The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-09-28
Discussion on Monday.

Discussion on Monday.
JAMES BUMGARDNER, JR, AND s. BROWN ALLEN
A LARGE AND ENTH UsIAsTIC CROWD AND A
SPIRITED ENCOUNTER.
The voters of Augusta had the pleasure Of
listening to discussion between two of theil
county men on Monday last. Capt james
Bumgardner, Jr., representing the Democrats
and Col s. Brown Allen the Coalitionists
joined in discussion and for three hours held
the attention of crowd which filled the
Court House.
1t being Aliens appointment the terms were
agreed upon as follows: BumgardEer to lead
off in one and quarter hours; Allen to follow
in same time, with rejoinders of twenty five
minutes each-Allen closing.
CAPT. BUMGARDNER,
being introduced by w. E. Craig, Esq, COM
menced by saying that it was well now and
then to pause, look back over the course, and
see whittier we are drifting. He held up a
Readjuster Electoral Ticket for 1880, an d COM
mented upon the present political status of
the gentlemen whose names appeared thereon
as electors. Even the picture, the coat OF arms
Instead of the Virgin state having her foot on
the neck of the tyrant, the tyrant's foot was
upon her neck, and the issue to be decided in
this contest was whether that foot should re-
main there, or whether the sovereign people
of Virginia would rise in their might and rid
| flnp,c n1uoo sc 10 70 +ho
attitude of the Readjusters in the last Pres
| idential campaign and adverted to the fact,
that Wise, then an elector on the Hancock
ticket, was now the appointee of the man he
| had sought to defeat, and it was known that
President Arthur didn't appoint to Office any
but Stalwart Republicans. From that he
argued that Wise must be Republican Of the
Stalwart type. He alluded to some resolutions,
laudatory of Massey, which readjuster meet
ing in Staunton, in 1880, presided over by
Allen, had adopted, and commented wittily
upon them, declaring as long as Massey Twas
with the Readjusters they had praised him
to the skies, but as soon as he refused to sub
nit to the edict of the boss his head was am
putated and a TRADE of abuse levelled against
him. He referred to Paul's congressional
record, and charged him with treachery to his
constituents in having voted for Keifer over
Rardall-with being now Republican,
member of that party which in West Virginia
and Missouri had, after the war practically dis
franchsed the respectable people of those
states by the enforcement of test-oath which
none of the natives could subscribe to.
Coming next to Malone, he stated that the
new tyrant had been lifted from obscurity, on
the bright bayonets and cleaning swords of
the Confederate soldiers. The men of his brig.
great. And how had he rewarded them Even
Napoleon who trampled upon everything that
was sacred, not even sparing the wife OF his
bosom in his thirst for power, never turned
his back on the old guard. But Malone, more
cruel, heartless and ungrateful than the Cor
sican tyrant sacrificed the soldiers that had
raised him to wealth and power, by joining
with the Republicans in opposition to the
Tebbs bill, thereby voting to place stigma
upon Confederate soldiers, by keeping them
out of the army and navy.
The speaker read a portion of Wise's letter
published in 1881, in which the Republicans |
were roundly abused, and asked if the Repub- |
licans would sustain man who had thus fierce
ly denounced them, and after some further
allusion to what he styled political somer-
saulting of the Readjusters closed with an i'm
passioned invectiye against Rossism.
Capt. Bumgardner is an earnest, emphatic
speaker, fierce In his denuncation, and at times
bitter. He generally makes the best of cause
whatever it is. In his speech of Monday how
ever, he mentioned not one single positive issue
involved in the canvass, nor gave he any reason
whatever, why the Democratic party should
be entrusted with power. His whole time was
taken up with references to Malone and Wise,
and to the reconstruction measures passed by
the Republican party, Not one word as to
what the Democratic party proposed, not one
were keen and incsive, and they were greatly
enjoyed by his friends who cheered him fire.
quently and heartily.
When he had finished, loud cries were made
for
ALLEN.
and that gentleman advanced to the front.
After an anecdote or two, he briefly summar-
lied the Readjuster record, declaring that the
party had redeemed every promise 1t had made,
and fulfilled every purpose with which it was
charged. II had settled the debt, and removed
that vexed question from the arena of politics.
II boI do |
the financial world as just to the creditor and
honorable to the State. By it the people of
Virginia had been relieved of $13,C0O,0O0,
which they never owed, but which Bourbon
stupidity or Crlm' nalty had fastened upon them.
The whole question now was remanded to the
courts, and the State had been relieved of the
harmful agitation which had 50 sorely vexed
her for years past. Under the terms of that
settlement, every dollar of obligation against
the State had been promptly met, q state of
affairs unknown for ten years before the Re-
adjuster party went into power. Now at the
end of the year clear balance sheet was shown
whereas before there had been default of over
half million at each annual settlement Now
the schools received every dollar due to them,
whereas before they had been crippled for
want of funds, and the whole system brought
into discredit. All this had been accomplished,
and at the same time the taxea had been re-
duced twenty per cent. It Was record of
which any party might well feel proud and
stands out in bold relief to that of the Democ-
racy. Let the people at the coming election
revoke their judgment, and the State and all
of its interests will be remanded to the chaotic
condition in which they were found three years
ago
Replying to Capt. Bumgardner's animad-
versions on bossism, the speaker said that if
ever there was boss ridden party in this
country it was the Conservative Democracy
in this campaign. They had enrolled them
selves under the leadership of man who had
tried to boss the Readiuster party, and failing
in that had assumed entire control of the |
Democracy. In vain had that party appealed |
to its ranks for leadership. Payne, Daniels
and Mckinley respectfully declined the Tempt |
ing offer. After being foiled in his efforts to |
boss the Readjuster party, old man Massey the |
repudiator of regulators. had been chosen