Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-27
THE CAMPAIGN.
WILLIAMSBURG DEMOCRATS.

Axpisad,d speech from Hea. n. n. Masford--
The People Avske,
Correspondence ofthe Richmond Dispatch. I
WILLIAMSBURG, Sept. &c, 1885.
Some spirit Of extraordinary good
humor seems to pcrvade the atmos-
phere OF the Peninsula this morning.
A feeling Of goodwill prevails, and
even the most careless stranger might
guess, from the complacent countenance
and the proud, elastic step Of the citi-
zen Of the ancient capital, that things
had gone more than unusually we'll
with him. And such, indeed, has been
the case, for last evening At s o'clock
the Hon. Il. Il. Munford addressed the
Democrats Of this section, and for two
hours and ten minutes, as if possessed
OF the wand Of some invisible magi-
clan, swayed the feelings Of crowd
that knew SO well how to appreciate
the glowing eloqucnce Of one whom they
had every right TO consider one Of them
selves. Mr.. Munford was not booked to
speak here. but, stopping to revisit his
old home while returning from Hamp-
ton (where he had addressed an enthu-
siastic mecsing), responded TO the call
from his former companions. and, al
though the notice was short, had an
audience that filled the courthouse to
overlooking. The citizens were called
together by the ringing Of the court
house bell, but for some time before
the sharp thunder Of artillery told the
distant county that the Democrats were
having a glorious rally. 0ur. gun tthe
faithful "John Goode y, it will be re-
membered, was stolen by some Malone
ties last fall, but has been replaced by
new and larger piece, which has been
duly christened "Fitz Lee" It's made
of steel and has splendid ringing re-
port. and woe be to him who attempts
TO steal that cherished article is an
axiom now too apparent to need men
tioning. The speaker gave a brief re-
view Of the history Of the Malone party
that was as thorough as it was refresh
ing, and also an equally searching ex-
position Of its principles. His sharp
and rapid play Of criticism on the dark
record Of Mahoneism revealed its in
iquitous acts as clearly as lightning does
the storm-clouds' deepest shades, while
"the lead-on-master principle the
one-man power, that dominant idea
which is now skulking abroad under the
folds Of Republicanism, was stripped Of
its gorgeous embellishments, until it
lay like " the whited sepulchre," with
its repulsive contents full in view.
After the maleadministration Of the Ma
hone party had been fully exposed the
speaker contrasted the personnel Of the
opposing candidates, asking how could
John S. Wise dare to ask the support
Of people whom he has denounced
rs a red-handed band Of assassins,
when Fitz Lee, upon whose knightly
shield no man can cast stain, was
championing the cause Of peace, hon.
esty, and right, and calling on the sons
of Virginia to rally TO the support Of a
cause that will alone secure to them the
right of selfgovernment and the I'M
trammelled exercise Of intelligent free
dom. At the mention of General Lees
name the crowd broke forth in enthu-
siastic applause, and afterwards, when
showing how the Democratic party Of
Virginia was identified with the interest
of the common country, Mr.. Munford
told how. while Wise was denouncing
his fellow-people with the bitterness Of
sectional hatred and bloody-shirt Rsdi-
calism, Fitz Lee, selected as one Of the
representatives of a reunited land, was
following to his tomb in peace the SOL
der who on the last battlefield of the
South had forborne to demand her broken
sword, the applause was deafening, and
continued so for for several minutes.
Mr.. Munford, or Bev., as he is
familiarity called here, is my ideal of
political orator. His argument is sharp
and conclusive, relieved at easy inter-
walls with eloquent bursts Of noble
sentiment and humorous sallies Of the
happiest application. Having been in
the Legislature that investigated and ex-
posed the maleadministration of the
Malone party, he bases his argument
on the records, and is especially fitted
10 discuss the issues of the present can
vass and warn the people Of the vital
interests at stake. AS limited above,
the speaker is a native Of Williams
burg, and it was to be expected that he
would be given hearty welcome, and
when our people saw him standing in
their midst, manly type Of the young
and vigorous Democracy, calling on
them once more to rise and assist in
putting down the hydra Of Mahoneism,
it is not to be wondered they cheered |
themselves completely hoarse for
- Fitz," and literally smothered " Bev."
with congratulations. 1t is to be hoped |
that he will be heard here again before
the canvass closes. CoMUs.