The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-09-04
Characteristic.

The following is what correspondent
of the Spectator, writing from Lexington,
over the signature of ''Lex,'' has to say
about the discussion between the Repub-
lican and Democratic nominees for Con-
gress in the 10th district, last Monday:
A joint discussion took place to-day in
the Court house yard, between Mr.. Jacob
Yost, and the Hon. John Randolph
Tucker, the nominees respectively Of the
Republican and Democratic parties the
the terms of the discussion as follows:
Yost to lead off in II hours, Tucker to
follow in Il hours, Yost to reply in hour,
and Tucker to conclude in 4 hour.
Mr.. Yost made poor, and feeble speech
and discouraged his friends, who had been
led to believe great things from him. /
simply speak the truth, when state, as [
do in all candor and sincerity, that he
made no impression at all. and that it
would have been better for him and his
party if he had never heard of the Repub-
lican nomination.
Mr.. Tucker. i'll his reply to the opening
speech Of Mr.. Yost. was overwhelming
and crushing. He did not leave him an
inch of ground to stand on. Poor little
\ oSt his face seemed twice as long as it
ordinarily is. The Republican party in
nominating this young man YOst to run
against Mr.. Tucker committed an act Of
cruelty for which they ought to be held to
a rigid accountability. Is it too late to
suggest to his party managers to withdraw
him ? If it is not done. the Democratic
party should not be responsible for the
consequences. The remainder of the
speeches was in keeping with those in the
in the opening.
All who know the Republican nominee
and who know the Democratic nominee,
will be satisfied on reading the above that
tits a gross misrepresentation 1t is in
keeping with the paragraph that appeared
in the Dispatch Immediately after the re-
suit Of the Republican Convention in this
place was made known, to the effect that
it would be sscruel topit Y ost against
Tucker Asto Mr. Tucker ''overwhelm-
ing" and crushing" his opponent, that
may do for extreme partizans. who are not
willing to admit the truth when they hear
it. If there was any overwhelming and
crushing it was on the other side. From
the very inception of the discussion, MI.
Tucker was placed on the defensive, and
for him OIL any one else to attempt to de-
fend his political record and the votes he
has given in Congress before Virginia
audience, is sufficient to convey an i'm
preston as to the result of the encounter.
The Republicans were aroused to the ut
most enthusiasm over the achievement OF
their representative in the discussion, and
SO earnest was their enthusiasm and lui-
bounded their delight at the result, that
they seized the speaker and would have
carried him away from the scene on their
shoulders, had it not been for his protest.
Every fair-minded man who heard the
speeches will condemn the partizan report
quoted above. But it is style Of mis-
representation we may expect during this
contest. Mr.. Tucker cannot defend his
own or his party s record, and it will be
the policy to sheer at the youth Of his an
tagonist and his presumption in trying to
bring Mr. Tucker to the book, III order to
break the force of facts and arguments.
We venture the prediction, thus early III
the canvass, that when the joint discus
sions between the competitors shall have
ended, both Mr.. Tucker and his lackies,
will be in more serious frame of mind,
and that when the polls are closed in No
vember, a verdict will be rendered that
neither the Republican candidate nor his
party will be ashamed OF. No man in
Virginia has more vulnerable OF Often
slve record than Mr.. Tucker, so far as it
affects Virginia's interests, and this re-
cord will be blazoned to the world from
every point the competitors may meet, re-
gardless of the ridiculous assumption of
Mr.. Tucker s grandeur and the subseryient
emulation Of his reckless and plant
toadies. He is a mere speck Of human
ity. like the balance Of us--;ln atom of
dust floating in the sunbeams of a fleeting
existence, and will be dealt With as such.
What is due to him as a gentleman will be
cheerfuly awarded. What he is respon-
sible for in his public career, rs a party
exponent and representative in Congress,
will be fearIessly stated and he he held to
the record with unlinching fidelity. There
is no man so high in his own estimation
or that of his partizan following, as to