The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-09-28
The Coalition Picnic.
MALONE, PAUL, WISE, BLAIR AND BROWN
ING SPEAK-A GOOD TIME AND GRAND
SUCCESS.

SUCCESS.
Friday, the 22d inst. was appoin ted
for the Readjustcr Basket Picnic near
| New Hope. The night previous @as stormy
and the rain came down in torrents. The
equinoctial storm was upon us in its worst
phase, and the morning of the 22d dawned
with overhanging watery clouds, which
threatened a continuance of the Indictment
weather. The sky in the West and North
west gave promise of tempest in the ele-
ments, and little hope that the day would
be anything but unpropitioIs. The th'cK'
black clouds floated .aZiy together, ana
seemed to be concentrating tor an OLD
fashioned September rainfall. The nh-
certain and unpromising indications OF Inc
weather discouraged all who had calculated
Oh large gathering at the Picnic, and
when ten O'Clock arrived not more than
few hundred mad collected in the beautiful
woods, where preparations had been maue
for the demonstration. The cOuntenances
of nearly all we met, at that hour, reflected
disappointment, for it seemed reasonable u
conclude that numbers who would have at
tended, would scarcely appear in the I'M
sheltered woods, except by the fragrant
foliage. eXposed.to vi Ina; promised to be
heavy IAin storm. But rs the moments
passed, additions were made TO the at first
slender crowd. They came in tours, and
In squads-some in buggies. in carriages,
others i'm wagons, Of various styles,0n borse-
back and afoot. AL III O'Clock the handsome
turnout of Mr.. w. K. Roberts,, "a live farmer
near New Hope-a splendid span OF horses
and II doubled-seated carriage-drove up and
from it alighted Gen. VIM. Malone, Attor-
ney General Blair, and Capt. Jno. 5. Wise.
Ii was not certainly known that Gen. Malone
would be present until his arrival i'll Staun-
ton at 81 O'Clock on the morning OF the
22d. He was mte at the depot by several
OF our citizens, and escorted directly to the
Vale. Depot, where the train was taken
AT 7 o'clock. for Fort d. tiance. On the
same train from the East that brought Gen
Mahpne. from Washington. came Capt.
Blair and MIR. Browning, from Richmond.
who had been teiegraplied to be present for
fear that the otheI speakers, except Capt.
Wise, would be prevented from meeting the
enyayementssthat had been made for them.
Accompanied by several ofhy citizens, the
party, including Capt. " Use, who had come
in the day previous from Bath, left the
train At Fort Defiance. and took breakfast
it'll Prof. c. 5. Roller. They were there
met by carriages and conveyed to the
grounds. About the time of the arrival OF
q a. M;l,lt ,rt lls nm, date compan-
IONS, the Mill Creek Band, from Rocking
ham, made its appearances composed OF as
fine looking body Of young men.as we Or
dinarily see anywhere. Then came several
carriages from Harrisonburg. and Hon.
John Paul in a buggy. About this time the
sunlight broke through he clouds and bathed
the stately oaks ii its genial rays; the
arching blue Of the sky became visible
and from every direction the citizens OF the
county came in. including ladies and gen.
tlelnen and some few children. AT twelve
ABOUT SUI ptOplc ildu doSCtnoiSuS shN NoAA-
they came notw Outstanding the unfavorable
weather signs Of The morning, and before
one O'Clock at least 1900 had gathered
about one-iifth OF whom were eolored. A
notable feature OF the occasion was that
very few of the Hourbons put i'll an appear
ance-- not more than six or eight whom
we knew. but probably there were others.
A comfortable stand had been erected UNI
der cluster Of oaks, with ample seating
room arranged in front for hearersand repOr-
tiers. The arching evergreens were empel-
lished with appropriate and expressive mot
toes. such as Wise and Paul Free Educa-
tion-Free Ballot and Fair Contour just
Debt with Fair Interest and Reduced Taxes
Protection of our Industries-A Solid
Union with Federal Fraternity" some OF
them worked in colors and Others printed
with large black letters.
After music by the excellent Mill Creek
Band, about u M. w. E. Craig, Esq,
Chairman of the Coalition County Com
mittee, announced in clear, distinct
voice, the programme of the day First.
Capt. Frank S. Blair. Attorney General,
would open in brief speech, to be fol-
lowed by Capt. Jno. S. Wise, candidate for
Congre.sman-at-large; then recess, after
which Hon. John Paul, candidate for Con-
gress from the Seventh District, to be sue
ceeded by J. S. Browning, Esq, private
secretary to the Governor. There was no
announcement for Gen. Malone to address
the audience from the stand, as being fresh
from his arduous campaign duties and trav-
cling all night without sleep, be was in no
condition physically to undergo the effort
incident to dicussion OF the issues before
the people, But notwit outstanding this, a
few eloquent words were forced from him at
the close of the ceremonies,
After graceful introduction to the at
tentive and respectful audience. Capt.
Blair entered upon brief review of what
the Rea busters had done, introducing his.
remarks by stating that the platform of the
party he spoke for was broad enough for
all, and comprehen!dded the best interests of
the peOptc u UObh sHtsSo: wv ~ " A1o uO
had to say would be only the prelude to the
play, he would not enter upon an elaborate,
discussion of any of the great questions
which were involved in the verdict OF No
vembey next. He rapidly ran over the
great achievements of the Readjusters since
they had been in power, and in elegant
and lncsive sentences brought to the at
tention OF the audience the condition of
the State few years ago under Bourbon
rule and its condition now under Re-adjus-
ter administration. Even WHAT was called
the carpet-bag government of Coy. Wells
left ia the Treasury $500, 200, but when
the Re-adiusters came into power, after
ten years of Bourbon rule, the Treasury
was empty and Auditor Massey had to bor-
row money to meet the current expenses
Of government. REIMBURSEMENT had not
finished its work, as evidence OF VIII ich he
referred to the suit instituted by the bond
holders to grab $780, 900 now under the con-
troll OF the State, derived from railroad as
sets, and appropriated by the Legislature
for the purpose of public free SCHOOLS, and
Q normal school for the education of colored
teachers, He declared that the mission of
the Readjuster party will not have been