The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-08-25
The Discussion on Monday.

sunu6ulluIlllu
The Discussion on Monday. s.'
MAI. DANIEL AND COL. CAMERON IN DEBATE.
The discussion of Monday last, between the
candidates for the Office of Governor OF the
State of Virginia, viii long be remembered in
Staunton. 1t was political field day, and it
is unnecessary to add that both parties claim
the victory. Indeed, to read the accounts
published in the prominent organs OF each
party, would be sufficient to impress the look
er-on with the belief that not only Virginia s
financial honor had fallen below the under
mark, but that personal veracity was as rare
jewel as political consistency in the State.
The announcement that the discussion
would take place had been circulated far and
wide, and the hills and the valleys, the noun
tain and plains of Augusta poured forth their
sovereigns by the hundreds, whilst adjoining
counties contributed goodly number of rep
resentatives. Fully two thousand voters were
massed about the Court House by eleven
o'clock in the day. Soon anxious inquiries
were afioat as to where the discussion would
take place In front OF the Court House the
Readjusters had erected small stand, and the
Funders had engaged the Opera House. The
committees, representing each faction, con-
suited together with a view to arriving at
some conclusion as to which programme
should prevail The Funders represented,
and very reasonably, that the Opera House
would afford comfortable seats for two thous-
and voters, and that to occupy 1t would be
much better for all parties. The Readjusters
contended that some trick was sought to be
played upon them; that it was designed to
pack the house with ladies and children to the
exclusion of those who ought to hear. In re-
ply it was proposed that the house should be
closed until the hour for the speaking, and
then the crowd should go in all together
This, too, was refused, for no good reason thai
upon. lfsa
THE DISCUSSION.
At half past twelve dense crowd of hui
mainly faced the stand, and in rear of the plat
form men were packed like sardines. The re-
porters who had secured tables and chairs
were wedged in on all sides; men piled upon
the tables and backs of chairs, until at times
it was impossible to hear or see, and those who
had chance to breathe were grateful for the
privilege The rays of the bright sun poured
down with an intensity that threatened to re-
duce the whole mass to liquid, whilst the
fumes of pipes mean tobacco and whisky lent
an added agony to the situation. After vari-
Gus efforts to secure order, the terms OF the
discussion were announced. Maj. Daniel was
to lead off in one and a quarter hours, Col.
Cameron to follow in like time, Maj. Dan
iel to rejoin in forty-fve minutes, with the
same allotment to Col. Cameron in conclusion.
MAI. DANIEL
was introduced by Capt. James Bumgardner.
As he stepped to the front wild huzza rent
the air. The splendid appearance of the man
moved even his advcrsaries to admiration, and
the first notes of his deep, sonorous voice
thrilled the audience like a current of cleo
| tricity He commenced by stating that from
the time he had entered the gate of the Valley,
the reception accorded him had been worthy
of the fame of the people of old Virginia.
Kindness and hospitality have been everywhere
manifest, and the utmost courtesy had been
shown him as well by those who opposed as
by those who agreed with him. l propose, he
saiG, at the very commencement, to pay my
respects TO a certain school house torch which
malice has ignited and dipped in the oil OF
perjury, and to extinguish it. 1t is lie out
of the whole cloth A falsehood it was said,
would travel hundred leagues while truth
was pulling on its boots. But truth was ready
now and would kick the lie out of the Com
monwealth.
He congratulated the people on the evil
dences of an increased prosperity and a
bright future Within the past ten years Au
gusta's wealth had increased 90 per cent, and
such had been the augmentation of values
throughout the Commonwealth, that the State
was as wealthy now as before one-third of her
territory was cut off for West Virginia. This
prosperity be ascribed to the labors of the
people themselves. and to the policy of the
Democratic party which had resulted in the
abolition of military rule, the reconciliation
of silver and the dcliverance of Virginia from
threatened chaos.
THE DEBT QUESTION.
In regard to the amount of taxation, said
Maj Daniel, no difference exists between my
party and that Of my competitor. The August
convention pledged the Democratic party not
to increase the rate of taxation, and upon that
platform / squarely stand But little while
ago the leaders of the Readjusters were parad-
ing the State and confidently predicting de-
crease of 25 per cent. in values under the as
sessment of 1880. Auditor Massie's last re-
port demonstrates that the State is abundantly
able to pay three per cent on her debt, and
leave handsome surplus. The decrease of
$4,000 in values is more than compensated
for by railroads built and now under construc-
ton in the State. Indeed, the prospect is most
inviting, and the hundreds of thousands of
dollars of outside capital now seeking invest
ment in Virginia property will Grown the cry
of the croaker. This condition of affairs is
! due to the Conservative party-the party that
has reduced the annual expenses from 81 000,-
600 to $750,00O that has cut down salaries. in
stituted reforms by means of the criminal sys-
TEN, &c, and placed the State on the high road
to prosperity.
As illustrating Col. Oameron's inconsistency,
the speaker read extracts from the Petersburg
nder-Appeal, under Col. Cs management
Then it was that Col. e. favored the recog-
milton of the debt at $50, 100000 and demand
ed it's payment to the "uttermost farthing, to
the last pound of flesh and the last drop of
blood"
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
More than once, said the speaker, has it been
charged that l am not in sympathy with the
public schools. That is another lie given cur
rency by those who tell the truth by accident,
and utter falsehood by habit was a men,
Der of the Virginia legislature that Inaugural
ted the public school system and have sin ce
supported every measure that would contrib
ute to the success of the institution / voted
against the Massey School Bill because the
Courts had decided it unconstitutional. 1 fay-
ored the Henkel Bill, under the provisions of
which the 1900 additional schools have been
been opened within the past year. The Re
adiuSters are now undertaking tn annronr;oto