National Republican., 1881-08-04
VIRGINIA POLITICS.
SPICY LETTER FROM WINCHESTER.
The Resdjusters and Republicans Making Common
Cause Against the Bourbons-Hou the OK.
Confcds Take Care OF Their Wound
ed Heroes-Circus In Town.
Special to THE REpURLtcAN,

WINCHESTER, Va, Aug. with the
mercury "up among the nineties," and your CORE.
spondent swinging lazIly In hammock in the
shade OF a tall maple tree, listening to the busy
hum OF n hive Of bees In the neighborhood and
the plantive call Of the morning dove In the dis
tancc, II is pretty hard to get ones mind fixed on
politics, and much harder to write intclligently on
Virginia politics. In fact, think II would take
Philadelphia lawyer to understand and explain
virginia politics at the present time. First there
is the old Bourbon Democracy, that never learned
new thing nor ever did n wise one. Then there
is the Rcadjuster or Malone party, with liberal
views, In invor Of progress, q free ballot and a
fair count aud leaving out their State debt plank,
their platform is broad enough for all Republicans
to stand on. Then come the Republicans who are
greatly in the minority here In fact, the Straight
Outs, as they are called, here
ONLY PoLLED NINETY EIGHT VOTES
ont OF nine hundred in the city of Winchester at
the spring election. There Is quite an excitement
just now in regard to the LynchbIrg convention
among all parties. A convention will be held to.
morrow to elect delegates to that convention, and
the BOurbOns are anxious for the Republicans to
elect Straight. OUTS and are giving their advice
freely right and lcft. The opinion seems to pre-
vail among the more intelligent and most reliable
Republicans that would be folly to put Straight
Out Republican candidate In the field, rs he would
be sure TO meet with defeat but If they indorse
Colonel Cameron and Lewis, the Rcadjustcr can
didates, they could elect them By an overwhclm-
ing majority.
THE REApJusTER AND REPUBLICAN
vote In the State is about 10000, while the Bour-
bon Democracy is only $4,000. The Republicans
of this county are split, and there will be two con-
vcntions here tomorrow. The regular chairman
OF the county committee, Mr.. A. c. Brown, has
Issued his call in accordance with the rules gov.
erning the Republican party. and nnetcnths OF
the Republicans In the county will respond to this
call and 1t Is thought now will elect coalition
delegates to the Lynchburg convention. About
half dozen Straight. Outs met two weeks ago in
the office of bourbon lawyer here in town and
elected Mr.. Solcnberger chairman. Mr. s. is n
member of the Republican county committee
The chairman of this
MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY
then issued call for the Straight. Outs to elect
delegates to the convention so there Is likely to
be two sets Of delegates from here. 1t is believed
however, that Mr.. Solcnbcrger's "happy half
dozen" will give the Lynchburg convention very
little trouble, as they will not be admitted Tho
Republicans Joined forces with the Rcadlustcrs
here In the lust spring elections and beat the Bour
bons ut of their boots. In consequence the Offices
of the town were equally divided between the
Republicans and Readlusters and Republicans
hold Office here now for the first time since the
town passed from control OF the Government in
1866
THE TWO PARTIES ARE on THE BEST OF TERMS,
aud nrc working together admirably to defeat
their common encmy, the Bourbon Democracy.
But enough of politics In this letter. will keep
you posted as to the convention tomorrow. The
circus arrived in town to.dny-horse, foot, and
drngoon. Sells Bros. Gigantic Aggregation, SO ad-
vertised; but there is more fun in watching the
mountaineers and backwoodsmeu in town five
minutes than in looking at the show week. As
carly ns seven o'clock a. m they
BEGAN TO FOUR INTO town,
on horseback in wagons, in carts with oxen at
tachcd, teams composed of one mule and one OK,
one horse and one mule, with rope harness. and
every conceivable mode of locomotion. Two
ladies on the back of single horse, carrying
babies, was no uncommon sight. Men who fought
with Jackson and Early, in bu.ternut suits, pants
inside their boots, with long Mexican spurs and
slouch hats, and rlding-whp in their hand, were
seen at every corner. They shook hands with the
Judges" the colonies" and the captains" and
took their mountain dew"-three fingers at a
time-without ainching. They all wore gloves. A
gentleman In Virginia without gloves would be
like ship without rudder They would rather
co WITHOUT SOCKS
than without gloves. got into conversation with
one of these gentlemen. ANer telling me he be.
longcd to the Thirty ninth Virginia Infantry and
did some tall fighting with old "Stonewall" he
wound up by saying he was captured at spottsyl-
vania Court. House by IancOck's Second Corps on
the 18th day OF May, 1861 He seemed delighted
when told him that | was one of the Second
Corps that helped TO capture him, and volunteered
the information that Lee came very near getting
captured on that morning when the Second Corps
swept over their works, capturing three thousand
prisoners and twenty-five guns There are many
empty sleeves and one. legged confederate veterans
to be on the streets but to the credit OF the
people of the Valley they take good care of their
wounded soldiers Every office OF importance Is
filled with them. 1t would be useless for any one
TO run against wounded confederate soldier here,
and you never would see one begging. E. L. G.
Special to THE REPUBLICAN.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Aug. 3.-At the
meeting to-day Of the city and county delegates
of Alexandria County, Virginia, to elect three
delegates TO the Lynchburg convention, after the
permanent organization by the election OF Benja.
| min Austin chairman and George Griffin secretary
those OF the city delegation who favored coalition
| Withdrew. The Straight. Outs elected the follow
ing delegates; A. W. Armstrong and George Hob.
day from the city and W. A. Rowe, from the
county; alternates, Judge W. wlloughby and r.
i. Tancil from the city and Benjamin Austir
from the county. Those favorng coalition elected
J. Mex. Ware and George 7. Preston delegates anC
| Robert Gaines and John Fields alternates, all Ma
hone RcadJusters.
| Special to THE REPUBLICAN,.
ASHLAND, Va, Aug. 3.-Wickham was
| beaten six to one in his own county to-day. J. d
| Denton and Frank Fox Coalitionlsts were sent t.
| the Lynchburg convention in spite Of Wickhan
and his help from Caroline County. The meeting
was held at Hanover Court House, within two
miles Of Wickhams home. R.F.R.
Special to THE REPUBLICAN,.
STAUNToN, Va, Aug. 3.-From informa
ton received from coundes In the Valley 1t 4
thought that a minority of the delegates elected
to-day to the Republican State Convention whici
meets In Lynchburg on the 10th, will fRyor
straight.Out Republican ticket on debt -payini
platform
| Special TO THE REPUBLICAN,.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, Aug. 3.-Albe
marie County former stronghold OF the Debt
Paying and Straight out Republicans to-da!
elected delegates to Lynchburg without contest
They were instructed to support the Liberal ticket
E, W. f.
Special to THE REPUBLICAN,.
FAIRFAX CoURT-HousE, Va, Aug, g.