Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-09-18


nan from Virginia, but himself, endorsed {
It. A man therefore WAS a fool who
refused to support Lee and the Democrat
&c party because he (T) opposed it, and
the man is a knave and scoundrel who
advises you to vote against your party
and your nominee, because ore man in
the party opposes the Blair bill.
The speaking was participated in by
Mr. Anderson, Capt. Jordan and DR..
and as the sun was going down
in the West the cavalcade formed for it's
march to Fairfield.
FAIRFIELD, Sept. II.
The route to this village was sort of
triumphal procession; as long as daylight
lasted. The cheers at the head of the
column would tell those Of Us in the rear
that some farm house had made demon
stration for Lee, and as the rear passed
tue house, men and women could be seen
still waving handkerchiefs and cheering
1t was five mile march, the road was
rough, and the dust SO thick that it
Was impossible to see half the length of
the column, but the enthusiasm of the
people could not be choked with dust,
and all along the route the woods and
fields resounded with the cheers of the
marching column. Night fell before we
got here. but the darkness had little ef-
feet in quoting the "boys."
,ra nuE or cd bo 1,iliaoa ", ~, :, =,
houses brightly lighted up and at the
grounds of the Presbyterian church, where
arrangements had been made for the
sDeaking, numbers of Chinese lanterns
shone and benches and stand had been
erected. 1t was very properly de-
cided later in the evening, by
the clergyman, that this was not
an appropriate place for political speak
ing ard the hotel was decided on. 1 am
not certain whether Lee created most en-
thusiasm among the men or the women,
for after supper the ladies poured into the
hotel parlor where he was forced to hold
an informal levee which lasted all through
the time that the other speakers, who al
this place preceded him, were speaking.
Here the order of speaking Was reversed
and the county speakers commenced It.
Hon. W. A. Anderson made an admirable
opening speech. He was followed by Hon
J. r. Tucker in speech that kept TIE
crowd laughing ard cheering the whole
time that he was speaking. Capt Jordan
and DR.. Arnold, the Democratic candi-
dates, followed, and Gen. Lee closed
about midnight. The deep interest felt,
and the enthusiasm displayed, may be in
ferIed from the fact that in little village
like this. the audience was large to ths
end.
BACK TO STAUNTON.
This morning at the depot The
company separated. Messrs. Tucker, An
derson, jordan and Arnold going back tt
Lexington, and Lee getting on the car:
where he found John W. Daniel, who haG
come from Lynchburg. The Augusts
Democrats commenced getting On the
train at Greenville station, and I was tol6
that che roads were thick with them On
their way to Stanton. When we arrived
at Staunton l found that the statement
must be true for the country generally
for the Oldest man in Staunton does not
Eecoilect such gathering here, when il
was not court or circus day. A committee
met the distinguished speakers and took
them to the Virginia Hotel.
THE AUDIENCE AT THE COURT HOUSE
No speakers, within the memory Of this
writer, have had the audience that assem-
bled at the Courthouse and crowded it on
Saturday to listen to Lee and Daniel. The
building was painfully packed, and tbs
windows stuffed full Of people trying tc
hear what was said within. A coed part
Of the galleries, the larger part, was filled
with ladies, among whom were Mrs. Gen
J. E. B. Stuart and her daughter. Near
the speakers stand, were several bouquets
for Gen. Lee, one from Mrs. Gen. Stuart
aud others, as the cards showed, from
Mrs. Coleman, the Misses Halves, and tbs
Misses Woodward.
HUN. "A. Ii. Ii. STUART.
Capt. James Bumgardner, Jr.. County
Chairman, called the meeting to order.
and called on the venerable statesman ex.
Secretary A. H. II. Stuart, whose appear
ance in The building had been welcomed
by round OF applause, to introduce
Gen. Lee.
Mr.. Stuart said that having passed the
ordinary span of human life. three score
and ten, lie had not supposed it possible
that he could be induced to permit him.
self to again address the people Of Angus
ia in public. But since he had been asked
to perform task 80 pleasing to himself
and so welcome to that people; to intro
duce one whose name is historic for
having served us in the field, and which
is to be perpetuated as Governor of Vir-
giuia, he presented to them Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee. (Long and continued applause.)
GEN. LEES SPEECH.
Gen. Lee came to the front as fresh az
a daisy, aud looking little like man who
had been travelling and making two
speeches day fog two weeks. He said
that the Augusta people were no strang-
ers to him. Many of its gallant boys had
followed him in the field. He recolected
with gratitude that at the State Demo-
cratic Convention, which nominated him,
when old Augusta was called, the char
man of her delegation announced Given
ty-one votes for Fitzbugh Lee.n 1t binds
me to you. in ties Of gratitude. This
audience too is a compliment l cannot
forget. and | shall tell them when | 60 from
here that l have seen the grand old De
mocracy of Augusta in all its glorious
strength 1t reminds me Of another au-