The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-21
Rock;npham Re-adiusters.

Rockingham Re-adjusterS.
Last Monday was a political field day in
Harrisonburg. 1t was the July term of the
County Court and the occasion, avaied OF by
the Re-adjusters TO open the Gubernatorial
canvass. Posters and newspaper notices had
spread the intelligence that the Eagle Ora
tor" of the Southwest would be there, and
other distinguished advocates of the Read
ulster cause. These Implications brought
large number of the sturdy citizens of Rock
ingham, and some from adjacent counties, to
listen to Hon. Frank s. Blair, the Re-adjuster
candidate for Attorney General stand had
been erected in front of the building occupied
by the sUnited States Marshars office, and an
awning improvised out of the Re-adJuster
Hancock and English Flag of last fall, with
the two names in bold relief-a very appro-
pirate inscription for the OCCASION as it indl-
Gated that it was the same faction that had at
tempted to steal the Republican vote of last
year and wanted to make an effort to do so
again.
aAMr Blair is gentleman of well proper
neatly dressed, wea1s spectacles, is some where
in the forties. we should suppose, and alto
gether presents pleasing appearance lie
entered upon the duties of the day with the
ease of an old stager, and as he warmed up,
his language, SMILES and anecdotes flowed
from him in a torrent. His gesticulation is
rapid, emphatic, appropriate, and his manners
more graceful than uncouth. He held his au-
dence WELL kept it in constant good humor,
and was listened to throughout with the most
respectful and interested attention. Indeed
Mr.. Blair may be regarded as good stump
speaker, if the object be to stir the kindlier
emotions of the nature, and not construct and
furnish food for after reflection. He evidently
has capacity and training to discuss questions
intelligently and logically. but ON this occasion
his object seemed to be to place himself on
familiar terms with the people, and leave the
impression that he was jolly good fellow. In
this he succeeded except where he offended by
the indulgence Of language and illustrations
rather offensive to those who respect and rev.
erence religious sentiment. He spoke of the
neither Democratic or Republican-laudedit its
achievements and gave rosy picture OF its
future conquests over Funderism. Indeed he
buried the Funders very deep and securely,
in his imagination-pointed to the record of
the Re-adjusters on the public schools, the
increased revenues, the healthy condition Of
the Treasury as compared with what it was
when the flinders left it; the Funder robberies
that had been exposed; the efficiency and in
tegrity which succeeded inefficiency and dis
honesty in all the departments of governments
and especially in the affairs ofthe penitentiary
He presented these views very well and with
good effect, and reasserted the Riddeberger
bill on the debt question as the platform of his
faction.
Mr.. Blair is not very particular as to what
he says, however AS an illustration, he de-
nounced the capitation tax restriction as a
"Funder" outrage, when he and every other
Re-adjuster Democrat voted for it, in support
ing the amendments to the State Constitution,
which were voted for as a party measure. He
stated that there were now fifteen furnaces in
there were but three, and claimed that it was
the policy and the politics of the Re-adjusters
which had encouraged capitalists to invest in
them. Without knowing anything of the
facts, we venture the assertion that every dol
lar of foreign capital placed in thesc furnaces,
is the money of Republicans and that every
man the money represents is opposed not only
to the Riddleberger bill but to the Re-adjuster
faction.
Mr.. Blair very happily alluded to the folly
and madness of sectional controversy and
sectional animosity. He favored a liberalism
that would wipe out Mason and Dixon's
line, bring the people of the sections together.
and unite their intellects and energies in build
ing up industrial enterprises, developing our
minerals, and bringing the citizens ofthe coun
try to better understanding of each other
Throughout, the speech was kindly and re-
spectfully received, but our impression was,
from careful observance of the audience and
aheir manifestations that at least two-tifths
were not in sympathy with the faction he rep
resented. He spoke for about two hours, and
held his audience together to the end
Capt. H. H. Riddleberger was observed in
the crowd, and was vociferously called for He
came forward more to acknowledge the COM
pliment than anything else, but soon found
himself bounding off into brief speech. He
devoted his attention to the capitation tax re-
striction exclusively, discussed it intelli-
gently and logically, and really said more in
his fifteen minutes speech than Mr.. Blair did
in two hours. He took the position that the
Constitution of the United States as amended,
designed that the colored man should have
free ballot when not inhibited by crime; that
the people of Virginia had plghted their
faith that he should have it, and that it was
wrong and wicked to violate this faith in the
restriction imposed in this State. He spoke
with his usual force and effectiveness. Indeed
Mr.. R. is one of the best public speakers in
the State, reasons with force and originality,
and but for his reckless inaccuracies, some
times, is one of the most agreeable public
speakers we know of.
Capt. Paul answered the calls made for
him, i'll vigorous and enthusiastic speech of
half an hour. He called particular attention to
the fact that this wasa State canvass, the issues
were State issues, that REIMBURSEMENT was the
controlling one, and that this should be con-
stantly kept in view. He referred to what the
Re-adjusters had done for the people, and
what they intended to do, and drew very
telling comparison between the results of the
administration of the affairs of the State by
the two factions of the Democratic party, re-
spectively. Paul is always kindly received
by Rockingham audience, and this occasion
was no exception to the general rule.
Hon. John F. Lewis came to the stand in
response to repeated calls He said it was
not his purpose to make speech, but would
state that he was on the Re-adjuster ticket as
the candidate for Lieutenant Governor be-
cause it was the call of the State that he
should be there. and that he would ever obey
the call of Virginia. that he was on to stay
until the Sth of November and that one pur-
pose he had in view was to secure to the col