The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-10-31
The Last Round.
ANOTHER POLITICAL COURT DAY-THE
THREE CANDIDATES AT sTAUNToN-

| The crowd that assembled in the Court
house last Monday was one of the largest
and most boisterous we have ever seen in
Staunton. 1t packed the room to its capac-
| ity, upstairs and down, and at times became
so noisy that the speakers could not be
| heard at all. 1t would have been unfair.
however, to have judged the crowd by the
| almost constant tumult which prevailed, for
| the uproar for the most part was gotten up by
three or four men, well loaded with benzine.
who seemed to think that the strength of their
fayorite's cause was to be measured by their
lung capacity, and in the indulgence of their
zeal, lost sight of propriety to such an ex-
tent that the police were called in to put
stop to the discreditable demonstration. AS
general thing, an Augusta County audi
ence may be relied on to observe the utmost
courtesy towards the person who addresses
it, no matter what may be the views ad-
vanced. 1t may show decided preference,
but there is prevailing element of fairness
which demands an impartial hearing, and
will be satisfied with nothing less. This
characteristic was less manifest on Monday
| last than we have ever known it to be. but
| still very large majority of the crowd had
no sympathy with the constant and irrele-
| want Interruptions TO which the speakers
were subjected.
1t may have been, however. that the au-
dience desired to adapt itself as nearly as
possible to the tone and character of the adj
dresses to which it listened, and if such was
the case, ample excuse was afforded for all
its faults, for we don't think that such mass
OF bosh and demagogism was ever before
offered an intelligent people as that
served up by Messrs. Paul and Harris on
Monday last. It was simply ridiculous, The
real issue was lost sight of in the bandying
of words, and the recital of stale anecdotes,
the sole object and purpose seeming to be to
raise roar, at whatever cost. Both OF the
Rockingham candidates appeared to forget
that the people OF this district do not expect
to furnish the clown for a travelling circus,
They are looking for man to represent
them in the councils of the nation for 4
statesman who will be prepared to grappfe'
with the great questions Of government
which will be presented for consideration.
and in which are involved, to more or less
extent. their destiny for veal or woe. I'm
agine, if you can, people Of Augusta, such
speech as those you heard ON Monday, be-
ing delivered in the Congress of the United
States, before the assembled wisdom of the
nation. Think Of your own shame and hui
initiation should you chance to be listener
and hear also the jeers of derision with which
it would be followed. Would you feel proud
then that you were the constituent of such
representative? Would you care to ac-
knowledge the relationship? But it may be
said that neither Mr.. Paul nor Mr.. Harris
would dare deliver speech of that kind be-
fore Congress they would adapt themselves
to surroundings. If such be the case, they
are wanting in respect to you; they insult
your intelligence when they presume that
you cannot comprehend the grave questions
at issue and must be entertained by silly
nonsensical twaddle and coarse secondhand
wit. They have asked to be placed as the
custodian of your interests, you have right
to know whether they understand those in
terests or not, and certainly they must show
a better understanding of them than has yet
been exhibited to enttle them to confidence.
The proceedings of Monday was the same
old story. Harris cried persecution, paraded
what he had not done in Congress, and in
dulged to his hearts content in badnage
and anecdote. Paul pointed to his legisla-
| lative career, (and there he did fight gallant
ly) and asked that that record and his abil-
ity to equal Harris as clown be accepted as
a passport to Congress, while Echols made
the same straight forward, manly presenta-
ton of the real issue in the canvass. that has
set the people to thinking for themselves all
over the district-in fact, the only speech
worthy of the name delivered.
1t would have been difficult to determine
whether Paul or Harris was the favorite.
When
| JUDGE HARRIS
commenced the Courthouse echoed and re-
echoed with applause. Harris Harris was
shouted from every direction. The Judge
explained.that one hour and fifteen minutes
would be allowed to each, with twenty M in
utes for rejoinder. He didn't want to speak
that long, but in Difference to General E,h-
ols' wishes, had consented.
General Echols, rising-It is not in defer
ance to my wishes at all. 1t is simply. in
conformity to the arrangement that has been
observed from the commencement of the
canvass.
Harris didn't think he would be able to
entertain an audience for an hour and a
quarter, and would therefore have liked a
shorter time. He was suffering from cold,
and but for the fact that his motives might
be misconstrued, would not have spoken at
all. This contest reminded him of the great
race in which it was sought by doubling on
the Kentucky horse, Ten Brock, to beat him :.
They had been doubling on him from the
commencement, but when the end came he
last one of them.
Judge Harris then proceeded to give his
State debt position, claiming, as usual, to be
the old original readjuster. On the Nation
al finance, he wanted more money and State
banks, because State bank notes would al
ways come home again for the reason that
nobody outside of the State would trust
them. He made piteous appeal to the
debtor class, in which he described debt as
fearful monster, and closed by challeng-
ing his competitors to find fault with his
Congressional career. We have so repeated
ly given the views Of the candidates now in
the field, that it would be useless and tire
some to reproduce them again.
!, PAUL
followed Harris and was received with loud
and prolonged applause. He sailed into
both of his competitors, and gave expression
to an amount Of egoism that quite exceeded
] anything heretofore produced in that line.
To give verbatim report Of his talk would
exhaust all of the cap. rs Ia type foundry.
? 1t was, however, but little more than has be.
fore been published. The same old trodden
path was followed until he came to account