Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-09-30
SPEECH BY WIN. R. ALEXANDER, ESQ.,, OF
WINCHESTER.

WINCHESTER.
The Democrats were greatly disappoint-
ID on Monday last when they found that
Samuel 81. Coleman, Esq, of Cumberland,
who had been expected to address them
lere on that day, had not arrived. The
Executive Committee, from some cause,
changed his appointments for this place and
Highland, without making the change
known here, and hence the disappointment.
The result was, that whilst there were
many Democrats here anxious for Demo
ratic speech, there was no Democratic
speaker, and the Republicans had the best
part of the day to themselves, and they had
speeches in the Courthouse from S. Brown
Allen, Jacob Yost, and Heber Ker.
After the Republican meeting adjourned,
some of the Democrats, determined that
hey would not go home without hearing
Democratic speech, prevailed upon W. R.
Alexander, Esq, of Winchester, who was
here in attendance upon the Court of Ap-
peals, to make them speech. Though it
was three o'clock,-at time when the
country people leave for their homes-he
lad a very good audience, whom he enter
aimed for an hour with very strong and
earnest speech. He alluded to some of the
things that he was told Allen said in his
speech, and presented him in quite a ludi-
rous aspect. He understood that Allen had
said that he (Allen) would walk thousand
niles and give fve-hundred dollars to meet
3en. Fitz Lee in discussion. He had no
loubt he would, for he could raise the five
hundred dollars very easily, as he would
only have to take ten per cent of the 5000
he let his brother-in-law lave; and it would
be such honor to him, and add SO much to
ais dignity, to be thus recognized by Gen.
Lee, that he would willingly walk thou
sand miles to meet him in discussion.
He refuted some of the charges the Ma
honeites prefer against the Democratic Leg
stature, and oontrasted the acts of the Ma
hone Legislature with those of the Demo
cratic, showing that the former were worse
than the latter.
He was very severe in his criticism on the
public characters of Malone and Wise,
showing that they we're not entitled to the
support of any, not even of the Republicans.
They had been false to the Dem ocrats, and
they would, of anything could be made by
it, be false likewise to the Republicans.
His denunciation of Malone and Wise
for their SANDER of Virginians, by charging
them with being cold-blooded murderers
and assassins, was very severe, but it was
deservedly so for no language can be too
strong to describe, their characters as they
Justly merit, and no colors too dark in
which to portray them. He could not see
how any man born on Virginia soil could
vote for Malone or Wise. 1t was not a
question of party, but one of principle and
patriotism, and no man, white or black,
Democrat or Republican, should vote for
Wise, which would be an endorsement of
nis foul SANDERS of Virginians. He appeal
ed to the Democrats not to suffer anything
any local questions, or minor issues-to
prevent them from voting solidly not only
| for the State Ticket but for the county
tickets-that this was not the time to be
diverted by prohibition or anything else
] that there was something more important
at stake in this canvass than whiskey-
| that the question of prohibition should be
postponed till next year when its advocates
| would have others to aid them.
| To consider prohibition in this contest,
| when the very safety of the State and the
| liberties of the people are at stake, would
be like stopping in the midst of a holly con-
| tested battle to pick few chincapins. The
object to effect now, is the election Of a
| Democratic Legislature, that Malone may
not be re elected to misrepresent Virginia
in the U. S. Senate. The election of Lee is
certain, and Mahone would willingly trade
| off Wise to secure members of the House of
| Delegates TO vote for him. In this contest,
| no Democrat should fail to vote for Demo
cratic candidates for the Legislature.
We regret that Mr.. Alexandra duties in
the Court Of Appeals prevented him from
making his speech few hours earlier, when
he would have had much larger audience.
Though called upon unexpectedly, and
speaking under the adverse circumstances
mentioned, he made strong, earnest
pointed, and vigorous speech, alike credita-
BILE to himself and the party he SO patriotic
| ly espouses, and SO ably advocates.