Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-11-09
What John S. Barbour Said the Day
Before Election.
From the Alexandria Gaze tel

s'HOn. John s. Barbour, Chairman OF
the Democratic State Committee being
interIogat, last night in regard to the
charces In the State to-day. said:
''Hei etcfore l have declined to give my
views o the press on account ut the lIabll-
itv to misconstIu cI ion and to the misre-
presentation winch would fellow by our
adversaries. but as the publication OF any
views of mine upcn the political situation
comes too late to affect the result Of the
election ia Virginia now. l feel no embar-
rassmen: in resp hiding to any reasonable
questions when you may ask on the sub
jet. Indeed, thtre are some things con-
nectsd with our Political situation which
! wOnld like the country outside Of Vlr-
glnia TO know
ITO begin. then, what are your antlcipa-
tions of the result OF the cleo ion Will
the democrats elect maiolIty of MEM
bers OF the Legislature ?"
IL expect positive success for the demo-
cratic party. q reports from all parts
OF the State are cpntirmatory of this vi W,
and | should feel assured of this result
beyond shadow of duubt if as fair
system of elections as prevails in other
States was alowed our voters tomorrow.
Under the virginia laws, the Judges of
Elections are taken one each from the re-
publican and readj er parties, and one
from the democratic party. TINS will give
the cOalitIOnists two to one against us,
and in the speIation OF their cause
our friends are apprehensive that
they will resort to improper methods
where possible, to prevent their defeat.
The canvassing hoard is made up of State
officers, all of whom are cOalltlOniats. and
continuance in office of all except one de-
ponds upon the political compile xion OF the
LegislaI ure to be elected Tomorrow.
"What do you think OF the late riot at
DanviIle, and what tffec will it have
upon the election 20
"Of course l deprecate it as most I'M
fortunate affair. There is not the slight
est ground for the infamous charge that 1t
was prtconcerted or instigated by our par
ty in that town OF elsewhere. 1t was the
legitimate fruit of the lncendiary speeches
winch the coalition orators have been ma
king to the colUre0 people, who are Iatu.
rally emotional ard easily excited. All
sorts OF wild harang ues are made from the
husliugs to these ignorant people. pro-
claiming that the democrats are their So
ciat and puiii ical eIltm rs that they de-
sire to deprive them of their school pllvl-
ges, and if put in pswer would make slaves
again OF them and their children. There
is hardly decent Northern man who
comes IT, Virginia ard hears one of those
demagoe uery and c. mmunlstic spirit
which pervades it. The Gil liens 1T Dabvile
have been heretofore noted for exceptional
kindness to the NJ gIOeS. and for the Inter
est which they have a ways manifested IN
promoting thei: material welfare and IA
voring educational facilities for their CIVIL
dren. The return for all this cnDsidrra-
ton is exhibited on the part of I be colored
people III Da vile by banding together IN
ali municipal and ate elections, and vOt-
ING solidly with the Federal fficeboldeis
and with the irresponsible and on-rtple-
tentative element of the white people
Such q state of things is unnatural and in
aptagouism with PEI ma':ent order and
good Government, and calculated to make
trouble anywhere.
'.As to the effect of this upon the cleo
tion in the State" he added, II am not
prepared to make mp a dt fi.lte opinion L
am inclined 10 THINK that 1t will not lrni-
enc, the result in fav Of the drmocI ats
to any C nslderabl. extent. Ii may pro-
duce some excitement IN the chuntles
where the white population largely pre-
dominates. but will probably consolidate
the co ored vote in some OF the Counties
and districts where considerable oppo5l-
ttion existed against Mahone. and which
we would. as ma tiers stood, have carried
for the dem scrdcy 10 the el+ctinu without
any political effect of the occurrence at
DanVilie. We had the cnalltiOnis's beaten,
in NV jud cement, all over the ate, and
the affair comes now too late to change the
result. Notwithstanding. tn read u>ters
will ascrlbe their defeat il Virginia, as
defeated they will be, to this cause. 1t is
apparent to all who hav3 looked over the
GROUND and will exp e,S candid OplDlOn,
that Virginia is Il dam icftJlc State aud
cannot be fairly transferred tn the repuD-
liean party-es .ecially the stal gart wing.
The MahOneites have never dared To pre-
sent the direct party issue to the people /,
and in many of their counties their Cam
didates profess 10 lie as good democrats as
ours. The people are beg ming. for the
first time, to see the true state OF affairs
and to rralza the deception which has
been used to mislead item but cannot be
carried farther in that direction"
tine coalitioDis's represent that you
and your party are using great deal OF
money to control the election. How Is
this p
mot q word of truth in it. Where was
the money to come from ? We had no
Office holders to assess, State or Federal.
Our opponents have the active sympathy
and supp )rt of the Administration in
their favor, and have fla every State
cffce. except few Circuit Judgeshlps. as
now remember. wi b their p4rtlsaBs.-
There is not City dollar pnstotfice ia the
State that is not flied with Malone
man, and, of cOu Sc. all these are compell-
ed, as the condition of tenure Of flee. to
work actively for the success Of their
party"
''The Coalitionists represent that you
have been furnished with large amount
of money bv corporations and railroads IN
and out OF Virginia to inh lence the cleo
tion. Is there any foundation for this re-
port
sNone whatever; the corp Drationz and
railroads Of the N 'rth are generally c)n-
trOlled by republicans, ard have not par
ticle of interest in Virginia ,litlcs There
b not been dollar contributed to our
campaign fund by any railroad company
in the State, aud l do not know of any
railroad company that has an axe to grind
b.,ore the next Legislature "
"Have you had much IT fund ?"
"Our campaign fund has been compare
lively small, and have no doubt the Goa
lti nists have expended three dollars in
the convass where we have one. vi Course
a good deal of money has heen required
for legitimate expenses Of our campaign
and organization This has been Contrib
nted voluntarily by our own people, ex
cept small amount which has been seni
from personal and political friends out
success. II we win the fight, as think
we shall. it will be a clear case Of sponta
neous combustion and vii place Virginia
on permanent 70 ing in The democ, attic
column hurt After"
',Nhat Is jour estimate Of the Tasaltg''