Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-05-28
The Readjuster July Convention

The Readjuster July Convention,
APPOINTMENT OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF CAPT. JOHN S. WISE AND SENATOR
PAUL.
&C., &C., sc.
On Monday last a meeting OF the Read
justers of the county was held atth court
house to appoint delegates to the July Con-
venton at Richmond. The announce
ment previously made that Capt. Johns.
Wise Of Richmond was to speak drew
large number Of the opposite wing of the
Democratic party to swell the assemblage
which was full one. A number OF Rock
ingham Readjusters were also present, in
Guiding Mr.. Daniel Dechert, editor of the
Harrisonburg spirit" on his way with
Senator Paul to Highland and Mr.. Harvey
Wartman on his way to Charlottesville to
start a readjuster paper next week The
colored gallery was well filled and while
its occupants were in thorough sympathy
with the speaker When he attacked the
'.Funders,'' yet they dill not seem to take
| to him as they have to other readjuster
| speakers who have been here. Capf, Wise
| is young man hot m',se t.fan thirty years
of age apparently, anG IS a stump speaker
does not need The pres. lge OF his dlstln-
guished fathers Ialne 10 give him success.
He speaks well and besides keeping his az
guments well connected amuses his audi
ence with we'll told anecdotes. He was
introduced by Mr. S. b. Allen, Chairman
of the Readjuster Committee in some re-
marks.
ADDRESS OF CAPT. WISE.
The main body Of Capt. Wise's address
had 1t been delivered this time last year,
Or should it be delivered this time next
year would be timely. but a readjuster
speech, pure and simple, when acuion upon
| it is SO far in the future cannot be very
Interesting, even to men of that way of
thinking. He alluded to his absence from
the field on this question and said that the
last time he spoke in public was when he
made the speech nominating VIM. Malone
for Governor in the Conservative Conven-
ton, nomination which, if it had been
successful would he thought, have pro-
duced peace and prosperity in the State
to-day He thought the present contest
had produced more bad feeling, more b d
words and more bad principle than any
ever had in Virginia, and it was time to
stop this foolishness. Stop quarreAing Or
go to downright fighting. The war had
been so bitter that nothing was left now
for the Readjuster party but to ''root hog
or die" If the Fnnders got them under
again they would be ridden with long
spurs. After everything that could be
said or done the fact still stared US in the
face that the whole power to arrange this
debt lays with the people and the recent
election has shown what the majority of
the people have determined in this matter.
1t was useless to adopt a settlement that
would not be ratified by the people who
had to elect thelegislature to carry it out.
He did not believe the people of Virginia
had degenerated and thought they would
do what was right about it. Any settle
ment should be submitted TO the people
first. An U. S. Senator had said to him
on the train that he could net understand
why there should be SO much bitterness
letween the Democrats in Virginia when
nobody was in favor Of paying all the debt
and the difference was only about the
amount. Mr.. Wise said he explained to
this Senator that this fight in Virginia
was made by a lot Of people with personal
malignity to one man, and thous ands of
men were on one side simply because this
one man was ON the other. 1t was Malone
and ant-Mahone. Men were Jealous of
him because Of his success during and
since the war. Jealous too because Ma
hone had been the first to see and seize
the right solution of the debt question.
These men, added Nh. Wise. were of sort
that if they could regain power they would
be worse than the Russian aristocracy.
There were about two hundred of them in
the State and if they uld all get fat off
ces this eight would stop, They were
welded to their idols. And as Phil Boil
ing said wiler he failed to persuade Tom
Bowcock to become a Republican 1T is a
| mighty small idol and mighty small
Ephraim too.
Mr.. Wise said the bitterness of this con-
test bad exctlltd ali others in Virginia. IT
had come TO pass now that. Funder chill
dren were not allowed to play with Read
juster children and Funder's wives stopped
calling on Readjusters' wives. Wien his.
the speakers name had been proposed for
membership at "a social club in Richmond,
fifteen black balls were thrown in against
him, more than would have been cast
against the greatest vagabond in Rich
mond, One of the fifteen was a man who
had kept out Of the war 10y varicose veins
and another was man who had informed
the police while employed in an affair of
honor.
The Funders now want to know what
we are going to do. We amt going to tell
you. Ifa Funder procession was going
down to Harrlsonburg by the pike I'd
take side path. 1 wouldn't 20 the same
road with them. 1t may be so that at our
Convention. in July we may get ring in
their nose and make them get down on
their knees and squeal. If we vote the
Democratic ticket we'll do it our own
way, and if we vote the Republican ticket
we will do it because we choose to ana in
our own good time. Don't be afraid to
say what YOU want. If you are opposed to
an independent electoral ticket don't he
afraid to say so. [ amt afraid to say so
and l intend to kick against it. Come
down to Richmond and help me.
In concluding his speech of which this
is the merest sketch, Mr.. Wise said he
wanted to save Virginia from effete SEN
llltY and Anticipated pig headedness.