Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-08-29
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED.
PRIDEMORE AND MCMUL
LIN MEET.
The Day at AbingdOn-TndeScri-
babio Enthusiasm.

=
ingdOn was enough to have turned an
older head than that Of Gen. Pride
moro. There has been nothing like it
in this county for many years. How
many desired to hear the discussion
we cannot tell. The courtroom could
not have held another man, and
though the dense pack of voters was
almost to suiiiCation the interest was
not for n moment abated during the
two hOul8 that it lasted. If Pride
more had poured kerosene upon the
crowd and ignited it with a parlor
match he would not have fired it more
cllectually than was Gguratively done
by his admirable speech. We have
seen nothing like it
Since grim yisagcd war
Smoothed his wrinkled front,
lie was introduced by c. i. Trigg,
of the County Committee, and was
proceeding to address the house when
Governor McMullin pressed rapidly
through the crowd and sprang up the
steps to the stand with an agility that
would have done him credit i'm the
brave old days when he was twenty
one, and cried out "hold hold on !"
lie claimed the right to open the de-
bate, but the crowd called and scream
ed for Pridemorc. 1t was no use the
Governor insisted, but the crowd
would not for moment hear him
and the din of voices calling pride.
more was beyond all power to sub
due 1t. After brief conference which
could only be heard by the two antag-
onists, if it could be heard by them
even, Gen. Pridemore proceeded. His
speech was again and again applaudcd
beyond description. His anecdotes,
which were few, shook the building
like an earthquake,
When Gov. McMullin attemp pied to
reply it seemed difficult for him to get
IL hearing The cro@a remained, but
it called for Findlay, DIR. Alex, who
attempted to still the crowd, but with
poor success. At this point some one
informed Gen. Pridemore, enormously
that DR., Findlay had been Hughes
man and led that gentleman into the
error of so misinforming the crowd
1t was promptly and positively denied
10y the Dr., and then the Governor
took the stand and made his speech,
1t is proper to add that Gen. Pride
more did all in his power to still the
tempest and have his adversary ac-
corded respectful hearing and in this
he succeeded. Gov, MeMullin stated
in his speech that, If when he goes to
scott and Lee, he finds the people of
tlose counties against him, he will
withdraw and yield Gen. Prldemore a
hearty support. He had some friends
in the House, but it was evident Gen.
Pridomore had made fearful inroads
upon them, and the few that remained
true to him were few indeed.
We feel very favorably and kindly
dieposcd toward Gov, McMuIln, but
the demonstration that was made at
Abingdon very clearly foreshadows
tho immense strength Of Gen. Pride
moro before the people, and is more
than the Governor ought to attempt to
resist, No one longer doubted that
the convention had nominated the
strongest man in the District, or that
ho Will sweep the field like a tornado.
At the close of the discussion Judge
Page resumed his seat on the bench
but the crowd adjourned to the street
to witness the
RAISING or THE ULDEN FLAG,
which, to the sound of inspiring music
by the Abingdon Brass Band, aud
amid tho cheers and calls for Pride.
moro, was run to the summit of the
one hundred and ten foot hickory pole
Nnd given to the breeze. The pole was
surmounted with n hickory broom,
which, Notwithstanding the horribly
crooked handle, suggested painful
torcbodings to the party in power,
Al the other end of town was seen
lying in front of the Post Onice an un-
dressed hickory pole which gave
promise of Ilayescnwheeler Flag
That Is among coming events, but the
po'e Is about as crooked as the broom
handle on the beautiful T,lden pole,