The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-23

THEIR OLD GAME. TRYING TO GET ALL TIE
ADVANTAGE IN THE TERMS or DISCUSSION
THE DISTRICT SAFE FOR BARBOUR-CHEER
ING NEWS.
| ICorrespondence of the Richmond Dispatch.1
SEPTEMBER 90, 1880.
One Of the largest crowds that we ever
bad gathered on yesterday at this place to
assist In raising a Hancock and English
pole under the auspices OF The club OF THIS
town, and to listen to the speeches OF seye-
raj distinguished gentlemen who were pre-
sent upon invitation to address the people
upon the political issues involved in the
present contest. Our Readiusier friends
had also advertised for a meeting on
the same day, and had Captain II.
II. Riddleberger present to advocate
and explain the very equiyoca position OF
his side Of the house. General Echols, Cap
tain Tbos. Whitehead, Linden Kent, Samuel
Brent. and G. A. Bohannon, Of your city,
were here as the advocates and opponents
OF true Democracy. Mr.. Riddleberger's
friends. through tbe chairman OF their c0un-
ty organization, sent us proposition for a
division OF time, as he (RiddIebergerl and
his friends expressed great anxiety To have
discussion OF the issues Of the day be-
tween him and General EchOls. Mr..
George ID. Gray, acting as chairman
OF the County Committee Of the Ma
tional Democratic party, replied sub
stantillly as follows. He agreed to a
division OF time upon the following terms !:
Mr.. Rddleberger to open in speech OF
| iOriy-tive minutes; General EchOlS to fol-
| low in speech Of same length; Mr. Rid
deberger TO reiOin IN speech OF fifteen
minutes and General Echols to close in a
| ooh - mi, hi Il
ton was declined, and the Mahonetes
offered the following terms General EchoIs
TO open in one and quarter hours Rid
dleberger to follow in one and half hours (;
General Echols To rejOin in thirty minutes,
and Rddeberger in fifteen minutes. This
proposition wa, declined, because too much
time would be consumed in the discussion,
as we had four other distinguished
speakers from distance upon the
ground whom the people were anxious to
hear. We being anxious that Captain Rid.
dleherger should unite in the joint discus
sion, and that he should have As large an
audience as possible, were willing and de-
slrous to make any fair terms with him so
that the entire evening should not be con-
sumed by him, and that would enable our
invited speakers to likewise address the
meeting and to accomplish that object we
finally offered the following terms
Riddleberger to open in a speech Of
forty.fye minutes or to follow EchOls
in speech Of the same length;
then our other four speakers to have forty
five minutes each, and Riddleberger TO close
in a speech OF forty-ive minutes which
proposition they declined. Ii becoming
evident that our opponents would not agree
to any proposition unless all the advantages
were given TO them, and this being our
meeting, and feeling ourselves in no way
obliged 10 give them such time as would cut
off all the speakers present except General
Echols and Captain Riddl2berger, we de-
termined to proceed with our own speakers
and let the MabOneltes take such course as
they chose. The result was that the
crowd present divided into two par
ties, each being addressed at the
same time by their respective orators; and
do not eXaggerate a particle when | state
that fully five siXths Of the Conservative
Democratic voters OF the county attended
the meeting addressed by Echos and his
friends, aud that more determined and
enthusiastic crowd never before assembled
at any political gathering, and were never
better entertained and more delighted than
they; while the crowd who attended
upon the young orator OF the Val
ley was composed OF fully five siXths
negroes, with very thin scattering
OF Democratic voters. So marked was
the difference in tue complexion OF the |
two meetings, political and otherwise, that |
it was remarked upon by every one, aud
heard a number OF Readiusters say that they |
were fully satisfied thereby, and should |
certainly vote the straight ticket. Even |
admitted at night TO quite |
gathering Of people on the street that the |
thing looked very blue for his side, and, TO
use slang phrase, "They had gotten away
with him." Thespeecbes OF General Echols
ind the other gentlemen named, it is almost
needless to say, were all that could be de-
,ired, and am sure have had the happiest
Effect, which will bear their full frulti0D on
,lection-day. RiddIeberger's speech | did
not hear, but was told by those who did
hat il was simply rehaSh OF the same
speeches made by himself and other Ma
loneile orators-yiolent attacks upon the
'egular Democrats, hOneyed phrases for
'their allies" no discussion OF national
questions F.; but the same old " saw" the
public debt.
This county can be safely set down by
arge majority for the 19th-of-May ticket
md Barbour, and am satisfied that this
eighth district will give a very large major
IS for both. Barbour will beat Williams
lot less than 10000. and Williams and Bay
ev, the Republican candidate, both 5000
'otes. Mark the prediction.
We are all saDguine here and determined
o win, and sincerely hope that the like
pirlt pervades all true Democrats all over
be Commonwealth. II such Is the case,
We have nothing TO fear Victory will GER
ainly be ours. DEMOCRAT.