billingsgate of his predecessors, that thought
his a very sensible and dignified speech.
Next came quarter horse, from your city,
Col. Skinner, and was soon convinced that
his was stereotyped edition of Col. OFFER
RAILS speech, with slight change Of slang,
and as all things have an end, so his piece
was done and he quit, to the evident relief
of the crowd.
Next came another horse from your city,
Gen. Echols, whom listened to some twen-
ty minutes, and l think had learned differ
ent piece, as he considered the O'Fcrral-
Skinner edition obsolete, and would have
been pleased to hear him further, but the
shadows of evening were growing long and
your correspondent left the scene. perfectly
satisfied If that lisa sample of the great DEM
ocratic Mass Meetings, that Hayes & Wheel
or would carry Virginia by 10000.
REPUBLICAN.
Illray, Va.,, Sept. 18th, 1876.