The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-08-17
RATIFY No. 2.

The second attack of Democratic pole rails
ing visited this community on last Monday
night. This time it broke out in the western
portion of the city, known as Newtown, and
prevailed principally among the boys, who,
glad of any opportunity of airing their lungs,
were on hand in full force, and awaited them
selves of the privileges of the occasion with
commendable enthusiasm. Besides these there
were perhaps some hundred men, but they
didn't get much enthused until Capt. Grattan
told them that by changing the administration
it would reduce the Revenue Tax, and the
prospect of cheaper whiskcy, and reduction of
the price oftobacco, set them on tEeir exclama-
tions at once:
The pole was raised Immediately in front Of
the residence of Capt. Chas. Grattan, and is
said to be about eighty feet high. 1t is sur
mounted by flag of red write and blue, upon
which are the names of Tilden and Hendricks.
Just above the flag corn broom is dashed, and
''thercby hangs a tale." At first it was con-
templated to elevate a scrub broom, but as
Tilden and Hendricks would have to be scour-
ed first, and as it would require no delicate ap-
state of immacuiateness, it was wisely deter
mined to abandon the project as the prospect
Of the friction of short scrub broom on latter
day Democracy was anything but exhilirating.
Next, it was proposed to put up white wash
brush, but the advocates of this measure were
Immediately silenced with the assurance that
they were too green to be even white washed,
and that everybody who belonged to the Dem
ocratic party was supposed to know that the
principal tenet of their political faith was
to deceive, and the idea, therefore, of
erecting anything so significant and so indica
tive of the future policy OF the party, as
white wash brush, was absurd in the extreme.
At length compromise was effected and the
result was a corn broom which was placed over
the name of the Democratic candidates, to
show, doubtless, that they were not above sus-
picion of dirt.
After the pole was erected attention was
called to conduct of two sickly looking Ian
nate the surroundings, but which in spite of
the most vigorous coaxing, refused to throw
any light OH a subject so sombre, and so a
kerosene lamp was produced. and the speaking
Capt. S. L. Philips acted as master of ccre-
monies and in his usually happy manner, intro
duced, as the first speaker, Chas. Grattan,
Esq, who in advancing from the door Of his
residence towards the lamps, said that he EVAN
ted more light" and his subsequent exhibit CT
national finances, demonstrated conclusively
that lie comprehended his own deficiencies
and that he was most sadly be-
nighted when he attempted to wade into the
various moneyed departments of the govern
ment. How a member of so shrcwd flnan-
ciering firm as that to which the gentleman be-
longs, could have become SO muddled, we
cannot understand, but it was doubtless owing
to the fact that he did not have more eight"
Capt. John N. Ople, followed Mr.. Grattan,
and in the very commencement of his speech
let the cat square out of the bag, by declaring
that the names of Tilden and Hendricks were
engraven on Democratic hearts in letters of
gold. When it is remembered that the Capt.
is one of the aspirants for the postmastership
should Cilden be elected, the force of his OBJ
servation is at once apparent.
The next speaker was Harry st. Geo. Tuck |
err, son of Hon. J. Ral.. Tucker, and a young
lawyer who has but recently located in our
midst. His style is what McEllicott would call
decidedly demonstrative, - and resembles very
much that of his father. In his speech he in |
stituted comparison between the two nation |
al candidates, and after painting 'sShammy"
IS lovely as SNOWFALL and Hayes as weak as |
diluted water, he put the question to the crowd |
(which of these will you choose" There was |
pause for moment and then one voice re-
sronded, ''Tilden." Only one and not one
more.
When Mr.. Tucker had taken his seat, Capt.
Phillips introduced A. Blauth, of Greenvllle,
Is ''the noblest Roman of them ALL and one
If the best men in the county. Mr.. Blauth,
who is a German, and as Capt. Phillips said,
,ne of the best men in the county, mounted |
The steps of the terrace and after pulling off
his coat, said he ''wanted to make Ayes" Pre-
,isely how the pun was to be construed, we
lad not the leisure to determine, for the speak
,r very soon started out to prove that while |
Carl Shurtz had more intellect than he, still |
A. B)auth had the more sense OF the two. He |
lrew the line of distinction very fine, but as |
he small boy who was holding the kerosene
amp began to get weak in the knees about that |
lime and the illumination commenced a very |
flicker, we couldn't see it. He |
lext pitched into the editor of the VIRGINIAN
Ind charged upon him a diabolcal at
empt to place all the old line wings in very |
lark hole and then reduce them to sausage |
neat, because, said the speaker. che hate um
worse nor de debbil." He wound up by de-
,laring his determination to emigrate to Sibe-
ia, or shoot himself out CT cannon should !
Hayes be elected.
The next speaker was VIM. B. McChesney,
Who also compared the two national candidates
or the highest place in the gift of the
people. and in that connection told the
,est anecdote of the evening, but lis we sup
,osc he will desire to get it off OH some future
occasion we refrain from publishing it.
The last speaker was Capt. VIM. A. McCue.
Who after an allusion to the flag and the names
loating thereon, began to say something
bout Joshua and the Eible. This proved too
much for Democratic patriotism and the crowd
to wilt vsibly.
At the close of Capt. McCue's remarks, Phil
Ups proposed three cheers for Tilden and Hem
tricks, Which was feebly responded to. The
m 10 hove wnro thop rouco1 oo1 cont homo RI l