National Republican., 1886-08-25
TON. T. c. o,NErLL
win Prcbsbly Take the Fiold in the
Eighth virginia District.

Eightn NifEina DistflCN.
As soon as the Democratic convention,
which meets in Alexandria to-day, gets
throughwith It's work, the Republicans will
set about selecting On opposition candidate.
All the indications point TO the choice of
Mr.. ]. G. O'Neill, Of Alexandria, one Of the
leading Republicans in the district ever
since the war, and now United States
deputy marshall Mr.. O'Neill is peculiarly
available man at this iuncture. A Union
man throughout the war, he has the con.
fdence OF all who fought for the old flag
and can poll the full Republican vote. With
the colored people he is popular on account
of his supporting their cause during the
worst days Of Bourbon blgotry. The
Knights of Labor aud the workingmen gen
orally like him because he is one Of them
selves and has always upheld the rights Of
labor. Funders, who have been disgustod
with the action Of the Democrats In adopt.
ing the Lynchburg platform, would be in-
clined TO vote for bin, since he never com.
mittedlhimself to readiuster principles, and
all that large class Of people who are tired
OF the rule Of the so.called first families
would likely come to his support. He is a
conservative man, has large business Inter
ests in Alexandria, Is quite wealthy, and
| has the esteem OF men OF all political
parties. 1t is not certain, however, that Mr..
| O'Neill can be induced TO enter another
| political campaign. He has already run for
several offices, and has found that canvass
ing the eighth district in the interest Of the
Republican party is not thing OF Joy.
When he ran against Eppa Hunton for Con-
| gress few years ago his treatment on tho
stump was even more shameful than that
with which Hon. John s. Wise met with iu
Alexandria last fall. II Will be remembered
that when Mr.. Wise took the stage at
Armory Hall and begon calm, gentle
manly address to the people, the Democrats
present almost to man hooted and yelled
so continuously that he was obliged to leave
the nall without finishing the speech, and
all the time the police were looking up nj
the ceiling to discover the rowdy offenders.
Mr.. O'Neill had not only such experiences,
not only was he hooted out OF public places,
hut the privacy Of his home was invaded,
and young ruflians ran after him In the
streets, shouting puns on his name. Such
delicate pieces OF humor as al see O'Neill ~
~ don't see O'Geill ~ were yelled from
every street corner and opposite the win
dows Of Mr.. O'Ncill's residence almost
nightly, to the great annoyance Of his family
Morever, the rowdies INDUCED In such side
splitting jokes as hanging crepe on Mr.
O'Neill's door and singing dirges abou tht
premises. IL may be said that all th
Towdyism was performed by the rougt
element of the town, and SHOULD
not be attributed to the Deuo
Gratis as class True, perhaps, bu
1t shows the spirit which prevails agalns
any man, however able aud respectable
who does fall under the Bourbon banner
Mr.. O'Neill is quite an old man, and has III
wish to make another canvass, which is sur
to be fraught with repetition of those disa
greeable experiences; still, II the results .
the Democratic convention to-day are sucI
as TO Justify the hope Of Republican sue
cess, he will, II is said, enter the race wit
his old.timo vigor The Republicans acros
/ the river though quiet, are hopeful an
! with good reason, that the convention vii
result either In a split or in the nominaic
of Gen. Lee, in either Of which events tn
chances of Republican victory are good
/ Tie Democratic majority is not larg
+, enough to afford division, or even til
apathy resulting from individual disaiTec
. tions. On the other hand, IL Lee Is tn
| candidate, the workingmen, irrespective G
1 party, are pretty sure to take advantage o
The opportunity to protest at the poll
: against the rule Of an aristocracy whlc
cares nothing for their interests 1t
doubtful which the Republicans woul
welcome more-a split or the nomination {
Lee.