Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-08-29
Democratic Meeting at Florence.

at Florence last Tuesday evening
was addressed by Gen. E. M. San
ford, Captain ]. s. Gordon, Mr.
Thomas b. Brown, Mr.. r. F. del
Valle and Mr.. ]. w. Venable. The
available space in the house was
fully occupied by an audience who
came prompted by no idle curiosity
but with an earnest and laudable
wish to learn more Of the Demo-
cratic candidates and of Democracy
as it is to-day.
General Sanford admirably sus-
tanned himself as the plain, solid,
farmer candidate that he is. He
stated, in words few and simple, all
the political points that now essen
TALLY concern the country people.
He also, in words equally plain
and simple, stated precisely where
he stands on every point. Every
one must have been impressed with
the power of q few short, easy
words to show forth the rights and
wrongs of the masses which are
now before the country as political
questions.
Captain Gordon set forth his po-
sition in terms so plain and few, yet
so sufficient, that he left himself no
chance to escape detection If his
acts In the Assembly diF'r from
his words at Florence. From this
it Is plain that Captain Gordon in
tends to do in the Assembly pre-
ciseIy what he promised ut Flor
ence.
Mr.. del Vale fully confirmed the
accounts that preceded him Of ex.
traordinary powers OF mind for one
of his age. Indeed, he makes the
impression everywhere that he car
ries an old head on young sboul-
ders, and forcibly proves that q
mans age is to be estimated, for
many purposes, by what he knows
rather than the blank leaf of the
Family Bible The earnest, hon
est, hearty and exact manner of
stating facts and drawing conclu-
sions so won the confidence and
kind regards Of the audience that
every one felt that Mr.. del Vale,
previously known as the eXempla.
ry son of honest parents, the relia-
bic country boy, the diligent stu
dent, and now the able debater,
would make a legislator both relia-
BILE and in sympathy with the peo-
pie.
Mr.. Thomas B. Brown, who it is
well known attempted farming
near Florence and failed to sell his
produce for what 1t cost him to
raise it, just as we are doing to-day,
knows how it is himself. To say
that he believes that the times are
sadly out of joint, that he is in
sympathy with US, that lie is in fa-
vor of reform, Is needless, because
we infer as much, as q matter of
course. II, however, any one at
the meeting came there in doubt,
Mr.. Browns speech must have re-
moved the doubt and convinced
the doubter that the masses could
safely trust Mr.. Brown.
Mr.. j. w. Venable need not
have said anything at Florence.
H has been our Deputy Assessor
for years. His record is known to
every voter of Florence precinct.
Every voter of Florence precinct,
irrespective OF party, if brought
into a court of justice and sworn,
would make affidavit that on Mr..
Venable's record as Assessor, there
is no spot, no blemish, no shadow.
L say Mr.. Venable need not have
said word ut the Florence meet
ing, and / am half inclined to think
that be, owing to the lateness of the
hour, had about made up his mind
to leave his cause upon his record.
Be this as 1t may, he was called out
and made short speech, in which
good sense and good taste were
strikingly prominent, especially in
the courteous, may say chival-
rous, terms in which he alluded TO
his political adversarfes whether
voter or candidate. Mr.. VenabIe,
among other fine aphorisms, stated
that the proof of demerits in his
adversary was not proof of merits
in himself. He imputed dement's to
no adversary and said he soughtan
election upon his own record aud
not upon the record Of any other
living man.
1 may add that the complete alb.
sence of personal auimadversion
was q distinguishing and pleas
ant characteristic Of every
speech. There was no mine.
ing of political principles,
however. 1t was distinctly stated
and proved that the Workingmen
and the New Constituencies could
have foguht their battles within the
lines of the national parties with
greater effect than as fragmentary
organizations. AT every turn
where Democracy and Republican,
ism called for a comparison ia WAS
made in terms In no deer euI VI.
cal. FARMER.
Florence. Aup. 9th. 1879.