Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-09-12

1
povorished the Government and !
the radical officesholders.
1t shows that the Hayes party TO
longer rely upon truth or principle
as weapons with which they can
win this campaign. 1t shows that |
they are willing to fight with un-
clean weapons in order to over
throw the virtue of the county,
1t is the old story Of demagoguos
and plunderers. The country may
go the devil if they can swim and
flourish for a day. We did not
hear the opening speech Of Gov.
Foote, but learn it was chiefly cons
posed of charges against the in
tegrity of Gov. Tilden.
Col. White consumed large
portion Of his seventy-hve minutes
in morciless but strictly good hu-
mored and legitimate ventilation of
Gov. Foote'S record. The old man
felt kecnly the sharp probe tf his
antagonist, and frequently sprang
frantically to his feet. But the
lance was only withdrawn to go
the deeper next time.
Col. White next reviewed the
administration of President Grant,
and painted a most accurate but re-
voting picture Of its corruptions.
His speech was immensely witty,
and his stage action kept the au-
dience in a roar Of laughter, except,
when by monstrous and merciless
blow with the tilt-hammer of truth,
he brought down the vast audience
in round after round Of applause
AS far as he went his speech was
admirable, but he consumed toe
much time on certain portions Of it,
and allowed Foote to get away with'
out a word of defence OF Governor
Tildcn or a single attack OH Gov
Hayes, whose seizure Of a poor dy'
ing soldiers $500 he admits he can
not explain or account for, and
whose income returns are utterly
inexplicible, except on the theory
that wholly justifies those OF Gov
Tilden. He failed to quote the "let.
us-have-peace" clause Of Hayes
letter Of acceptance, wherein he
pleads with the ardor of a young
lover for the confidence of the
Southern people, and made no allu'
sion to the abandoned visit he en-
gagged for to Grant at Long Brancl
for the connection of the pro,
gramme by which he is to thrust
the bayOnet into the souls of the
peaceful voters of the Gulf States,
He failed to show, as clearly can be
done, that Hayes is merely a decOy
duck for the deception of the Ameri'
can voter; that he is merely Bush
man clad in the garb of the Ostrich
in order to gain the coveted proximi.
ty which the alarm of his victim has
suggested. But if Colonel Whites
speech was deficient in the selection
of his antagonists salient points, if ii
lacked compass and range, that OF
Gov. Foote showed him to be the arts
Cul, cunning sharper that he is writ
ten down for in recent American ans
nails. Its highest attribute was dex-
trous cunning. It's end was the per-
version of fact. Its object was clear
ly seen to be a last longing for that
spoil of office which has been for a
long life time his guiding star. lie
boosted of the clever demeanOr of
his audience, as though there could
be any question of the good breeding
of the people of Bristol. He declar-
ed that Grant had full and legitimate
authority for the use of the army to
control this election and affirmed that
the Constitutional amends were ex-
erting a benign and blessed influence
all over the land. He defended the
enforcement act, which provides
monstrous penalties for the use of orr
binary farm patronage in favor of
democratic voters, when he we'll knew
that the whole power of the Presi-
dents patronage is used to control
the suflrages of ollicesholders when
he we'll knew that if single office
holder should vote the democratic
ticket he would lose his position in
stanter.