The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-10-07
Cumberland.
BUMGARDNER, JR., MAKES A RINGING
SPEECH.

curt day, and Captain Bumgardner. the
Democratic candidate for this the 10Th
congressional district, was prompt to keep
is appointment and such speech as he
nade we of this section seldom hear. l
ave heard more wild hurrah, but never
AVE I seen such earnest attention as was
,iven Staunton's gallant son.
The Republicans were addressed at the
anne time by Mr.. Yost. The chairman OF
he Repub lican Committee sent note TO
B. L. Blanton, Chairman of the Demo-
,ratic Committee, asking for DIVISION OF
lime. The Democratic chairman declined;
There were about forty or fifty negroes ana
zen or twelve whites that composed the
Republican meeting. They have very III
lie white following, and by refusing TO al
vide time we show our people :tnaG .tne
Republican party is the same old par,
by. Our county is being organized, and
will soon be in working trim. Colonel
Coleman made handsome speech III IN
Producing Captain Bumgardner.
DEMOCRAT.
We publish the above to show the people
of Cumberlandas well as of the distrlct,the
character of the reports which find thelr
wayinto Democratic papers in reference to
the speeches of the candidates Of the respec-
tive parties, and the constituency whom
they address. This communication is
not only misleading but palpable misrep-
resentation. So far as Mr.. Bumgardner'
speech is concerned, we have nothing to
say. The paragraph referring to it is sub
jectto two constructions and the reader can
give his own. AS to the Republican meet
ing, it was attended by more white voters
than the Democratic meeting, as we have
been credibly informed, and by a large
number of coIored citizens. 1t was regard
ed as one of the best and most cheering po-
litical gatherings ever held in Cumberland
county. A prominent and influential
democrat openly, in a thrilling speech OF
ten minutes, announced in favor OF the
Republican candidate and the Republican
party, and declared that he had cast his
last democratic vote. The evidences were
very tangible that revolt was going ON
against court house ring rule, and that the
democratic committee, in refusing to con-
sent to joint discussion of the practical
issues upon which the people have to vote.
was offensive to and condemned by nine
tenths of the voters Of both parties. The
avowed purpose Of the democrats as rep
resented in the above. communication, to
draw the color line, in the eastern counties
of the district, while they are just as in
dustriously engaged in trying to capture
the colored vote in the western counties OF
the district, is confession Of weakness,
of duplicity and of fright. Here, the party
organ gloats over the announcement that
the Post, published and edited by colored
men and in the interest of colored men, .
had come out for Capt. Bumgardner. East
of the Ridge an effort is made to divide the
races, and to represent the Republican
as being the 'nigger party"
This is the excuse that is offered to JUS
tify refusal to have Joint discussion
The real reason is, however, that the dem.
ocrats are afraid to meet their opponents in
fair and manly discussion of the practic
al issues of the canvass.
The Amherst NeaU Era, democratic pa
per, edited with unusual ability and good
Judgment, gives a very emphatic opinion
against the party that bars the people from
hearing discussed the issues relevant to the
canvass, and the Staunton Visdjcator,
with equal decisiveness, condemns the
action of the democratic committees in the
several eastern counties, which!have refused
joint discussions. The expressions from lead
ing democrats, and from the masses OF the
party. sustain the position both of our CO.
temporaries, named above, have taken, land
criticise with great deal Of harshness both
Capt. Bumgardner for allowing himself to
be controlled, and the committee for seek
ing to control, in refusing a fair and open
presentation of the controverted questions
from, either side. At Lexington, the first
time the two candidates met lin this con
test, Capt. Bumgardner overruled the
committee of his party as to joint dis
cussions and dec Jared from the hastings
that he intended to defend his par
ty against all assaults and assailants
At Covington they met again in JONI
discussion. But when they reached
Buckingham the programme was changed
and the committee assumed to dictate the
policy. And the same at Amherst. Al
Warm Springs they again met. But al
Cumberland the committee were agar
permitted to interfere. Audit was to this
last discussion that the Dispatch's cores
pondent refers, and refers Tpry unjustly
and unfairly.
The people want light. They desire tt
see and hear the candidates who are seek
ing their suffrages-they wish to be in
formed as to the questions at issue,so that
they may cast an intelligent vote, both as
to men and measures. And the party OF
the candidate which shall throw any obsta
Gle in the way Of the information thus de-
sired will suffer for it. The voters are
in no humOr to be trifled with. They
have been misled and deceived too often il
the past, and to-day there is less respect
for the party machine and less obedience
to ring orders than ever before in the his
tory of Virginia for the past quarter Of a
century. In fact, the little ring bosses
have. become offensive to the yeomanry of
the State and there is no disposition to
tamely submit to the mandates and au-
thority of few men calling themselves a
committee, or assuming to dictate policies,
terms and conditions, who have been ex-
ercising arbitrary power in the past. It is
a healthy sign and indicates that the
things which pertain to the practical af-
fairs of life-to the material welfare of the
citizen and the State, are receiving that
consideration which their importance
demands, and are held paramount to the
plots and schemes and insidious devices of
trading politicians. who care nothing for
the people and the grave matters which
implicate the destiny of the Common
wealth.
Between the two candidates the most
friendly personal feeling and respect exists
They might discuss the issues of the can
yass every day until its close, in joint de-
bate, and nothing would fall from either
to disturb their kindly relations. Not
withstanding the people want to hear and
the candidates have expressed their will
ingness to speak in joint discussion, some
how or other the committees in some of the