Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-10-24
SPEECHES IN THE
OPERA HOUSE ON YESTERDAY.
HON. A. h. n. STUART. REV. JOHN F.
MASSEY, AND COL. JAS. q. SKIM =
NER ADDRESS THE &
PEOPLE.

HON. A. Il. n. STUART, REV. JOHN E.
MASSEY, AND COL. JAS. q. SKIN
NER ADDRESS THE
PEOPLE.
LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE.
Ia
At II O'Clock on yesterday the spacious Opera
House of this city was occupied. we suppose.
by eight hundred or q thousand people to
hear the addresses of Hon.A. 81. II. Stuart, Rev.
John E. Massey, and Col. Jas. h. Skinner. who
had been announced to speak to the people on
that occasion. The speeches were good and
excited great enthusiasm. and we regret that
we have not the space this week to notice them
as they deserve.
Capt. Jas Bumgardner, Jr., the Chairman OF
the County Democratic Commit ee, presided,
and In his remarks prefacing the Introduction
of the venerable and distinguished Hon. A. b.
h. Stuart, said that there were two circum-
stances worthy of note in this canvass:-lst,
That the young men who were casting their
first votes would vote for the Democratic can
didates and End. That the old men. who had
retired from political life now felt 1t their duty
to come forward and counsel the people to vote
for the Democratic candidates to rescue the
State from threatened disaster.
He said that Hon. A. n. II. Stuart needed no
introduction to the people of this county. and
that he would merely state that he would now
address them.
HON. A. h. h. STUART.
As Mr.. Stuart arose, he was greeted most
cordially and rapturously, and the Hall was
made to ring with shouts that should be well
come to the heart of any man.
Mr.. Stuart said that he thanked the audience
cordially for their greeting, which he modestly
said was due more to the cause he represented,
than to any personal merits. He never ex-
pected to speak again. and seven years ago had
made what he supposed was his last public
speech, and would not speak now but for the
conviction that the issues in this canvass are
vital, and that If decided wrong. will prove
disastrous to the interests Of Virginia. The
issues 60 to the very foundation Of free institu-
ton. Heretofore the elections decided merely
the questions of administrative policy, but not
10 now,
The question OF readjustment has been set
tied, far as the people or Legislature could do
SO. and it is now submitted to the courts. The
Readjuster party is. go noneine. dead. It no
longer calls itself the Readjuster party, but the
Coalition party, and it Is q coalition with the
worst wing of the Republicans-theS talwart-
Observation-Disclosures.
The great issue of the day is vital. and 1t II,
whether the one-man power is to rule. or
whether the people shall rule.
Before the revolution, the king had unlimited
power of taxation. Our revolutionary fore
fathers went to arms for liberty. and maintain
ed the principle that all power Is derived from
and vested in the people. They fought for these
principles-did they fight in vain9 He hoped
that the spirit Of liberty still burned in the
hearts Of the people. ~
Our Government is somposed Of three depart
ments-the Legislative, Executive, apd Judici-
al-and each should be Independent of the
other-neither should encroach upon the rights
of the other. He then showed how Malone
had played the role OF the despot in controlling
the different departments, making it the gov
eminent of one man. petty tyrant who is SO
arrogant as to sign himself-"Mahone, Vir-
ginia."
He then alluded In terms of caustic denuncia-
ton to the plsdge which Malone had exacted
Of each Readjuster member Of the Legislature.
He said tho members elected to the Legislature
we're not the servants Of Malone but of the
people. and asked what the people of Augusta
would do with member from this county who
you'd thus pledges himself to do the will OF
Malone instead of that Of his constituents. and
the prompt response was that they would "kick
him out"
Malone. by this act, showed that he was
afraid to trust his own men. II this principle
be carried out there is no guarantee fort he
liberties of the people.
He then referred to the Judiciary as the pal
ladium of our liberties. and quoted the remark
Of Chief Justice John Marshall, that an igno-
giant or corrupt Judiciary is tue greatest curse
that an angry Heaven could inflict upon any
VyI,y r.
personally against the new Judges. he would
say that 1t was hazardous to discard old. faith
fHl, ana tried servants for new ones.
He then alluded to the Executive, and spoke
OF him-Gov. Cameron-as a man of talent and
education who had been we'll raised. and who
should know the path of duty, and should act
rs the representative Of the whole people of the
State; instead OF which, however, he is going
about making stump speeches in favor of Ma
hone. he seems to think that there is a sane.
tity even about his person. as is slown by his
remarks about the parings OF Mahone's toe
pals.
He then alluded to the many distinguished
men who had been Governor before Cameron
and inquired what would have been thought of
either fthose men If they had ever stopped to
make such a remark.
He then spoke of the monuments that such
men as Washington. Jefferson, Madison, and
Marshall had reared, more durable than brass
Or marble, and contrasted their records with
Fiat Of Cameron and Mahons. who have given
us debauched legislature a disgraceful Ex-
ecutive. and a degraded Judiciary.
He then said that the purpose Of the Malone
party was to concentrate all the powers OF the
people into the hands Of one man. At this
point he became sick and had to take his seat
Ae haA 90 or lxaI = gs<I-o
willing, bit the flesh was weak.
~Capt. Bumgardner then announced that he
Vas requested by the Democrats of Waynes-
boro' to state that 1t was their purpose to have
grand rally on next Saturday, and that all
Democratic Clubs and all Democrats in the
county were cordially invited to attend.
He then introduced Hon. John e. Massey,
who was received with loud shouts of welcome
HON. JOHN E. MASSEY.
Mr.. Massey said he could not express his
pleasure fer the cordial reception he had re-
beived from that large. respectable, and intel
Ngent audience.
I'm addressing them on thi occasion he felt
embarrassed as he followed the silver tongued
orator Of Augusta. q man of age and wisdom
Re felt as 9. g. frentfss did when he had to fol-
low Henry Clay. when he said that when the
eagle SCARED aloft 1t was time for the owls to
seek their hiding places. ID
He said he was plain man, and would ad.
dress them In plain and business-like man
ner He was sorry he was not as fresh as he
was at the beginning Of the canvass. and that
his voice was not as clear, blu t he was sure that
proper allowances would be made when he
Informed the audience that he had already
spoken Is times in this canvass. and had rid
4sp $50 miles on horseback, besides what he
had ridden on the railroads
He then alluded to Readjusters. and .a'"
that. fortudately or unfortunately, there were
not great many in this CONTEMPORARY
too much limestone. He said the position OF
the Read listers was that they desired to settle
TIE debt question. That they have done. and
that question should concern them no longer.
When q farmer finishes threshing his wheat.
: he does not keep his hands going through
with the motions of pitching up straw, but he
puts them at something else. When patient
has been cured, he does not continue to send
for the physician. When a sutton has gained
his case, he does not continue to employ q law
yer. When a job Is DONE you 60 to something
else. This Is common sense, and such should
be used In public, as in private. affairs. He
then said that 1t was not necessary to intro
Quce evidence tC show that the debt question