Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-15
BOTETOURT.
s,trs ard youss spesk-A RAIN Day, but
t.ood Crowd.

syus ard youss spesk-A Rainy Day, bat
Sood Crowd.
iCorrespondence otthe Richmond Dispatch]
FINcAsTLE, October IL, 1889.
To-day was the first day OF the
October term Of the County Court. IL
had been announced that Hon. X. A.
Ayers. candidate for Attorney-General,
aud Hon. c. T.. Jones, candidate for
The Senate from this district, would
speak. Early in the morning the ram
commenced falling and has continued
all day steadily, with now and then
gusts Of wind. making il exceedingly
dissgreesble to travel. Notwithstand-
ing the rain there was a ye-y good
crowd in town, and when the speaking
commenced the large courtroom was
about full Of eager, attentive listeners.
Every one seemed to have come on pur-
pose to hear the speaking and to see
the speakers.
Judge Simmons, county chairman, in
. graceful and happy manner introduced
Hon. G. T. Jones as the first speaker.
From the very first Mr.. Jones held the
attention Of his audience, and was fire.
suently applauded. lie alluded to the
canvass in Ohio, and said that Sherman,
in his bloody speeches in that
State, could not find words vile enough
or epithets mean enough to hurl at the
people OF the South. That said
he. might be excused in one so re-
mote from us, but what excuse can be
offered for those who live in our midst,
dwell upon southern soil, and yet
indulge in the same cruel SLAM
der. | refer to Malone, to
Wise, and their assistants" lie re-
ferred to the State-debt legislation, aud
showed from the record that the Demo-
Gratis had kept inyiolate their promises
contained in the platform Of 1888;
that all the legislation by the Demo-
cratic Legislature in regard to the debt
was voted for by Republicans and
signed by the Republican Governor.
In regard to public education, he
said that every important measure ever
passed for the advancement of the
schools in Virginia had been introduced
by Democratic members, and passed
by Democratic Legislature.
In speaking Of the Republican cry of
hard times, he said that the stringency
IN money matters began eighteen
months ago with the failure of large
banking-bouses North; that though the
times are hard, they are not so bad as
in 1873 under Republican Admins
tration. lie said that Malone and
Wise were saying that northern capt.
talists were afraid to come to the
South-afraid TO trust Democratic
Government. Why will they not Who
is responsible if this is true: Malone
and Wise are the ones who have fired
the northern mind with diStrust by
ISLANDERS upon our people, and if conf
dence has been destroyed they must
bear the blame. Mr.. Jones made fine
impression, and his speech throughout
was well spoken of by the crowd.
When MIR. Ayers was introduced he
was greeted with enthusiastic applause.
lie said he did not come here in his own
interest, but in behalf of those princi-
pies which he believed to be for the
welfare Of his country that the oppo-
site party were dependent upon false
charges to mislead and ensnare the peo-
pie. In answer to the charge that the
Democrats we've opposed to the free
schools, he challenged the opposition to
show one act that had ever been passed
by Democratic Legislature that had
iajured the schools. As well call
upon q mother to main her own
child as to expect the Democratic par.
ty to cripple the schools, which
it introduced and has fostered. On the
other hand when and where has the
Republican party ever passed singl,
bill that has helped the schools at all
or added one cent to their support? lr
regard to the relief measures passed By
the last Legislature, over which Wise
and his party are making such ado
Mr.. Ayers said they were all
approved by their Republican Gov,
ernor. lie placed himself squarely il
favor Of the Blair bill, and said tina
though Malone had issued circulars t,
blame the Democrats because tina
bill had not passed, yet
was true that, notwithstanding
many important votes had bee
taken in the preliminary consideratio
Of the bill in the Senate, Malone ha
never yet cast single vote, either 70
II or against il. He handled the issue
with ability and earnestness, and show
ed up the fallscies Of the opposition S
well that they will find little Pounds
ton to stand on in Botetourt. Tn
crowd was generally enthusiastic, an
both speakers were often interrupte
by lively cheers and applause.