The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-09-25
A Comparison.

There was large attendance Of the
people of Auguta and adjacent counties in
Staunton on Monday last. 1t was County
Court-day, and three United States Sena-
tors were advertised to speak, two of them
for the Democrats, and one, assisted by a
talented young Virginian, for the Repub-
licans. These incentives brought to the
city more than the usual crowd, on the
first day Of the County Court. The Dem
ocrats secured the Opera House for their
demonstration and the Republicans the
Court House. The former had the SER
vices of the Spring Hill band, and the lat
ter the Mt. Sidney band. The Opera
House was well filled to hear Messrs. 7.
S. Bayard and r.. l.. Gibson. One-half of
the audience was composed of Augusta
county voters, among them sprinkling of
Republicans, who wanted to crafty their
curiosity to see and hear the Delaware
Senator, and the other half consisted of
gentlemen from adjacent counties, ladies',
and boys. At the Court House the lower
floor and galleries were filled by Augusta
county voters, almost exclusively. A few
Republicans from the adjacent counties,
and strangers in the city were present. 1t
is safe to say that with but little adver-
Using and no extraordinary parade of eff
fort. there was as large u voting Republi-
can strength from the city and county at
the Court House and in it, to hear Senator
Riddleberger and Col. Pendleton, as there
was Democratic voting strength from the
city and county to hear Senators Bayard
and Gibson, after an unusual effort ex-
tended through several weeks, to stir the
Democracy to gather on the occasion.
At the Opera House, the number of vo-
tiers was short of the attendance to hear
Judge Foraker and Gen. Golf month
ago, although then the audience was COM
posed of citizens of this county with few
exceptions, that day having been selected
for Republican primary conventions in
each county in the State, to appoint dele
gates to Republican Congressional Con-
ventions. And the audience was COM
posed, too, of Uoters in this county.
The difference in the spirit and style of
the speeches delivered in the Opera House
on the two occasions was marked. Judge
Foraker and Gen. Golf had nothing to say
harsh or unkind about anyone. They
dealt in facts and arguments. ana appealed
to the reason of the people, in discussing
the claims of the two parties. Senator
Bayard was extremely bitter in his de-
nunciation of Hon. James G. Blaine
making accusations as false as they were
unbecoming, and assailing the Republican
party in language and terms neither cred
liable to his manliness nor his sincerity.
There was nothing in the speeches of
Judge Foraker and Gen. Golf that any
fair-minded man could be offended at,
even though political opponent while
the speech of Mr.. Bayard was colored with
party venom that appealed only to the
partizans of his own political faith.
We draw this comparison between the
audience and the speaking in the Opera
House a month ago and last Monday,
because the speakers were from distant
States, and fairly reflected the spirit of
the respective parties in national sense.
The one conservative, dignilied, and de-
sirous of influencing by calm reason and
fair argument-discussing the principles
and practical issues of the canvass for the
edification of the people-the other deal
ing in generalities, evading the liye ques-
tions affecting administration and resort
the passions and pervert the reason of
those who listened.
And such is the two parties.