Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-08
fuckers Progress.
Correspondence of The State. ]

Correspondence of The State.]
MCDOWELL, October 1.-Mr. Tucker, in
pursuance of his appointment, put in an
appearance here yesterday evening. MIR.
Yost, his opponent was here on his return
from Crab Bottom, and asked for divls-
ion of time, which was accorded him by
Mr.. Tucker. The arrangement was for Mr.
Yost to lead off in an hour and quarter,
Mr.. Tucker to reply in an honr and hall,
Mr.. Y. to rejoin in half hour, and Mr.. L.
to conclude in quarter of an hour. They
spoke from the portico of Mr.. Bradshaw's
house. Mr.. Yost spoke for the entire
length of his time without single inter
ruption.
When he was through, Mr.. Tucker took
the stand, and was greeted with great
cheering. When he attempted to proceed,
he was interrupted by yells and shouts of
the men on the other side to such an ex-
tent that at one time it seemed the discus
sion would close, and once and again Mr..
Yost came forward and appealed to his peo-
pie to keep quiet, saying that as he had
been accorded quiet and respectful hear
ing they should give the same to Mr.. Tuck
er, After exhausting a good deal of time
and more patience, Mr.. Tucker was per-
mitied to proceed, and the general verdict
was, I think, that the party Mr.. Yost rep
resented got about as sound drubbing as
generally falls to its lot
Our people are perfectly satisfied with
the discussion, and the general impression
prevails that even the attempt to choke off
Mr.. Tucker after his opponent had been
respectfully heard in an empty personal
rant mnst work out good in the minds OF
all but the vulgarians who were guilty OF
it. 1t was obvious that the crowd was
with us to /, and this was possibly at the
bottom of the trouble. The ridiculous
boast of those who can find nothing better
to say for their party than Mr.. Tucker was
afraid to meet Mr.. Yost last night received
such quietus that | don't think it will be
heard Of again, at least by any one who
heard the discussion last night.
VIDETTE.
The above account of this discussion was
read to a gentleman from Eastern Virginia
who was present and heard it, and he says
it is correct, but that it omits to state that
Mr. Yost did not appeal to his friends to
behave themselves till it was proposed to
divide the audience.
1t will be seen that the Republicans at
that meeting did not want to give chance
for discussion, though it had been charged
that the Democrats wished to avoid dis
cussion, and that Tucker was afraid of a
discussion. It was Democratic meeting
by previous appointment, and there was no
obligation to allow the opposite party to
speak there, yet when they were graciously
allowed that privilege, and their speaker
had been accorded a respectful hearing, they
attempted to prevent the Democratic speak
Ell from being heard at his own meeting.
This shows that the Republicans not only
did not want discussion, as they have
persistently professed, but that they were
willing to disgrace themselves TO prevent
it, The good people of Highland will be
apt to rebuke this outrageous conduct, and
to use increased efforts to prevent the par
ty guilty Of it from carrying the vote Of
that county. The credit of that county
demands that it should place the stamp of
its condemnation upon such conduct. 1t
was an effort to rob the Democratic speak
er of his time and audience, and to give
them to the Republican speaker. Should
such robbers go unrebuked? Highland
will answer at the polls.