National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-01
REPUBLICANS AT HERNDoN.


A delegation of Republican orators from |
Washington invaded the pretty village Of
Herndon, Va, last Saturday for the purpose OF
dispensing comfort and enlightenment to the
faithful of that section.
The oratorical combination was dstin-
guished in station, ability and avoirdupois by
Ex.Publio Printer A. NJ. Clapp, ex.Congress.
man J. II. Rice, ex-sergeantat-Arms Of the
Senate John Il. French, Maj. Matthew Trimble,
of the interior department, and Lewis Doug.
lass, son of Hon. Frederick Douglass The
party went to Herndon under convoy OF Mr..
Howard Blanchard, of the pension Office.
Herndon is located on the line of the Wash
ington, Ohio and Western railroad, twenty
three miles distant from the national center of
gravity. 1t is a handsome little place, in as
fair and attractive a landscape as one could
well wish to see. II has been built UP since
the war; mainly by northern people. quite a
number of government employees have pitched
their tents here, and built up pleasant homes,
whence In the morning they depart TO do their
days business In Washington, returning at
night well pleased to exchange the heat and
and quiet Of their country retreat. The
country round about gives evidence Of
productiveness and high cultivation. Good
roads, well kept fences, neat farm houses, and
huge barns speak of thrift and prosperity,
WHO tnt hlltNfNhlOn DI bcnllN TOlllUK lltlilN
laid down In luXuriant grass or covered with
| grain aud orchards form pleasing picture, az
they undulnte away toward tho Blue Ridge,
! looming up misty ana enticing In the distance
| So much for pretty Herndon, with Its churches
schools, neat houses, good country, and pleas.
| ant people
| Hcrndon has nourishng Blaine and Logan
club, and is a republican community. When
the party arrived thoy found preparations un-
| der way for the elevation of huge double
mast Blaine and Logan flag pole. A spacious
| structure, formerly used as cooper shop, had
been cleared, platform erected therein for
the speakers, and seats arranged for the audi
| ence.
Mr. Blanchard took the invading party. to
his residence, and having with the aid of his
| hospitable wife, feasted them abundantly,
| turned them loose on grapery and peach
orchard that would make Washingtonian
turn green with envy. Presently the Vienna
cession was formed that would attract great
attention on Pennsylvania avenue. First the
brass band marched out and took the van;
next came the stately forms Of Messrs. Clapp
and Rice, ornamented with gripsacks, sun UNI
brellas and profisc pcrspration Then two
| remarkably pretty girls, upholdlng fine silk
banner, upon which appeared the names OF
| Blaine and Logan, bravoly march forth and
| took station behind the two statesman, and
| were followed and kept In countonance by
their mothers. Then came Messrs. Trimble
and Douglass, followed in for by Gen.
| French and the REPUBLICAN emissary. Mr..
| Blanchard and about dozen neighbors formed
the rear guard. The band began 10 play, the
nag waved, and away tho party marched IN
surprising dignity. 1t was great spectacle,
and all the folks for miles around looked on
with admiration and sympathy.
Proceeding to the place appointed for the
speaking quite crowd was found gathered
of whom about one-third were white residents
of the town and vicinity, tho remainder being
colored. Mossrs. Clapp, Douglass Trimbe,
French, and Rice spoke In succession, and y
would be hard to imagine more orderly and
nj tl,aY1 hat tph
their addresses. Not many miles away John
Brown was executed, and II seemed strangely
illustrative of the changes that have taken
place sipce that memorable event, to hear Mr.
Clapp, amid applause nnrrate on Virginia
soil the story Of his transactions with runaway
slaves in the days when he had been an agent
OF the famous underground railroad" The
speakers naturally followed different lines OF
thought, but their arguments were as orthodox
In sound republicanism as II delivered in the
most radical northern state, and as warmly re-
ceiyed. Mr., Clapp's remarks touching the
tariff seemed TO be followed with especial at
tention and appreciation. b
Maj, Grimes devoted himself to local ques'
tions and gave Congressman Barbour's hostile
course toward the free bridge bill review
that reused his hearers to vigorous manifesto
tions of feeling adverse to the Hon. John B..
The handsome major is an orator OF no mean
pyetensons, and is Just the sort Of man that
Ought TO be induced to stump" Virginia.
The flow or oratory lasted for some three
hours, and though 1t is early in the campaign,
as! campaigns go in Virginia, the audience
seemed reluctant to disburse when it was all
over, and acted as If they could have stood a
few hours more. Young Douglas, was heard
with marked attention, and the reasons he
gave why the voters CT his race should adhere
to the republican party drew forth loud ex.
prcssions Of concurrence from the colored vo.
ters who closely followed his argument.
Gen. French delivered the longest speech OF
the afternoon, and Mr.. Rice the briefest, both
being throughly well received. Altogether the
meeting served to show that the influence OF
the mighty contest now In, progress has pene.
trated this quiet neighborhood In way that
serves to prove that Virginia Is soon to be the
theater of q political battle rs hot as any to be
waged in the north. II other parts Of the state
show the same spirit as plainly uppermost here
Blaine and Logan will sweep the state.
To destroy the effect of the meeting as much
as possible the democrats had got up free
excursion TO Great Falls, but 1t was not per
ceptible that 1t had interfered with the success
of the affair. IL probably prevented a few o
their own faith from hearing some good sound
republican doctrine ably set forth that would
have been wholesomefor them to listen TO.