Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-28
THE CAMPAIGN.
0rtlln Nesm Van Rest; 0Ferrail Roller,
and cros.en Bailey Brown,
&C.. &C., &C.
fsnecial telerram 10 tLe plspatch. ]


and crox.en Bailey Brown,
Sc. &C., &c.
---.------------
Especial telegram 10 tie Dispatch.l
SourH BosToS, VA. September 81.
A large crowd assembled 10 the court
houss to-day 20 hear discussion be-
tween Hon. Samuel Griffin, Democratic
NOMINEE Of this congressional district,
end Judge A. L. Van Ness, Of Char
loste, independent candidate. Judge
Van Ness was introduced by Mr.. j. b.
Stcvsll.
Judge Van Ness said that he came as
the representative Of no party; he
came simply and solely IS an inde-
ps ndsnt, and the woods are full Of in
dependents In this canvass.
He is . failure - o public speaker.
He has no magnetism, and could arouse
no enthusiasm, although he speaks
calmly and courteously.
Among bis points were that the
Lynchburg Convention did not snd
cannot represent the people OF this dis
t.ict and tho failure Of the Convention
to adopt resolutions endorsing the
Cleveland Administration.
lie concluded with fanciful review
Of the Democratic party's attitude to-
wards the tariff question.
OUR NOMINEE.
Major II. A. Edmondson then arose
and introduced Major Griffin. Ed
mondsoD reviewed the Lynchburg Con-
yention briefly: " We were not success
ful in getting Halifax man, but, losing
our first choice, We got our second
choice. Griffin showed all through the
Convention that he was the strongest
man in this district. Every change,
every vote proved it. The Lynchburg
Convention may have omitted some
things. but it did not fail to be unani-
nous 10 its choice for Samuel Griffin,
and be. gentlemen, will now let you
have more light concerning present con-
ditions than you have heard from the
other speaker"
Major Griffin was greeted with cheer
after cheer, and be Immediately took
hold of Judge Van Ness and his inde-
pendent proclivities. Independent? OF
whom2 Of the people? His attempts
to sheer at the Lynchburg Convention
arc fiuitless and unsvailiDg. Why,
who, fellow.citizens, ever received
higher compliment than the one con-
ferred upon me by the Convention--as
fine q body of men as ever assembled
on Gods green earth? lCheers.l
VAN NESS RAsPED.
Major Grifin's rasping Of Van Ness
was full and complete. "Instead Of
telling what Van Ness would be-" he
said, !" would rather know what be
has done in the past than what he
would do in the future"
Msjor Griffin then explained why the
Lynchburg Convention failed to adopt
q platform. Talk about the differnce
on the tariff in the Democratic party I!
I'll tell you what the great difference is
between tho Republican and Democratic
parties: When the Republican party,
embittered against the South, and with
hatred in its heart, attempted to pass
sectional laws, as some years ago it
did, looking to the control of our cleo
tions by Federal bsyonets, then, then it
was that the Democratic party stood Q
unit and combined against such mea-
sures; then it was that Morrison and
Randall and Carlisle and all our great
leaders came together and beat back the
effort to throttle the liberties of free
people.
THE NEGRO VOTE.
The speaker then reviewed the con.
GLIDING days of the last Congress and
the bloody.shirt and breath-bating
speeches made by northern congress
men. Blaine's bloody-shirt utterances
were quoted with telling effect. He
then alluded to the disfrancbisement OF
the colored people intimated by Blaine
and boldly svowed in Ohio, because, as
Blaine says, the increased representa-
ton of the South gained by the negro
vote is used to defeat the white repro.
ssntstion Of the North.
THE BLAIR BILL AND THE LABOR
QUESTION.
In answer to the charge that the
Democrats are opposed TO the Blair
educational bill, Major Griffin gave the
record Of the Republican members Of
Congress Oh this measure.
The speeches made in the Lynchourg
Convention did, he declared, endorse
Grover Cleveland and bis Administers
ton, and every one knows that almost
every Democrat in that body and in the
district does now endorse Cleveland.
The labor question was then taken up,
and the records Of the two great par
ties contrasted. The Democratic party
had always been and now is known to
be the friend Of the laboring.man,
while equally as true is it that the Re-
publican party is the party of the mo-
nopolists.
The record Of the Republican party
as to the grant Of public lands to rail-
road corporations was then held up in
oil its enormity. Daniels record on
the labor question was given, and his
name aud work were applauded by the
crowd.
VAIN REPLY.
Judge Van Ness, in his fifteen
minutes rejoinSer, was evidently crest.
fallen under the terrific attack made
upon him by Major Griffin, and his re-
marks fell fiat and stale, being solely 9
repetition of his much ado about The
failure Of the Lynchburg Convention tC
adopt platform, &c.
The most startling announcement hs
made Was that Major Griffin would be
defeated. Our people were shocked,
and . vail arose unanimously.
Major Griffin, in his final rejoinder
was In splendid trim. He electrified
the crowd with his wit, humor, and
sloquence.
Major Griffin, in closing, said: "I'l
tell you where ! stand, and where
will DO. i will stand In the ranks o
the great Democratic party-the defenc'
and hope OF this country"