Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-10-16
GLORIOUS DEMOCRATIC MEETING
IN ROCKINGHAM.
ABLE SPEECHES BY JUDGE CHRIS
TIAN AND GEN. FITZHUGH LEE.
A Large and Attentive Audience.
a GOOD IMPRESSION MADE AND A FINE sPIR-
IT PREVAILING.

A GOOD IMPRESSION MADE AND A FINE sPIR-
IT PREVAILING.
Yesterday was glorious day for the Democ
racy of Rockingham. 1t was County Court
day. and as it had been announced that Gov.
Cameron would be there to represent the Goa
lition party, and Judge Joseph Christian, OF
Richmond, late President Of the Court of APP
peals, and Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, of Stafford, to
represent the Democratic party, there was a
large number Of both parties in attendance.
1t was understood that there would be dis
cussion between Gov. Cameron and Judge
Christian, and the people were anxious to hear
1t, and felt greatly disappointed when they
learned that Gov. Cameron was not there and
would not be there, in consequence. as report
ed of being in Washington city with a
sprained ankle,
The Democrats regretted his absence, as they
were very DESTROYS to have discussion, and
we suppose the Coalitionists regretted his alb
sence, as they had no one competent to be pit
ted against Judge Christian in a discussion of
the issues of the canvass, and we feel very sure
that such would have been the case even if
Cameron had been there. Cameron met Chris
tian in Mathews county q week ago, and he is
not anxious to do 50 again. He would rather
meet almost any kind of heather than such
a Christian. How Cameron got his ankle
sprained was not made known, but, as Judge
Christian humOrously remark ed it is very GER
tain that it was not done by dancing for joy
over the Democratic victory in Ohio. Some
persons thought "spralned ankle .
was new term to express different kind of
misfortune, and repeated the lines Of Burns:-
kings may be blessed, but Tam was glorious,
Ger ell the ills of life victorious
The Democratic meeting was held at stand
erected on the north side of The Courthouse.
and the space between the Courthouse and
street was packed with hundreds of attentive
listeners throughout the time occupied by the
delivery of the very able and eloquent speech
es of Judge Christian and Gen. Lee, the former
of whom spoke for an hour and half, and the
latter for an hour and q quarter.
This large audience was retained notwith-
standing the fact that the coalitionistsattempt-
ed to drawn them of by band of music and
the delivery of speeches, and loud yelling, at q
Republican stand al the other emo of the court
house. The result showed, us Judge Christian
remarked, that neither he nor the Democracy
of Rockingham could be blown down with
horns.
Want of time and space prevents us from
giving, as we should like to do a sketch Of the
very able and eloquent speeches delivered by
these distinguished gentlemen both of whom
acquit led themselves in manner worthy OF
their regulations and of the cause they ad
vocated with such zeal, earnestness and ability.
They were just such speeches as were needed,
and we are sure that such arguments could not
fail to convince the reason of thinking men,
and that the patriotic sentiments so well ex
pressed could not fail to meet o hearty re-
Spouse in the bosom of every patriotic citizen
who heard them, and the applause with which
they were greeted showed that they were duly
appreciated by that large, and intelligent, and
patriotic audience. The impression made was
very great, and the result will be shown on the
9th of November, when many who had been
hesitating anG ''halting between two opinions"
will cast their votes, "as in duty bound" for
the candidates of the Democratic party. The
soher-thinking men of that good Old Demo-
cratic county cannot be hoodwinked and blind
" led into the Republican party. They were
Democrats when they were Readjusters, and
they are Democrats still, and they will main
tain their consistency by voting, as Democrats,
for the Democratic ticket.
At the conclusion of the speech Of Gen. Les,
Hor, John T. Harris-who had previously in
trodUced Judge Christian and Gen. Lee,-in-
troduced Geo. B. Keezell the Democratic can,
didate for the Senate in Rockin CHAM, and, in
doing so, took occasion to remind the people
tha', two years ago, he had asked the Read
justers Of that county, sit they were Demo-
Gratis or Republicans" and that they indig-
nantly replied, that "they were Democrats -
Now what do you see? At the other end of the
Court, house the meeting, few minutes ago.
was addressed by q Republican Jacob Yost)-
Who ever heard of a Democratic meeting heinz
addressed by Republicans? Who is addressing
that meeting now? The answer from tine au
dierce was, a negro''-(Rev. - Taylor of
Richmond).
Mr.. Keezell then spoke briefly, combining
himself to the refutation and denial in the
most emphatic manner of some false charges
that had been made in reference to his politi-
cal views
He was followed by Capt. Geo, Grattan. Oh e
of the candidates tor It's House Of Eelega ties,
who also confined his remarks to an indignant
denial of's0me Interpretations OF his po-
litlcal views.
The false charges preferred against these gen
uemen, which they so effectuely mailed to
the counter" shows that the Coalitlonlsts in
candidates will be elected, and they are resort
ing TO all manner of unfair means to prevent it
The shouts which greeted these candidates
as they took the stand showed that the fears
of the Coalitionsts are not groundless, for the
Democrats gave evidence that they would rally
with unanlmity to their support.
The speakers who addressed the Coalition
meeting, which was held for the purpose of
ba 1hors IF hot
hearing the able Democratic speeches, were R.
j. Walker, of Shenandoah DIR. J. b. Webb,
Coalition candidate for the Senate in Rocking.
ham; Jacob Yost, Of Stanton, Junior Editor
of the Va1yey Vrgtnian; and Rev. - Taylor,
(eolored,) of Richmond.
We did not hear any of the speeches made
by the Coaltionists neutrality-suspicious. to
partake Of a better repast-but we heard gem
tIeman, qualified to judge. say that the fifteen
minutes speech of Jacob Yost contained more
Information than the whole of the two-hours'
speech of Walker, which is either very high
compliment to our Republican neighbor, or a
very severe satire upon Walker, who has been
figuring conspicuously as a Coalition canvass
er. and receiving extra VACANT eulogiums from
the verscious correspondents of tne Richmond
Wing.
AASA=tASCi
pliment for we think he should be rewarded
for riding in haste in a private conveyance
the distance of twenty-five miles, to make a
fifteen minutes speech in response to a tele-
gram sent by his party friends to come to their
rescue in their dire extremity. It was Help
me, Cassius, or I sink" But in this case Cas-
sius cannot save the coalition Cmsar-he is
bound TO 'sink" beneath the crested waves Of
popular Indignation.
Staunton is rapidly becoming one of the
leading business towns of the State. 1t is q
pleasant place to visit, and q Stauntonian is
generally pleasant person to meet. We have
the pleasure each week of receiving its two
leading papers-the SPECTATOR and the Vindi-
cat0T-which we consider by far the two abIest
county papers published in the Valley, if not
in the State Valley Echo.
Farmers of Augusta! Are you aware that
the premiums upon farm crops offered at the
Baldwin Augusta Fair amount to more than
$500.