Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-10-27
DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETING AT
THE OPERA HOUSE.
A DEMONSTRATION FOR CIVIL
LIBERTY.

LIBERTY.
SPEECHES BY EX-sECRETARY A. II. H
STUART AND HON. JOHN e. MASSEY
REMARKS BY COL. JAS. H. SKINNER.
&C.. SC, &c.
One of the best public demonstration
OF the Democracy Of Augusta, in point Of
oratory, numbers and character, that has
taken place in this campaign occurred at the
Opera House last Monday. No one could
have looked at the men who composed the
audience Of nearly a thousand people with
oHt being convinced that the real people
OF our county have been aroused to the
Importance of the issue at stake. Men OF
every avocation in life were present, and
men among the foremost in those avoca
tons. And the oratory was genuine
treat; no vulgarity, no profanity. no cheap
abuse of opponents, but the calm, clear
statesmanlike utterances of Elk Secretary
Stuart, the keen. polished. clearly wit
and convincing arguments of Mr.. Massey,
which were so far above the ordinary
range of political discussion. 1t was a
significant gathering. for it showed that
whatever noisy gathering, the discussion
OF the local debt question may have
brought together in the past. the great
cause of civil liberty, now brings out a
different and more thoughtful class of our
citizsns, giving evidence that there is
a feeling aroused in the State which can
not be put down by the political methods
now in use in Virginia.
Capt. Bumgardner, the Chairman of the
County Democratic Committee, presided
and introduced the speakers, ceremony
be said he might well omit in the case O!
Hon. A. II, II. Stuart, who was wei
known to audiences Of Augusta peo-
pie before he was born. The great ane
prolonged cheering which greeted the ven
cradle Ex-Secretary when he came for
ward. showed that the people present had
not only known him long, but that he had
lost none of their favor.
SKETCH OF EX-sECRETARY sTUART's
REMARKS.
Mr.. Stuart thanked the audience most
cordially for their generous welcome, which
be said he was sure was accorded more tt
the cause he represented than to himself
Some time ago nothing would have beer
further from his purpose than to address
his fellow citizens, but their request thai
be should give them his views at crisis
fraught with so much danger to their lib
critics was not to be refused. and nothing but
a conviction that the issues in the present
canvass are of the most vital character
could have induced him to accept tina,
invitation. During the last fifty years he
had been much in public life and had held
many public trusts, but he spoke with al
sincerity when he said that in all that time
he had never seen issues fraught with such
disastrous consequences.
THE ISSUES IN PAST YEARS
were between Wings and Democrats, and
affected only the administrative charac-
ter Or the policy of the government, but
the issues of this day 90 to the very found
alton of our institutions, and involve the
problem of civil liberty. decision Of
which in one way would produce revolu-
ton in our political system. He proposed
to say nothing of issues that are dead, but
to confne himself to living issues He did
not propose to discuss REIMBURSEMENT; that
had been settled as far as legislation had
the power. and now has gone to the courts.
Nor should he speak of the Readjuster
party; that was deal. (Applause.) Il has
accomplished its mission and belongs to
the domain of history, and not of active
politics. 1t has itself discarded its name
and assumed that of the Condition party.
The new party has been formed Icy a coal
ition of a portion of the Readjnster party
with the worst wing of the Republican
party-the Stalwart wing, the wing of the
Conklings and Camerons and Logans. the
wing headed by an accidental President
elevated to power by an assassin's bullet
who has reversed the popular will and now
seeks TO iuaugurate policy of his own.-
(Applause.)
THE LIVING ISSUE Is
whether the One Man Power is to govern
this country or whether the people are tc
govern it. (Applause.) 1t is an issue that
str likes at the very foundation of our lib
critics. Before the revolutionary war the
king had that power, and with his parlia
ment sought to exercise it; but our fathers
filled with the spirit of liberty. rebelled.-
They achieved their independence. and gave
US a constitution in which civil liberty
formed the very bedstone; a constitution
in which all power is derived from the
people. For that great principle our "a
theirs fought, and it is for us to say wheth-
er they fought in vain. (Applause.) Was
the spirit of liberty dead? Did 1T need ar
earthquake before the people could be
| aroused to its preservation? He hoped not
By that Constitution the government was
divided into three departments Legisla-
tive, Judicial and Executive. A IL three
OF these are now sought to be
sNATCHED FROM THE PEOPLE OF
VIRGINIA
by the leader of the Coalition party. Tit
first step was directed against the repre-
sentatives elected by the people Before
the assembling Of the legislature what
course was adopted by this man Malone
He spoke of him thus, Mr.. Stuart said, moi
| meaning disrespect, but because he had ar
rogated to himself that manner of title and
his signature was like that of a Napoleon
of king, of a Gar. He sent around to
| each member of his party elected, pledge
to sign. and this before the legislature met
promising obedience to the caucus. Sup
pose one Of your delegates had signed such
a pledge, how would you receive him whe1
he came again before you to solicit your
confidence. "a voice-Kicked him out.
| Malone could not trust his own me1
elected on the very issue he had made be
fore the DeOple but bound them with The