Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-11-19
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1878.
The Richmond Demonstration.


Last Friday evening the Bristo
friends of Col. Richmond had a mag
nifcent torch-light procession in hon
or Of his election to Congress. 1t l.
but just to that gentleman to state
that he had been invited to Bristol fol-
this purpose, but had modestly tried
to avoid any demonstration in his IA
vor. He had been written to again
to come here on Friday evening, but
had declined. The invitation was
pressed by his friends, and we learn
he had reluctantly started to Bristol,
but learning on the way hither that
his presence might result in igniting
the inhamable elements developed by
the late contest, he took the advice of
friends and returned to Scott, being
unwilling that any compliment paid
him publicly should be the occasion
of trouble to any of his friends. There
had been serious trouble at the Estill-
Vile demonstration, and he very wise
ly and properly determined to do
anything he could honorably do to
avert trouble. 1t was also represent
ed TO Col. Richmond that his partici-
patton in such a demonstration here
would be construed as an intended in
dignity and insult TO those who had
advocated the election of Gov. Nc
Mullin. We see no just reason for
this feeling, but it did exist, and Col.
Richmond determined to forego any
honor of the kind, rather than give
color to the suspicion Of his opponents
that any humiliation was intended
them. Nevertheless,
THE DEMONSTRATION
did come off. Immediately after dark
a splendid procession was formed at
the head of Main street, and marched
down Main to Johnston, via DR.. Sui
Inns, thence down Cumberland to
Front, thence via Front and Main to
Conway Hall. At the head of Lee
street a couple of anvils shook the
town with their donations, and at
SauI's corner a bonfire of oil barrels
illuminated the entire vicinity.
AT CONWAY HALL
a half hour speech was made by the
Editor of the Meas, and the crowd |
returned to the street and the process
sion renewed. Throughout the whole
affair the Bristol Band, in a hack at
the head of the procession, made
splendid music.
The McMullin men, after the close
of the Richmond demonstration, as
Sembled at the Va. House, where
speeches were made by Mr.. Ward, of
the Abingdon Ntgfman, Gov. Nc
Col. Bailey, Col. Fulkerson
and Mr.. Burson. As soon as Col.
closed his remarks, calls
were made for Campbell, and Col. c.
came forward and made a very ami
mated speech that was roundly ap-
plauded.
The transparencies were very fine
and quite numerous. The inscrip-
tions were in great variety and con-
tanned many happy hits. Perhaps the
best pun on them was 81 B Dunn-ed
if Richmond amt elected" "Let
the people speak and candidates obey
the "Fiat" of the People
Down with the Funding Bill-Save
the Free Schools-Glorious Lee, 81
comes into Line-Giles
2o3-Wythe 46S-are only few of
the inscriptions.
There had been much talk about
trouble if this demonstration should
be made, but we are glad to state that
all such talk was unfounded, and the
evening passed without an unpleasant
incident. The crowd that followed
the procession and assembled at the
Hall was very large and enthusiastic.