The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-09-18

The Chronicles Correspondent on the
Road with Fitx Lee.

Bridge, he has received such an ovation -
even the Democratic managers had not
expected.
Your correspondent has followed lce
nearly 40 miles and he has never seen such
a reception given "a man. Soon after his
arrival at the Natural Bridge Hotel buges
were heard III the distance and fully 300
horsemen dashed up with waving banners
handsome uniforms and Lees badges
These were led by some of Lees old Sold
ers many of whom still live in the viciu-
ity. On Thursday General Lee took the
head of the column and set out for Lex
ington; the number of his followers being
constantly swelled by bodies of mounted
men at every cross roads and village.
On arriving at Lexington il is safe TO
say that there was a full regiment at his
back. Here he received an Overwhelming
ovation Flowers We're showered upon him
from every window by smiling ladies and
the streets We're crowded with people.
Thursday evening was spent by the Gen
eral i'll a grand hand shaking and recep-
ton Of his old followers, who crowded to
see him from every nook and corner OF
the mountains.
On Friday morning he started almost
alone for Brownsburg, but was soon fol
lowed by fully large an escort as the
first
cOncOurSe Of ladies received us and the
latter covered the gallant General with
flowers, only giving him opportunity to
bow and smile his thanks. At this point
the column was fully quarter OF mile
long, and those in the rear could scarcely
catch a glimpse of their leader from the
hill-tops or hear the music of the band
which followed him. Tho sides of the road
were lined with people, infants three
years old hurrahing for 'General Lee.
And | think his politeness made him ride
most of the way bare headed.
At Brownsburg the streets were found
to be full of people from the surrounding
country, and gay dresses and waving
handkerchiefs of Rockbridge's fairest
daughters were seen on all the balconies
and porches and at every window avail
able. In about fifteen minutes after our
arrival, the Fairfield Democratic club ar
rived, led by Captain l. K. McNutt, an old
Confederate bugler discourSlng lively airs.
The ease with which they wheeled into
line and sauted General Lee showed that
there were many old troops among them.
| noticed a good many late Republicans
| riding very complasantly near the head
of the column. After some time spent in
hand shaking with old comrades and in
PRODUCTION to new converts, General Lee
| Hon Ran Tucker, Congressman of this
| district General Lee is not Il great
| orator, but he is a pleasant and impressive
speaker. His voice Is agreeable, and his
delivery fluent, though not rapid. IIo
countenance is open and engaging, never
failing to secure the good Will of any au-
dience he addresses. lie wore a plain grey
suit and the black slouch hat patronized
so much by Southern gentlemen. He dis
| cusscS political matters with great force.
| pointing lis remarks with happy illu~tra-
tions, which never failed to elicit answer
| ing roars of laughter Gen. Lee com
menced with some graceful alluSion> and
compliments upon the services of the
| Rockbridye cavalry. He had been their
| Colonel, then their General, and now he
! was leading them again; he trusted to GER
tain victory. He then sad that he had
| found in his recent tour North, that all
| the veterans Of the late war were in close
sympathy with tue South; it was only
demagogues like John Sherman and seal
awags, such as Malone and Johnney Wise
who We're anxious to embrOile the sections
| anew.
Gen. Lee then went on to discuss he IS
| sues at stake, showing that the Democrat
We're not responsible for the reopenil.g of
| the debt question, and were not opposed
to free schools He read extracts showing
that since the Inauguration of Democratic
| rule in the department of educational far
| more had been spent for that purpose than
under Scalawlg rule. The white people of
| the South We're now paying eleven twelfthS
| of the school tax; half of which was devoted
| to the negroes. There was no necessity
therefore, for the negroes to be alarmed
at 4 democratic victory He sad that
being Il mere farmer and no lawyer, he
had formed no opinion about the merits
of the Blair bill, but should Congress allow
the States to have le money he, for one,
would be g lad to see Virginia get her
share. He could not, therefore, be justly
| accused of hostility 10 the Blair bill
He then turned his attention to The
character of the Malone gang, and showed
up their unscrupulous and desperate tac-
tics; and pointed in lively colorS the dan
gers from which the unhinching courage
of the big 4" had delivered the State,
and proved the probability of their recur-
renee in the near future should Wise be
elected He then exposed the falsity of
the scalawag claim of economy.
The salary of Attorney General is 81, 500
and 5000 for contingent expenses. Frank
Blair. Mahoneite, had drawn ST., 200 in
two years, and when Mr. sam Brown Al
len, the late Auditor. was asked to show
cause for this expenditure be was nowhere
to be found. This same individual had
paid his brotherin-law So 900 and eXpen-
Ses for doing "a few hours collecting fol-
the State. Verify, this looked like the
good old times of carpet bags and recon
struction. Yet this same man had the
etfrontery to stump the State in favor OF
what he was pleased to call reform. The
General then closed with a glowing picture
of the prosperity of Virginia under an
| honest government.
Virginia did not want men who called
its citizens murdererS and bull l-dozers, and
then presume to ask their sutfrageS. " hat
the State wanted was an administration
ready to protect all indeed, but thoroughly
i'll sympathy with the better elements.
Gen. Lee sat down amidst a perfect
storm of flowers from fair hands, while
yeilS Of applause from thousands of throat:
showed the appreciation and acquieSanct
of the audience.
After few witty closing remarks ron
Hon. Ran Tucker and others. the Jant
rlayed Dixie, and The Bonnie Blue
Flag" and the meeting adjourned to Fair
field, whittier Gen Lee went attended, by
the Brownsburg and Fairfield Democratic
clubs and hundreds of others. This wind
up the canvass in Rock bridge. Tomorrow
Will open it in Augusta.
1t is said that 1900 men will be ready
to accompany Gen. Lee into Stanton; t
show that the banner Democratic count,
is still in the lead This shows that th'