The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-10-26

| who has been doing good service during tht
canvass He spoke for only few moments
as it was growing late. What was sale
was well said and to the point.
Altogether it was the most encouraging
meeting of the Liberals eyer held In Staunton
and gave an earnest of what may be expected
on the 7th of November next.
Az The Opera House.
MIR. STUART. MR.. MASSEY AND COL. sKINNBH
ON LATTER-DAY DEMOCRACY.
Time works many changes. But two shor,
ye rs ago, there WAS big Democratic dem
onstraiion at The Opera House, the band wen,
blowing around the square to drum up q
cu ,wd and every effort was made to break
do wn Readjuster meeting then being held in
the Court House. On Monday last, the same
pr ogrammc was repeated, the only difference
being that the chief actor had changed boards
and the men who, in 1890, denounced him as
che lowest of earth's creatures, were the same
men who, in 1882, profess to exalt him as the
| very god of their idolatry, and to fall down
and worship him. Massey, in 1880, was vilei
I stan epithet could paint him. Massey. In
1852 with none of the old villiany recanted, ID
| ill., in the eyes OF the Democracy, to stand
| alongside Of Stuart and Skinner before an
Augusta audience. Mr.. Stuart preaching De-
mocracy, Mr.. Massey representing Funderism,
and Col. Skinner brought in to pronounce the
| benediction on both, was an entertainment
| advertised far and near, and one which drew
together Il large crowd.
| AT the very maximum the audience which
reached 650-iadies, men and boys. We base
this estimate upon th, fact that in the Opera
House there are $50 chairs. Some of these
chairs were vacant, but the number which
stood in the tisles, in addition to those who
1 were sealed would have reached to the figures
| we have stated-but no more. This was when
the crowd was at its fullest. When Mr.. Mas
| sey finished his long and tiresome harangue
| fully three-fourths OF that crowd had disap.
pe.red.
| THE SPEAKING.
| Capt. JAS. Bumgardner, in his usually happy
| style, introduced az the first speaker, Hon. A.
| H. Ii. Stuart. Mr.. Stuart was warmly and en-
Enthusiastically welcomed and thanked the au-
dience in feeling terms for the generous recep-
ton extended him. The speaker defined the
issue as the cause of the people against the
one-man power. Formerly, he said, the ques-
tiOns at stake in political canvass were the
great questions of the banks, of finance, of an
nexation, and of tariff; but these questions
had been laid aside, and the one issue now
being made was the right of the people to
govern themselves. We shall not follow Mr..
Stuart through his presentation of this issue.
1t was strange sight to see the venerable
statesman standing there in opposition to
every principle of governmental policy that he
he had heretofore advocated and in the adj
vocacy of which his well earned fame was
won. When Alex. H. H. Stuart is COM
PEELED to echo the feeble cry of "bossism,"
then, indeed, do we know that so-called
Democracy is in this fight without a prin-
ciple to stand upon, or one single affirm
alive proposition to advance. When, with his
ripe experience, knowledge and intellect, he
|
present attitude of the party with which he is
now aligned, to commend it to popular sup
port; not one solitary issue upon which an
aggressive canvass could be made, it may
safely be concluded that the party is in the
( contest under mottoeless flag. The only re-
greet is that men like Mr.. Stuart should lend
their countenance, much less their voices, to
such an lvocacy.
When Mr.. Stuart had spoken about thirty
minutes, he was attacked with what he sup
posed to be vertigo, and was forced 10 take his
seat. Fortunately it turned out to be only
passing weakness, and in short time he
had comparatively recovered, tho not suffici-
emily to resume his peech.
Capt. Bumgardner then introduced Mr.. Mas
sey as "a man who had done the State some
good, and the Parson commenced his address.
| We have frequently heard Mr.. Massey on the
stump, and admired his snap and vim. But
the Massey of to-day is not the Massey Of old,
! and tho the crowd on Monday cheered his
,.nec Totes and tried to keep up his courage,
the old ..uan dragged along YEARLY, and his
sp, cch pro we'd estate, fiat and Improbable"
He ,.,welt long on the settlement of the debt,
the R eadjuster party and Malone. and in con-
clusion' repeated I've ISLANDERS against Wise,
which WISE over his own signature has pro-
nounced false in every pa >t'cnlar. In closing
he assailed President Arth, T for having rec
commended the abolition OF the 1nterhai heV-
enue tax, except on whiskey aud tooacco'
and declared for practical free trade
When Mr.. Massey had finished. the cfowd,
which had been visibly willing. was re,. uced
TO 80 low figure that Col. Skinner, who was
announced to follow him, declined to longer
detain the remnant which had been SO long
and tiresomey harangued. The gallant Col
Onel tried to enthuse them little by five
minute speech, but the task was such hope
less one that he gave up in despair, and told
them that on a more opportune occasion he
would be at their service.
Pay y@nr capitatiOn tax.