The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-10-03
The Canvass.

The dead sea calm which has pervaded
this district for the past month, was sudden
~ broken on last Saturday evening by the
appearance OF printed circular announcing
that Gen. John Echols had consented to en-
ter the field as competitor with Judge
Harris and Capt. Paul for seat in Con-
gress. kilograms flew thick and fast in
various directions and more particularly was
the line to Harrisonburg in demand. Early
on Monday morning Judge Harris made his
appearance on the streets Of Staunton, about
the time the crowd had gathered for the
circus, intent on learning the why's and
wherefores Of this sharp disturbance of the
mon otony which existed, and to consult
with friends as to the best thing to do. A
city contemporary issued on Tuesday, con-
tanned lengthy card from Harris, with the
imposing caption ''Reply of Judge Harris
to the card of Gen. Echols." What precise
~ Gen Echols had said in his ''carl'' to pro-
woke reply, no one could well see-and es-
peclally sucha <'reply" as Judge Harris in
dited. No assault had been made, but the
simple right had been exercised of announ-
cling himself for Congress. Harris, howev-
er regarding the district as his private
property, and the position of Congressman
as his personal and especial inheritance,
looked upon the announcement as an inva-
sion OF his personal rights, and with ex-
IRENE ill humor and bad taste, throws down
challenge for miserable, disgusting per
sonal squabble, advancing to the contest
with the usual vocabulary OF the noisy dis
putant, who prefers personalities to the le-
gItimate and dignified discussion of impor-
tant questions. This will be readily seen
by perusal of his ssreply," which we pub
lish elsewhere, in order that he may have
the benefit of about the largest circulation
in the district, and to give to our numerous
readers all that may tend to interest them !
during the progress of the contest.
From this time forward we may expect a |
lively canvass, and that wherever the con-
testants meet, the choler will rise and the
real issue be overlooked in the personal turn
That will be attempted to be given to the
discussion. We doubt whether Gen. Echols
will allow himself to be drawn into such a
dispute as Judge Harris "reply'' would
seem to invite. At least we hope that his
respect for the intelligence of the people,
md interest in the grave questions at issue,
" i'll direct his speeches to giving informa-
ion to his hearers and presenting respectable
and legitimate arguments in support OF the
position he maintains on national finance.
Certainly the people will prefer this to the
disgusting caterwauling and dirt-throwing,
uch as are too frequently the warp and
vhoof of political discussions in these latter
lays.
We shall endeavor to keep our readers in
ormed of what is going on during the
canvass, and to give each of the candidates
N impartial hearing through our columns,
eserving to ourselves the privilege OF pre-
enting such views on the questions intro
luced as our. judgment may suggest and the
interest OF the people, In our estimation,
equire. We will ''nothing extenuate or
ct down aught in malice" but allow lib.
raj access to all interested to the VIRGIN
AN, that the friends Of each may have no
lst cause of complaint for want of fair
caring.