Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-29
THE HOT CAMPAIGN.
Il Slender Reception to Malone and
Son" at the New Hope Picnic.

Son" at the New Hope Picnic.
SPEECHES BY ATToRNEY-GEN'L BLAIR.
JOHN S. WISE. JOHN PAUL, J. M.
BROWNING AND WIN. MALONE.
&C., &C.. w.
[Reported for the SrAUNToN VIND1cAroR!
New HOPE. Sept %.
Soe;no on the register at the Virginia
Hotel in Staunton this morning, in
oood round hand. the entry "Mahone and
Son ), I took conveyance at once for
this point, knowing that the Senator WAS
nm his way to what was intended to be)
a ..oreat gathering" of the Malone men
of Augusta. 1 must confess to surprise at
the Generals wasting ammunition in Au-
gusta county. but when heard his five
minutes speech, in closing up the orations,
the secret came out, it was a grand COM
boss himself to save John Paul. That 1T
failed to gather big audience was doubt
less a severer blow to Mr.. Paul than to
any of the other speakers.
Middle River district is the stronghold
of the Malone men in the sturdy old Dem
ocratlc county of Augusta. 1t is here
that Robert s. Harnsberper, Chas. S. Roll
er. Court Roller, John II. Parkins and
several other of those of the Senator's fol-
lowers who never waver, live and are always
active. But this fact only seems to intensity
Democratic feeling, and the members of
that party in the district are among the fir.
NEST, not to say the bitterest in the cou n
ty You may infer how they feel about
it when I tell you that even the presence
of Gen. Malone, who is a curiosity as
we'll as celebrity. could not draw ten
Democrats to the ground. There are also
few white Republicans. who seem
quite as bitter. An incident will serve to
illustrate. Some distance before reaching
the picnic ground, and experimenting that
from the s.great crowd" expected there
wonld bs difficulty in procuring feed for
our team, we stopped at farmers to buy
it. MY companion went ont to make the
purchase at the barn. and this conversation
took place:
"Going down to that meeting down
there2" said the farmer,
"Yes.''
''Well, those fellows look pretty much
alike, generally. but you and that fellow
in the wagon don't look like you belonged
to 'em.'
''No; we are Democrats just going down
to see what is going on. How much for
the feed.''
sHere take it! won't charge you all
anything"
I can't say whether our friend was a
Democrat or Republican.
THE PICNIC
it was not a barbecue as had been sup
posed by some, took place in grove about
a mile below the village of New Hope. In
the centre of the grove was speaker
stand trimmed with evergreens aud deco
rated with two national flags. In front Of
the stand was a section of seats intended
[ presume, chiefly for the ladies, had the
large audience which was hoped for arriv-
ed, but which from the smaller attend
ance was appropriated. not only by the
ladies present, but by Eumber of men
white and black. The front of the speak
on that was inscribed 'sWise aud Paul;
Free education; Free ballot and fair
count; Our just debt with fair interest and
reduced taxa. ion; Protection of our indus
tries; A solid Union with Federal Frater-
nifty" could not help smiling at this in
geDious inscription, it reminded me so
much OF those patent medicine bottles
with the formula printed on the outside, in
which every drug is named except the bad
whisKey which is the base OF this prepare
ton. The Malone men had printed tie
names of all their drugs except the base
"OFFICE" which we presume was inad-
vertently omitted. notwithstanding the
leaders have beeu engaged with campaign
pestle and mortar in the back room of the
''Whig" Office for years in preparing it.
THE GATHERING.
That the number of people present was
q great disappointment to the Malone men
was made evident to me soon after my ar
rival on the ground. Gen. Malone arriv-
ed On time and the sight was rather de-
pressing to a man who had expected to see
a mass meeting. Some Of my Malone
friends commenced giving me excuses fol
the situation. which in justice to them
print. One said that but for the rain OF
the day and night before. there would havs
been an Immense crowd;' another sale
there would have been many more there
but for the uncertainty about Gen. Ma
homes being there, which prevailed up II
late hour, and another told me Of sever
al rivers which had cruelty risen and kept
back large numbers OF the faithful.
could have given them reason which
they forgot to mention, which would have
been sufficient to cover the ground, ai.f
that is that their party is. shaky, and
only held up by Republican Administra
tion. and many Democrats. who months
ago would have gone miles to hear such ;
combination as NJ ahone, Paul, Wise. Blai
and Browning. now don't want to heal
them il they were to hire wagon ali,
drive to their doors. There was grea
deal of anxiety displayed about the nun
Der of persons who were there, so mucl
that put myself to some trouble to sc
the facts. Being somewhat familia
with public gatherings and after tryin
carefully and impartially to give the mum
Der present, estimated it at about iv
hundred, about one-fifth being colored me
and women. There was very nice at
dience of ladies present, probably fift
in number, and to an admirer of prett
women, it was a much greater attraction
than Gen. Malone.
THE SPEAKERS AND THE SPEAKING.
OF course the man they had all come t
near was Gen. Malone. He had come
carriage from Staunton with Capt. Wise