Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-04-08
Republicans Getting Tired Of the Danyille
Investigation.

WASHINGTON, April 4-The testimony
before the Danville Committee to-day was
decidedly more interesting than. any yet
elected. Especially was this the case in
regard to that of General Wickham, Audi
tor Ruffin, and Colonel Anderson, of the
First Virginia. Colonel Ruffin went into
the philosophy Of the campaign and fur
nished Mr.. Sherman some entirely new
views about Virginia elections. He was
very happy when he said that the Demo
Gratis were anxious for peaceab!e election
and full vote in order not to furnish Ma
hone with pretext to throw ont the DEM
cratic vote in any case. Mr.. Sherman
having here suggested that the witness was
not observing senatorial courtesy to the
Virginia Senator, Governor Vance re-
marked that Colonel Ruffin meant the par
ty. The witness thereupen frankly de-
clared that he regarded General Malone as
the Coalition party General Wickham's
clear and complete testimony attracted the
more attention because OF his national rep
utation as a Republican. 1t evidently set
Senator Sherman thinking, and ought to
have made him agree with the witness that
the Administration did the Republican
party of Virginia a great wrong when it
turned it over to the Readjusters. The
kindness of white Virginians to colored
people was never more clearly described
than it was by General Wiokham. He was
strongest, however, wheD he showed that
the Coali ion leaders endeavored at their
night meetings TO 0raw the color line in
Hanover and Caroline in the last canvass,
and he clinehed the nail here when he said
that when in his public speeches he charg-
ed this negroes in the crowd cried out,
eyes; that's what they told us to do"
Colonel Anderson testified to the stoning
of the colored club from Charlotte, and
when Mr.. Sherman objected Oh the ground
that this testimony was not connected with
the Danville riot, he very promptly hand
ed him the resolutions adopted by the Rich
mond meeting held at the armOry as not
being open 10 this objection. A Boston
Republican,, in commenting on Colonel An
derson's declaration that this was solemn
meeting, said, Il don't know why the kill
ing OF few negroes should have made it
solemn" Mr. Wheatly, of Danville, was
tt Hing witness. He is from John Sher-
mans district in Ohio, and declared that
while be votes the Republican ticket in ma
tioijal elections he has to vote with the
Democrats in Virginia in the Staee and
municipal elections, because their candi-
dates are more Intelligent and hone t. A
respected colored Democrat from Lynch
burg, who is very much attached to Gene
raj Early, surprised the prosecution when
he testified to the prosecution and ostra-
cism that he himself had been subjected to
at the hands of colored men and women
in and out of the church. When he said
his nose had been pulled by men and wom-
en- of his race for voting the Democratic
ticket Mr. Sherman smiled, but he object
ed to the testimony, forge ting for the time
that Hon. John S. Wise had been permit
ted to testify to what happened during the
entire campaign all over Virginia. The
Republicans are getting very much tired
of this Investigation, and with few more
field-days like to-day for the defence will
become completely disgusted.-Wash. Cor.
Rich. Despatch.