National Republican., 1883-10-25
STUMP SPEAKING AT srAUNToN.
Court Dny--Tho Tundcrs Afraid ofH Joint
Debnte-Their Thoory--An Able Speech
by Edgar AIion-Tho County Foir-A
Railway Completed.

hallway Completed
Special Letter.
STAUNToN, VA, Oct. 22.-All last week the
weather was cloudy and lowering, and Satur-
day night it commenced to rain and poured
down all night. 1t has ra!nod continuously
since, so you may judge of the unfavorable
situation for court day and public speaking
and county fair preparation. Augusta county
people arc pluclSy when they undertake to do
anything, So notwithstanding tho rain, to.
day brought largo crowd Of people to town
to hear the political folders" Judge Joseph
Christian aud Judge John Z. Harris were
present to represent tho democratic side and
Edgar Allen the coalition. An effort was
mAdo on tho part of tho chairman
Of tho coalition county committee to
have joint discussion, but for some cause
it failed A. NJ. Kelley, of Richmond, who
was booked here for to-day, failed to put
in an appearance (it is said he will not meet
Allen). Judges Christian and Harris took
themselves TO the opera house, and Mr. Allen
spoke in the court house. Tho idea with the
bourbons in declining joint discussion seems
to DO that, in addition to avoiding fair dis
cussion, they will take all tho best people in
their crowds and leave the coalitions the mig
gers and n few white people," 1t was not so
! to-day. whatever report the bourbon press
may have on the subject. Your correspondent
saw Aliens crowd, and does hereby testify that
| the court house was crowded with white peo-
! pie all voters, good solid substantial farmers,
working mon, and mechanics, whilo the gal
| lcrios were packed with tho colorod people.
| Christian had q good crowd, but not whit
better in numbers or in character than tho
crowd Allen had In fact, anyone would have
been pleased with such an audience.
Allen went for the bourbons with ungloved
hands. Hc showed up their glaring incon-
sstcnccs, ridculed their high sounding pre-
tensions by we'll timed and we'll put auec-
dOtcs aud carried his audience along as on a
tidal wave from the beginning to the
end of his speech. As stumper he
is decided success, aud the coalition
has in him thoroughly posted, bold, and
aggressive advocate of their cause. He re-
viewed the history of the democratic party
in its relation to reconstruction, the debt set
tlemcnt the poll tax restriction, and the
whipping post law in q most mastery man
ner. He told in pathetic language of the
poor confederate warworn and ruined SOL
dier, who, being driven to desperation by
hunger, took piece Of bacon to save himself
from starvation, who was arrested and tried by
bourbons, and, under the provision OF the
odious whipping post law, was ordered lashc4
for his oiionse. He described how the poor
fellow pleaded that he might bo hung
that if lashcd he would kill
himself; that he could not stand the disgrace,
and how he did afterward kill himself. The
audience was SO moved that not dry eye
could be seen in the house.
This has been glorious day for tho coali-
ton, and "Yankoc" Allen has made many
friends for himself and his cause in Augusta
county.
The county fair opens tomorrow, but the
outlook to-day is gloomy in the extreme. The
entries are large, and should it clear up early
tomorrow tho fair may yet be Il success. II
is probable, however, the track will be toe
heavy for good racing.
The last spike has been driven in the Val
ley railway extension to Lexington. The
train which took the cadets back from tn,
Winchester fair ran all the way through, anC
in about ten days the trains will run regu
: larly when l suppose the postotli ce official
will extend the mail facilities in that direc
tim