Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-08-26
THE REPUBLICAN SPEAKING.

At - o'clock Monday, VIM. E. Craig,
ESQ.,, Chairman of the County Republican
Committee, appeared with Mr.. Robert B..
Berkeley, of Farmville, on the Portico in
front of the Circuit Court Clerks Office,
and before Introducing Mr.. Berkeley stated
that he had proposed to Capt. Bumgardner,
Chairman of the County Democratic Com
mittee, joint discussion between Judge
Stuart, of Alexandria, who was here to
speak for the Democrats, and Mr.. Berkeley,
which was declined. He then introduced
Mr.. Berkeley, who stated that he was labor
ing under the disadvantage of much travel
and continuous speaking for the last ten
days. He designated his party as the Gone
gallows and ..shirt-tail party who had to
take their chances out doors, whilst the
Democratic Bourbons Or best people, had
the Courthouse all to themselves. He
would like to have had the opportunity of
speaking "to the best people," in appear
ing here in defence of the Republican par
ty.
The speech Monday was not as effective
as the one he made in the Opera House here
last fall. On Monday, as was the case last
October, he dwelt some time on the matter
of his own political consistency, and answer
ing questions which had been propounded
to him to give reasons for quitting the dem
ocratic party and joining the Republican,
r. 30 oot.o f1,o
ocrats during reconstruction times up to
1859, but did not introduce the constant
and vigilant services his party associates
always conceded to him when member of
the State Democratic Committee, his extern
sive speaking, particularly in the South
west IN campaigns before 1884, nor to the
fact that in December, 1888, his name was
before the caucus of the Democratic Legis-
lature when he came very near being the
Democratic Secretary of the Common
wealth. The conclusion of that feature of
his speech was without point, for he really
did not fix the time of his passing over the
bridge between the two parties, nor the rea-
sons for the ''summersault, as he said his
democratic friends chose to call his change
of party relations.
In discussing the democratic platform all
the good planks in it had been taken by
Major Daniel from the Republican platform
and placed where they are without credit.
1t was wholesale appropriation of good
thought and .commendable purposes and
taken wholly from the Republican party.
He said the debt question was not settled
and the Riddleberger legislation would die
prematurely unless Republicans ruled the
State and saved that child of REIMBURSEMENT
from the embrace Of the Bourbons.
He had much to say about the free
schools and other topics which be associat-
ed with democratic misrule. but failed to
say that at the very time he alleges these
peryersions occurred, he was an active sup
porter and travelling speaker in behalf of
that very party. -
This is about the sum and substance of
Mr.. Berkeley's speech of an hour and a
half When interrupted and at other times
during the speech he made some good and
pleasant hits, which all could enjoy. This
speech is like all we have heard from Mr..
Berkeley-free from bitterness and nothing
said in anger. He reasons we'll from his
standpoint. His efforts are not so much in
condemnation of what the democrats have
done as it is in the hope that all will accept
Republicanism, for he said something like