Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-17
GRAND DEMONSTRATION.

Gibson, of West Virginia.
The most orderly, dignifed yet cnthusi
astic meeting which has been heli in this
city for many years was that at Lannon's
Opera House last night, although only oc-
cupying the short space of one hour and
quarter.
For some time after the hall had been open
ed the audience came in slowly, caused, it
was supposed, by the stereoptcan exhibit
tons which were being given by the agents
of Richmond cigarette factory at the
corner below, but as the hour fixed for the
speaking (eght o'clock) drew nigh persons
began to enter in crowds, filing into the hall
in squads and companies, and within
minute or so after the arrival OF the speak
ers the house was well filled. AS the speak
ing progressed the crowd continually in
creased, until the aises became blocked, all
seemingly anxious to hear the principles
upon which the present canvass in Virginia
is being conducted. The galleries. as is
usual at democratic meetings, were filled
with ladies, that portion Of the hall having
been set apart for their accommodation.
The Little German Band" nomadic
organization, had been engaged to furnish
tho speaking discoursed many lively airs.
rs il did at the conclusion OF the remarks Of
the respective gentlemen who addressed the
audience.
At eight o'clock Mr.. Leonard Marbury,
chairman of the city democratic committee,
aoreared before The audience and intro
duced Col. Eustace Gibson, member Of Con-
press from West Virginia: who, he said
would deliver a short address, at the con.
clusion of which Mr.. f. John Ellis, of
Louisiana, would speak.
Col. Gibson advanced and commenced his
remarks by saying he did not consider him
self much of q stranger to the people Of
Alexandria. He started in life, years ago,
in this very city, and scores whom he then
knew rs boys were now grown men and
voters. In those days the good old city was
prosperous and growing daily in CONNER.
cial Importance, and her ships arrived and
departed from her wharves in regular voy-
ages Of traffic. 1t grieve5 him to notice the
fact that she had through the tribulations
and upheavals of recent years, lost much CT
her commercial prosperity. When the speak.
err was last in this city she, in common with
her sister cities, towns and counties through
out the broad domains of the Common
wealth, was engaged in a mighty political
struggle to save the time. honored State from
| the further embrace Of the hideous monster
who had risen up in her midstand sought and
transienty obtained supreme power, which
he welded for his own personal aggrandizc.
ment or for the qualification of his hate. The
Colonel then paid beautiful tribute to the
glorious Old Northumberland during the
wars for independence, in the conflict
with Mexico, and in the late civil strife-on
| ,1,oc1 tl,a ,tn1 - T,.I,
ington and Lee repose-that State, he said,
now down-trodden and villfed by one OF
her own apostate sons. The Colonel dwelt
for some minutes upon the miserable at.
tempts Of members of the now defeated re-
publican party to stir up sectionalism in
their vain cndeavors TO resuscitate the wan
ing fortunes of that organization. The war
| was over, and right-thinkinS men of both
ends of the country were striving TO forget
party differences and trying 10 live as
brethren with the common good Of all in
view. He reminded his audience of the
manner in which General FitZ. Lee was re-
ceived at Gen. Grants funeral by q generous
Northern people; how the pictures of the
former had been studied by the large crowd
present at the obseques that they might
know the ex:Con(ederate chieftain when he
should pass along. He exposed and held
up to the disgust of good people of all
parties the savage talk of such men as Ma
hone, Hoar, Sherman, Foraker and Others
who were doing their best to take peace
from the land and fan into flame the long
buried issues Of the civil war and the striles
which followed those four years of carnage
This gang now have the eifrontery to say
that the people who have SO long presided
over the destinies Of Virginia are no longer
70 ha tr,,.f ol wit fha hn1, &c Ioto 1T
they are rioters, incendiares, disloya
characters, &c aud the honored standard
| bearer Of the democracy of the old Com
! place Of Governor assumed by one whose
| political somersaults have been ludicrous to
| behold, and who is but the supple jack Of
| William Malone, used for the personal
profit of his lord and master. Colonel Glib
sou drew vivid contrast between the two
| men now offering themselves as candidates
for the gubernatorial CHAIR and proved to
the satisfaction Of all reasoning people that
the States honor, credit, stability and re-
spectabiity depended upon her people
choosing man whose name had never
been furnished with mean or selfish act
q man who had suffered with her in advers
ity and rejoiced with her in prosperity
He appealed to oil republicans present 10
consider we'll what they were doing ii
they had any serious thoughts of voting the
Malone ticket; showed the ruin a con-
tinuance of this one. man power would en-
tail upon the State, and besought them not
to allow themselves any longer to form the
tail Of this sombre Kite which had SO long
cast his shadow over and shriveled up every
thing it touched, or converted it into an
emolument of some sort for this William
Malone. He asked if there was a conscien.
tious republican in tho house who would
not be ashamed to cast his vote for John
Wise for Governor and then tell his wife
what he had done. The Colonel handled
Malone toorably rough in showing up his
political record and his swinging around tho
circle-at first the most uncompromising
democrat in Virginia, repudiated by conven-
ton after convention, until finally he comes
out an avowed adical.repuhlican, bloody
shirter or anything else to get and keep in
power. The Colonel's appeals to the col
ored people were practical and forci.
BILE, showing how they were prospering