The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-25

in that campaign. Gen. Wlthers, in STUN
ing the State, held the detested instr
. ment up before his audiences and sp
\ upon it. He denounced it in unmeasurt
terms and especially that clause wli6
provided that the money of the rich shou
9 be devoted in part to the education of IL
poor through the public schools. Whil
!, this was going on. the Radical Conventio
met in Petersburg and nominated Well
$ The speaker was delegate to that Coz
yention, and earnestly plead with it not
incorporate the obnoxious provisions of til
Underwood Constitution into it's platform
His counsel was unheeded, and when i
: found that those measures, against whic
he so violently protested, were to /
adopted, in company with several other,
he bolted the Convention. As he came OF
, Of the building. he and his colleagues wei
met by Gen. Malone, and together the
went to room and planned the fight {
1863. Walker, a carpet-bagger, was to b
put up for Governor, and Lewis, Unto
Republican, for 1t. Governor The part
was to he called True Republican. Th
plans were perfected and ticket put fortI
Then it was that Withers and the othe
Democratic candidates were withdrawn
the lash of the leaders was brought int
play, the name of Democrat was dropped
the name of True Republican substitute
and the first Coalition of Virginia wa
formed. 900
7. The speaker exhibited an autograph let
| ter from Ex-Governor Walker, written il
'69 to Gen. Shafer, introducing Mr.. Allan
commenting his wisdom and sagacity an,
stating that the utmost confidence could b.
| placed in any representations that he nigh
make. With this letter the speaker wen
to Washington and pressed upon the at
tention Of President Grant and the Repub
lican Senators there the necessity Of sus
tanning by the power of the administration
the True Republican movement in Vir
ginia His visit was a successful one
Walker came out announcing himself as
the Grant Republican candidate for Gov
ernor, was elected on that basis, and when
the returns came in Raleigh +. Daniel
Chairman of the State Central Committee,
telegraphed President Grant congratu.
lating him on the triumph of his policy.
STATE AFFAIRS.
The speaker contrasted the administers
tion of the State affairs under Bourbon
ana Readjuster rule, pointed out the re-
forms that had been instituted. and in a
mastery review showed the benefits that
had resulted to Virginia from the change
of parties. He illustrated this point by
reference to an incident in English history
| when at the siege of Lucknow when despair
had settled on the little band Of heroes,
and almost the last hope had gone, the
! Daughter Of the Regiment heard the strains
of distant music and as it approached
nearer and nearer, recognized the High
land slogan. In moment the gloom was
dispelled and the means Of despair gave
place to mad acclaims Of joy as the res
cuing party came in sight. So it was with
Virginia few years ago. Her every in-
terest was Frustrated, her people disheart-
ened and the future seemed to hold iii
store nothing but dread Then it was
that the first note OF an aroused manhood
went up from the Valley. 1t was echoed
| in the Southwest and soon from the noun
tain to the sea shore the good news spread
Virginia shook off her. .lethargy. her true
defenders neryed themselves for the fight
and glorious victory was achieved.
In abiding to the abolition Of the whip
ping post law, the speaker referred to the
Confederate soldier Smith, who, after
| coming forth from the war, MANNED for
| life and incapable, from. the sacrifices he
had made for his State, of making living,
had for some petty offense been drawn up
and whipped like dog. He had begged
to be shot rather than thus disgraced, but
his earnest clearinghouse disregarded and
1.-THE cruel lash laid upon his bare back. As
he turned from the whipping post, he
drew forth a revolver and blew his, brains
out. The speakers presentation of this
picture will not soon be forgotten by those
who heard it. 1t was one of the most
magnificent word paintings that ever came
from the lips of an orator. The eye of
many an old Confederate soldier dimmed.
as with the vividness of life he saw his old
comrade before him, and heard his earnest
pleadings for death rather than ignominy.
After glancing over the prominent issues
of the campaign and abiding to the num-
Der of suits now being brought against the
State by those who would unsettle the
debt, the speaker closed with one Of the
most thrilling and eloquent perorations
ever heard in that Court House.
We have not undertaken to give anything
like synopsis Of this address. 1t would
be impossible to do it Justice, even were
it reported verbatim, for pen and paper
could not photograph the magnetism of
the speaker or:.the manner of delivery. 1t
was pronounced by nearly every one who
heard it as the grandest speech ever deliv-
cred in Staunton, and will long be remem-
bered by it's hundreds of auditors. During
it's delivery Mr.. Allan was interrupted
time after time by the most deafening ap-
plause, and at it's close the Court House
trembled with the uproar.
It may be safely stated that Monday last
accomplished good for the Coalition and
was a cold day for democracy. Messrs.
Wallace, Of Orange, Harris, Of Rocking
ham, and Christian, of Richmond, adj
dressed an audience at the Opera House.
We did not hear them and consequently
cannot tell what they said. But if we may
judge from the countenances of the Fun
ders in the evening they were far from
pleased with the days work, whilst the
Readjusters were wild with enthusiasm.
One disgruntled Funder said, when asked
about the Opera House meeting, ''Oh, they
had pretty good crowd, but there was
little enthusiasm. The fact is our speak
ers have played out" The trouble is that
they hadn't anything to speak about.
Mt. Scion items.
Reported for the VIRGINIAN.
The religious exercises which have been
held at the Methodist Church. were
brought to a close last Saturday evening,
being the close of the fifth week since the
work was inaugurated, Fifty-eight'persons