The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-07-24
Re-Adiusters in Rockingham.

Re-Adjusters in Rockingham.
GEN. MAHoNE-coURT DAY IN HARRISON
BURG-PoLITICAL SPEAKING-ALLEN,
PAUL AND HINER ON THE HUsTINGs.
Last Monday morning Gen. Wan. Malone
was in Staunton, and the report having
been circulated that he was on his way to
Harrisonburg to assist at the unfurling Of
. the new readjusters' banner, various news
paper men boarded the train, and proceeded
for the burg with the full expectation of list.
ening to, and giving the readers OF their re-
spectlve journals the benefit of the views
and utterances OF that wirey politician who
is now the unchal!enged leader of the new
school read justers, and around whom the
hopes and affections Of the enemies OF the
debt settlement SO warmly cluster. One
unacquainted with the current history Of
public affairs in Virginia, and not familiar
with the faces of those who have played
such prominent parts on the political thea
tire, would scarcely have imagined that the
queer looking little individual, In fancy
check flannel fatigue suit land patent leather
shoes. with white ruffles around his wrists,
was the famous Gen. William Mahone,-the
hero OF the Crater, the Anaconda that makes
past-time of swallowing railroads, the al
legged subsidizer of the press and various 9TH
er potent agencies, the brains and blood OF
the new party, and possibly the next Gov
ernor OF Virginia. And yet there was some
thing about the man that would not permit
him to be passed unnoticed, for beneath the
the broad hat brim, pair Of restless eyes
seemed ever on the alert, and the full whis-
kers about his face were not sufficient to con.
ceal the lines that told Of, resolution, force
and courage.
When the tram reached Harrisonburg,
Gepl. Malone still retained his seat, and ru-
NOR then avowed that he was on his way to
Woodstock to caucus with Riddlebarger and
prepare the dynamite that is to atomize the
debt settlement bill. This may or may
not have been true, but certain it is that the |
General Disappointed good many by giving |
Harrisonburg the go-by at season so pro-
pitious as July Court. Even at the busiest |
periods Of the year, the allurements Of Rock
ingham Court day are not to be resisted by
people who from generation to generation
have held it sacred duty to assemble to-
gether on the third Monday of each month;
and when, as now, there is comparative
lull in the activity of the farm, an unusually
large crowd can always be relied on, espe-
cially if there is any prospect Of witnessing
a political wool-gathering; for if there is any,
thing particularly dear to the average Rock
inghamer it is an Intellectual tourney in
which Paul throws down the gauntlet to all
corners, and chance for the exercise of ex-
ira lung power is offered.
When the Stauntonians reached the Court
House on Monday last. SO dead a silence pre-
vailed that but for the incessant hubbub on
the out side, no one would have imagined
that anything extraordinary was transpir-
ing. Not that public debt discussion is {
phenomenal in Virginia and especially in l
Harrisonburg, but that such an entertain. a
ment was in progress, and that the four
walls of the courthouse echoed to the notes
of the speaker alone, was where the marvel
came in.
There were very few persons in the room,
when we arrived, and .
HENRY ALLEN OF SHENANDOAH
was ably representing the cause OF the peo- T
pie of Virginia, in a speech Of power and +
force, in which he deprecated the ceaseless 3
and senseless agitation Of the debt subject, F
and maintained that every consideration of
interest, integrity, justice and right de-
handed that we should honestly accept the 2
;erms of the new settlement bill, and bend Il
,ur every energy t. the work of carrying K
INTO effect its provisions. We have not the x
pace nor inclination to follow him in his wi
lour's argument, for the ground has been Al
o often gone over that there is little of in p
crest or novelty to be presented. Whilst :.
ot particularly an attractiye speaker, Judge -
Allen is man who will impress the close
steiner with the fine arrangement of his =
natter, the earnestness Of his utterances and
he force Of his logic. He had before him a
lain task, and he performed it as one who de-
as the might of right on his side. Stub vi vi
orn facts and figures were the basis of his a
rgument and dispassionate appeals to rea- rio
m were all that were necessary. ia.
Judge Allen was followed by Mr.
SENATOR JNO. PAUL Mi
Harrsonbnrg, in speech OF an hours =
myth. 1t was the first time we ever re-
ember to have seen John Paul appear be- N
re Rockingham audience without being A.,
eeted with applause. He commenced O
mid dead silence, but ere long the court HI HI
ON began to fill up and the old time politi- F
l spirit to make itself manifest. Paul's 1 1ea
I'D and aggressive charge soon awakened IN 1T
and proved that he still held to NJ
m with hooks Of steel the people of his Mo- Mo-
unity. There was nothing new in his N
gument against what he styled the second
lnding bill, and from one Of less dash it
,uld have fallen tame and insipid What II
er may be said OF John Paul. he is certain our o.
one OF the best advocates of weak cause bav
, nave ever heard on the hastings. He dinl
ows so well the sore points Of human ma byt
re, and sprinkles the condiments with such u,u
lexterous hand. that somebody is bound to has
art, and somebody else is bound to be past
fused, and then too, he has a marvellous tt
titude at turning facts up side down and a aav'
utting head" on the wrong end, which n
ded to his quick repartee and ready COM ing
md of language, make him most attract hem
:, if not an altogether convincing speaker. s sno'
On the rejoinders, Paul and Allen struck eve,
ne pretty hard licks, but everyth ing was tain
the most part good humored, and adhe- lea
its OF each Of the speakers claimed that 'i 81,
,ir man had come out victorious. We can tbe
ely say that there were no violent con. pros
'sions, and if as a result Of the meet. upo1
a single man felt anything like change N.Y.
sentiments, is was more than we expect erall
sour
REpREsENrATJvE 1J1NER a sill
1t the close of the regular discussion, loud r.
es were made for Liggett and Hiner, both