The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-27

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RIDDIEBEReER AND SKINNER ON THE STUMP
SHARP FIRING AND UNLIMITED APPLAUSE

Inc DISCUSSION On MOu0hy
RIDDIEBEReER AND SKINNER ON THE STUMP
-~sHARP FIRING AND UNLIMITED APPLAUSE
CLOSING OUT THE CAMPAIGN
Last Monday was what might be called q
political field day. The October term Of the
County Court generally witnesses the last
joint discussion OF the campaign. Almost
every year it comes just about two weeks be-
fore the election, and consequently is fixed
upon by both parties as the occasion for marsh
alling their respective forces, and laying out
plans for the succeeding fortnight. The time
between the October County Court and the
day of election is the real work season. The
blow and buster have been expended the
oratorical business, except on small scale, is
finished, and the sitting and assortment which
precede the actual casting of the ballots are
industriously looked after. 1t is too late to
brag, and the effort is made to justify the pre-
vious boasting.
Monday last was no exception to the rule.
There was a general ralying of the clans.
The discussion between Col. Skinner and Har
ry Riddleberger was eagerly looked forward
to, and each side was confident in the skill of
its champion. Both gentlemen were known
to be finished debaters, each worthy of the
best lance of the other, or for that matter
either the peer Of the best stump speaker in
the State.
At the hour announced for the discussion to
commence, the Court House was jammed.
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closely packed that the speakers found it diff
cult to penetrate the crowd. As Col Skinner
advanced to the rostrum, the Court House trem-
bled with the deafening shouts Of the Funders,
and the same pulmonary expansion on the
part of their antagonists followed Captain
Riddleberger as he assembled the steps. From
the mad yelling of the crowd it was impossi
BILE at first to form any idea of the representa-
tive strength of the two parties, Tor it is
well known fact that an enthusiastic urchin
can discount the heartier countryman when it
comes down to square trial of lung power.
Suffice it to say that the reception of each OF
the speakers was flattering enough to incite
him to his best efforts, and seemed to have
that effect.
THE DISCUSSION
Mr.. Brown Allen, chairman of the Readjust-
er County Committee, announced the terms of
the debate as follows Col Skinner to lead off
in one and half hours Capt. Riddleberger
to follow IN like time, and each to have thirty
ing.
COL. SKINNER
commenced by complimenting his opponent.
1t stirred the blood more to rouse a lion than
a hare, and he was glad that the opportunity
had been afforded him Of meeting the Gallant
Game Cock of the Valley" gentleman whose
praises were on the lips of all his party friends,
and the record of whose polemic triumphs had
filled so many columns of the Richmond Wing.
He was glad, too to have his Readjuster
friends before him, for it was to them he in
tended to speak He would rather have the
satisfaction of having made single convert,
than the plaudits of his friends. To those of
his own political household he said, be strong
in the taith victory awaits you.
To the Readjusters he would utter no word
that could wound the personal feelings of a
single individual He believed that there were
many good, true and patriotic men in the
ranks of his political opponents, but they had
strayed wide CT the path of duty in this fight.
1 want to ask you, the speaker said, what
reason is there for this division of the old
Conservative party Why lend yourselves as
willing instruments in the hands of those who
would destroy the Democratic party? What
has that party done to arouse this rebellion
1t has been your faithful guardian in every
trial from 1865 down to the present day.
Where did you find your champions when a
friend IN need was a friend indeed? In that
dark hour the Democratic party of the north
came to the rescue and procured for you rep
resentation in the councils Of the Nation,
That party has not only shown its love for
you, but it has also shown its wisdom in the
management of National affairs in the record
it has made on the question of the national
finances, and in the measures of reform it has
instituted. Your proportion of the national
debt is larger than your State debt, and if
there was ever party that represented bond
holders that party is the Republican. Mark
you, do not wish to be understood as saying
aught against man because he holds bond,
but you will certainly get no sympathy from
the Republican party in your fight against the
holders of your States obligations.
In 1876 said the speaker, Genl Malone
wrote that Hon. Thos. F. Bayard would adj
dress the citizens of Richmond, and urged the
people 10 turn out in full to hear him, saying
that we could not expect assistance from the
North when we of the South were divided.
Has Bayard changed since that day? Is he
not now as he was then, the true and chival-
rous friend of your people and yet the other
day Gen'l Malone voted against him and for
Senator Anthony, Rhode Island Republican,
in favor of paying all debts,-a man who
favored a law providing that the descendants of
Lafayette, Steuben and the old heros of the
Revolution, should become real property hold
ers before they cast a vote in his State.
Col. Skinner then paid his addresses to the
convention which placed the Readjuster ticket
in the field. He was not going to assail the
personal character of either Col. Cameron or
Senator Lewis, but he had a right to repeat
the testimony of the Readjuster witnesses as
to the character of the body which placed
them before the people of Virginia OF the
Richmond convention, Parson Massey said
that he could have bought forty of its mem
bers at $40 piece. If forty could have been
bought for $40 each, how many could have
been bought at $50 each? The ticket was en-
dorsed at the Lynchburg Convention. osten-
sibly by Republicans, but the VALLEY VIR-
GILMAN had pronounced that convention a
fraud in itself and controlled by agencies that
would not bear the light of inspection. Such
a ticket as this was now placed before the peo-
pie Of the State for their action.
Last year Gen'l Malone declared himself
Democrat and stated that he would hand the
electoral vote of the State over to Hancock.
But Mr. Malone got badly left. His ticket re-
ceived about one fourth of the Democratic
vote cast That vote reached $4,000, ma
jority of over 10000, and yet Malone votes
with the Republicans in the Senate and de-
clares he is ''voicing the sentiment of the peo-
pie of Virginia A gentleman who was one
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