The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-09-24

fRenorted Tor the V1RGrNIAN.l


Reported for the vIRerSIAN.l
The meeting at Harrisonburg on Mon
day illustrates over again how much easier
it is to talk than perform, 1t had gone
out in the country, round about, from
Winchester to Lexington, and from the
North Mountain to Manassas that Gent
Fitz Lee was to be in Harrisonburg on
Monday County Court-day) to make a
speech that Hon. John w. Daniel would
probably be there also, and for the same
purpose, and that they we're to be met at
the depot by grand cavalcade OF Lees
Confederate veterans, who would escort
the speakers into town, preceded by the
inevitable brass band Well, the day came
and Lee came, and the brass band was
there, but the grand cavalcade OF veterans
came not-nor did Daniel. 1t is true,
there were probably fifty men and boys in
the procession, but if there were more
than five Of Company IT, Confederate
veterans, our informant, who was himself
one of that ilk, failed to see them. He
recognized but two of Company ~ and,
one of them of but few months service.
When the hour for speaking arrived
Gent Lee came promptly upon the stand,
amidst considerable excitement and con-
fusion, and the manifestation of some real
enthusiasm, and began his speech, at first
in a clear and not unpleasant voice, which
degenerated by and by into rather hum
drum, sing song tone, anything but agree
able to the ear.
He spoke for over two hours. The
crowd to hear him was, at first, very large,
and no doubt Inspiring, but when the band
gave notice that Brown Allen was on hand
to dispute the day with Lee, the large
crowd began suddenly to dissolve, and, for
time, it seemed as if Lee would be al
most totally deserted, such was the rush,
to hear Allen. For some time, probably a
full hour, Allen held the crowd by con-
siderable majority. But after this the
crowd seemed to be very nearly equally
divided and remained so to the end After
the main speeches there were several
others made by candidates for the Legisla-
ture and others, on the issues of the can
vass, and other matters not pertinent there
to, and the crowd dispersed.
What were. the results This would lie
hard to measure. Judging from the ex-
preston made after the speaking was over,
one would naturally conclude that Lees
work had been in vain. One who had
heard his speech from beginning to end
remarked. II have heard the argument
and I must say it is not good. Another
one remarked, Il am disappointed. After
all the hellabaloo that had been made, |
expected something grand. But | never
saw anything flatter, or heard arguments
more stale and less pointed" Another |
remarked, s'If Lee can do no better than
that, he might as well 60 home to Stafford. =
1.-THE small boyn was for once held in sub |
lection. And another thing was agreeably |
conspicuous-therew were but few intoxi- |
Gated persons present. 1t was not a |
whiskey drinking crowd.
Brown Aliens speech was good and full |
of meat. He presented the issues that
now divide parties in Virginia, in clear
and convincing manner, and his hearers
went home wiser for what they had heard.
Can as much be said for his competitor
The people who heard him and Allen will |
be the judges. He gave his hearers some
much needed information however, when
he told them that this. Union was stronger
now than ever, and that no party could
stand in this country which did not rooor /
nize this fact in all its full force, by con-
forming itself to the requirements of the
Constitution and the laws made in pursu-
ance thereof. Considerable mystifcation,
however, was INDUCED in about Estates
rights and all that to befog and becloud
the mind of his hearers. Boiled down it
all means that it will not be wise for the
people to run a-muck with the supreme
authority by an attempt to nullify de-
cision of the Supreme Court.
What was gained? What was lost
may be again asked. Time only will show.
Fuss and feathers and false pretenses win
no votes in Rockingham in this year of |
grace.
1t was given out late in the day that
Gen. Lee would address the ladies at the |
Court House at night and considerable |
crowd of the fair sex were thus drawn in
to hear speeches from Dick, Tom and Har-
ry, but only few complimentary remarks
from the General addressed spec tally to
the ladies.
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