The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-09-27

SWEEP, AND THEY SWEEP. "A ROUSING
POLITICAL DAY.
Monday last was big day for the Coali
tionists of Augusta. Such a meeting as
that held in the Court House, in numbers
enthusiasm and effect, has not been equaled
for u long time. 1t was what may be
termed n ''rouser.n The crowd was eager
to hear, the speakers admirably contributed
their part, .and if effect may be judged
from the enthusiasm and joy pictured on
the countenance of every Coalitionist you
met in the yevening, the days work was
well put in.
The weather was most unprOpitious.
From early in the morning until late in
the afternoon the rain came down in a
steady stream, keeping hundreds at home,
and exercising chilling and depressing
| influence on those who ventured out In
deed, it looked for a while as tho there
would not be hundred countrymen in
| town, and even up to the hour when the
Court House bell was rung and the time
announced for the meeting arrived, the
prospects of representative audience
were slim. But at the tap of the bell, the
room began to fill up, and Col. Sims had
proceeded but little way in his speech,
ere it was completely filled and then packed
and damned.
1t had been supposed that there would
be joint discussion. Hon. J. r. Tucker,
on behalf of the Democrats, had been an
nounced to speak for weeks, and as an ap-
pointment had also been made for Col.
Sims, on behalf of the Coalitionists, both
sides were looking for debate. But they
were disappointed. Mr.. Tucker failed to
come to time, having missed, we under
stood, the railroad connection.
Shortly after II o'clock,
COL. WIN. e. SIMS,
of Pittsylvania was introduced by w. E..
Craig, ESQ.,, chairman of the Coalition
committee. Col. Sims is much younger
looking man than his reputation through
out the State would lead one to suppose.
In appearance he is scarcely thirty-ive.
Of good stature and carriage, a fine face
and pleasant expression, he won the at
tention of his audience from the start,
and grew in favor until the close OF his
address. He is deliberate speaker, clear
and forcible. His propositions are made
so plain that none can misunderstood
them, and his arguments so close that he
closes the gaps as he goes along, leaving
nothing to be repeated or further ex-
planned.
In commencing, he stated that he came
to address the voters of Augusta in behalf
of the great Liberal party in Virginia-a
party that had been called by almost as
many names AS the so-called Democratic
party 1t had been denominated the Rad
cal party; the Niger party =; the Co
alition party the Readjuster party; the
Republican party, and so on. 1t was in
truth the Liberal party, and was entitled
to the name by the right of its achieve
ments. Its opponents used but one argu-
ment against it That it was drifting away
from the moorings of demOcracy-leav
the old ship that had been the refuge for
time out of mind. Let us see, said the
speaker, how we have drifted. Democracy,
in 1861, meant opposition to National
Banks and national currency. Now, the
largest stockholders in these banks and
their greatest advocates are Tilden, Hew-
lit and Randall, and a number of lesser
Democratic lights. Democracy meant
slavery, but slavery is dead. 1t meant
free trade, but not one of it's champions,
not even Jno. Randolph Tucker would say
as much now. Tariff for revenue is the
motto on it's flag. 1t meant State Rights,
but State Rights had gone down in the
shock of battle to rise no more. And,
last, it meant the Rule of the people.
That, too, like all the rest, had been
abandoned. Its present representatives
are contending against the rule OF the
people, and in behalf Of the domination Of
the ''best'' people. Democracy in Virginia
had said to the poor man Go to the front
of the battle in time Of war bare your
breast to the storm of lead on the battle
field, but when you come home broken
down, MANNED for life, it may be, stand
aside: You have no interest in this gov,
eminent you can cast no vote until you
have paid your dollar capitation tax. But
short time ago, 10000 of these so-called
Democrats marched up to the polls and
cast their ballots against allowing the poor
man to vote until he had paid this tax.
Recently, the speaker continued, was
nominated by the Readjuster party to rep
resent the people of my county in the
Senate. When the announcement was
made the Funder papers said it was a
shame. Instead of representing the wealth,
the intelligence and the aristocracy of
Pittsylvania, I had chosen to champion
the cause of the poor and the ignorant
1 would want no better epitaph than that
1 had fought, not against the intelligence
and worth Of my State, but on behalf of
the humble and lowly, the poor and the
oppressed.
Democracy has departed from every
principle it has formerly avowed, and found
but one substitute policy. For policy it
had voted for Horace Greeley for policy
it had elected Walker Governor and Lewis
as 1t Governor of Virginia for policy it
had, in Halifax county, elected one white
Democrat and two colored Republicans
for policy it had defeated Massey in Abe
marie and elected EARLY, a Republican. For
policy it had followed the lead of Ross Ham
ilton in the Legislature, and for policy it was
now supporting WINS. G. Wickham, an
open and pronounced Republican. in Han
over.
Within it's ranks, latter day Democracy
countenances no independence. Let man
undertake to think and act for himself,
and Immediately the cry goes up, off with
his head. By ostracism, abuse and threats,
they try to stiie every feeling Of manhood
and make the people subservient slaves to i
the will of a few. Jno. S. Barbour letter
accepting the nomination for Congress,
declared, in substance, that Virginia must
get out of the ruts in which she had been
run, and press forward to an enlightened
liberalism. But John S. Barbour was now
leading the forces against the only party
that ever would liberalize the State.
The speaker contrasted Mahone's rail
road career with that of Barbour. The