Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-08-18
THE COALITION MASS MEETING LAST NIGHT
MAHoNE. RIDDLEBERGER & WISE PRESENT

tMAHONE. RIDDLEBERGER s. WISE PRESENT
. The coalition Congressional convention
(which met in this city yesterday, the pro-
sceedings of which were published in the
GAZETTE, wound up last night with u mass
meeting at Armory Hall. The hand bills
posted about the city calling the meeting,
announcing that III. H. Riddeberger, the
game cock Of the Valley, the greatest orator
in Virginia" would be present, read like a
patent medicine advertisement, and furnish
ed 4 good deal of amusement A large au-
dencc. composed mainly Of negroes, was in
attendance. The majority of the whites in
the hall were present through curiosity, ex-
pecting 10 sec some fun, as is usual at all read
juster meetings. All the local Malone politi-
clans took advantage OF the opportunity to
display themselves, and occupied conspicu-
Gus places On the stage. Behind the scene
sat Senator Malone, anxiously awaiting the
proper time TO appear before the audience
and receive the ovation" he knew was in
store for him. D. A. Windsor presided, and
after music by ClarksOn's band, introduced
the game cock" II. HI Riddlebergcr. Mr..
Ridaeberger spoke for two hours, but his
speech was the same, With few variations,
he has delivered i'll this city on two previous
occasions-the same old story and nothing
more. fIe congratulated the members of
the convention upon the harmony which
had prevailed and upon the selection they
had made and then dropped Farr as he
would have dropped hot potato picked up
by him by accident. The success of the
general policy of the party since 1879 was
then made subject OF congratulations 1t
was in that year, the speaker said, that re-
adusters were declared unworthy to asso-
ciate with the ladies Of this city, and a
correspondent writing to a journal in Alex
andria from Richmond stated that the
readjuster members Of the Legislature
would not be countenanced by the fair
ones Of that city. Everything laid down
i'll the platform of the readjuster party pro-
mulgated in 1879 had been accomplished.
The readjuster party in 1879 came before
the people of Virginia upon three distinct
issues-the settlement Of the State debt, free
suffrage, and universal education. The set
Element Of the debt was now all accomplish
cd fact, in spite Of all declarations to the
contrary, and to the extent that the Com
monwealth had assumed two-thirds of the
debt, and upon the principle that the debt
follows the territory and the interest the
| productions thereof the remainder attaches
elsewhere and the courts elected by the
| Bourbons had declare this action of
the readjuster to be legal constitutional
| The debt question was then gone over
because it had connection with national
politics. There was a lawyer in Rich
mond now, representing English bohdhold-
er::, with petition in his pocket to be pre-
sented to President Arthur asking him to
compel Virginia to pay the entire debt as
funded in 1871. The abolition of the CAPT.
tation tax as prerequisite to voting was
harped upon TO the delight of the colored
portion Of the audience The next question
of Importance was the education of the COL
ored man, and the speaker appealed
to the colored mcn of the State to
vote with the readjusters because they
were the only friends of the free schools
Under Bourbon rule down to 1879, the
schools. had received but 1929 900, and their
number had been reduced to 2,379. Under
the readjusters the schools had received
81 100000, and their number have increased
to upwards of 5 400 The first work of the
readjusters was to return 81 100000 No
man could be Christian and refuse to con-
tribute to the education of every man who
had mind-a soul. Men went to church
and contributed to the education of the
heather negro was it not more important
to educate the ignorant white and black
masses in our land and in our State? The
redistricting of the State and the land COM
missioner BILL defeated by Big Foursm
were the most important measures ever
presented to legislature, and the readius-
ters We're willing 10 go before the people on
the merits ofthem. The land commissioners
bill was especially important to the people,
Under the present system it took 20 wears
to get 4 final decree on dead mans estate,
during which time the estate was swallowed
up in lawyers fees, &c. The land commits
sioncr's bill required Il prompt settlement
in order to put stop to all costs. He was
in favor Of protection Of American industries
because he was opposed TO the introduction
| into this country of European serldom and
pauperism. If a man received wages at the
rate of 81 per day his responsibility was
measured to the extent Of that dollar; if he
received % cents per day he was respected
only TO the extent Of that % cents Presi-
dent Arthur had pursued liberal policy to-
ward Virginia, and so far as he was con-
cerned the Arthur administration would re-
cere his cordial support. He was in favor of
No. ], and had had enough of cotton State
alliance, a banded Solid South against
Solid North. If John f. Massey was not
candidate OLA party he would not refer to
him at all for he had long been beneath
honest contempt When Massey was first
elected Auditor he subscribed willingly TO
the rules of the caucus, and Gen. Malone
and others had gone Oh his bond because he
could not find a man in his county who
would trust him, but when he saw little
political capital could be made he bolted and
refused to conform to a reasonable rule re-
quiring him to appoint his clerks from tho
congressional districts Of the State. While
in the readjuster party he could not be
trusted, for he had violated every pledge,
and appointed nearly all his clerks from
his own congressional district in order TO
secure the nomination for Congress. The
Senator-elect closed his speech by saying
that he proposed to take care of number
one, and do all in his power to build up the
waste places of the State.
When Mr.. Riddleberger had taken his
seat, by aprevious arrangement, the band
! L. 4