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

WALKER, RIDDLEBERGER AND CURRY
BEFORE THE SovEREIGNS OF THE COUN
TY- SPLENDID PRESENTATION OF
THE ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN,
There was music in the air last Monday
1t could be seen in the beamng faces and
flashing eyes of the Liberals as they rolled
into town. and heard in their che erful words,
as each congratulated the other on the
omens OF approaching victory which APP
pear i'm every direction. We have never
seen men in more gleeful humor than were
the faithful band of Augusta Liberals as
they mingled in social converse, and gave
expression to their confidence in their cause
and its prospects. The announcement that
Harry Riddlebarger was to address the
people of the county at the Court House
had something. too. to do with the encour-
aging feeling that prevailed. 1t was known,
also, that Rev. Jno. E. Massey. the Bour-
bon leader in this canvass, would be here.
but it was not expected that Il joint discus
sion between these gentlemen would take
place, as it is well known that they have no
especial love for each other. The tacit un-
Outstanding, therefore, was that there
would be two meetings. one at the Court
House, in the interest of Liberalism, and
the other at the Opera House to listen to
Mr.. Massey, Hon. A. Ii. II. Stuart and Col.
Skinner, AS the programme of the Bnurbons
announced.
A little before II o'clock, the Stonewall
Band, whose leader had said n few weeks
ago that he would not play ON the occasion
of complimentary call Gu John =. Wise,
for thousand dollars minute, marched
around the square to draw the crowd away
from the Court House to the Opera House
to hear Mr. Massey. but with very poor
success. as was prominently demonstrated
by the large hearing which assembled ia the
Court HI, use.
Al twelve o'clock the Court House bell
was ring rs a signal for the Readjust' r. to
assemblies and b 1t few moments eiapsedhe-
fore the building was filled on The floor
with a. good an atidienci. as we have ever
seen meet there. and the galleries Were
damned with colorrd citiZeus--making al
together at least 900 people every man
a voter audi we might SAY Liberal voter.
with here and there an exception.
The Chaiy,nan of the Liberal County
Committee w. K. Craig. E~q soon made
his appeara nee. and with him Hon. H. IL.
Rddieieryer and Mr.. Il. J. Walker, Of
Shenandoah. Mr.. Craig addressed the Lai-
dience in II erse, stirring speech, giving
an interesting account If the campaign in
the county. ali 3 the progress of the Liberal
cause, nentioni ng the fact that Col. O'Fer-
rail- had refused To divide time aC Middle
brook and Grepmville with Liberal speak
ers, and at Fishersviiie, last SATURDAY. even
ing, the Bourbon Club at that place. de-
cined to allow division OF time between
Capt. James BurpgaL dner. Chairman of the
Bourbon County Commi ttee, land Mr. Craig,
the Chairman of the Liberal County COM
mittee. But, said Mr.. Craig. although their
appointments are made in secret, no pub
LEGATION of them in their papers, it was the
purpose of the Liberal speakers to follow
them up and challenge them at every point,
and thus demonstrate to the people that
the Liberals co:.rted discussion and an
exposition of policies, while the Bourt'ons
Stunned them. His remarks kindled the
enthusiasm of the crowd and were received
with the most earnest applaus
Mr.. r. J. Walker, one of the canvassers
of the Liberal party for this Congressi on.
al District. was introduced by Mr.. Craig,
and proceeded to deliver an eloquent and
effective speech. He is a son of Col Sam
uel Walker, at one time editor of the "Val-
ley Democrat" published at Htrrisonburg,
who was killed in the battle OF Chancel-
louisville while command ing his regiment,
the 10th Virginia. Mr.. Walker is pleas
ing and magnetic speaker, OF attractive
appearance and manners, and young
man of very decided talent, who is des-
arena of Virginia. His speech was an in
telligent record of the history and legis-
lation of the Readjuster party, the bene-
fits it had secured to the people, the PROM
the past, cutting criticism of Mr.. Mas
sey's position, and lucid exposition of
the several measures introduced by the
Liberals in the Legislature, and defeated
by the detection of the big Four" His
remarks were nterspersed with eloquent
amusing and pertinent illustra-
tions. and closed with stirring and tell
ing appeal to the Liberals of the county
to stand to the cause and exert every eff
fort to bring out the full strength of the
party on the 9TH of November next.
Mr.. Walkers remarks and his forcible
and earnest manner of presenting his
points, were heartily responded to by the
large hearing. and received with vociferous
manifestations approval.
Hon. II. H. Riddleberger, at the close
of Mr.. Walkers speech, was loudly called
for by the audience, who seemed impatient
to hear him. He came to the front amidst
the widest cheering and entered upon
the discussion of tie questions at issue in
one of the ablest efforts we have hea I'd
during canvass. 1t was calm. dign flied,
methodically arranged and convincing,
impressing the vast assembly with the truth
and justice of the views he proclaimed and
the cause he spoke for,
He referred to past discussions in the Court
House at this place and that such terms as the
Bourbons chose to grant had to be accepted or
no division allowed-that he remembered one
scene of an old bony grey horse being lead
around, labelled Harry Riddleberger in search
of the United States Senate That horse, he
said, had made his time and came in on the
last quarter with the first premium. But two
years ago, CO.. Skinner, he said, had told the
people of Augusta, when asking for their
votes to send him to Richmond to represent
Augusta in the Legislature, that, if elected,
the happiest hour of his life would be when
he could vote against John E. Massey for
Auditor, and now this same Col Skinner was
appointed to address some of the same people
from the same stand with John E. Massey, in
advocacy of thatgentlemans election to Con-
gress He amusingly criticised the attitude of
Mr.. Stuart and Col. Skinner making common
cause with Mr.. Massey, when but a short
ime ago they were contending for the sane
tity of the Funding Bill and an irrepealable
contract, and Massey was laboring to repu-