Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-08

THE DISCUSSION AT LEXIN GToN.

follow in half an hour, and fifteen minutes t.
Capt. Bumgardner in conclusion. These terms
were announced by Colonel EdmondsOn, Chair
man of the Democratic County Committee
when Mr.. Yost commenced. He referred to tn
canvass two years ago when he opposed Mr.
Tucker, and said be was before the people agaiI
in Difference to the call of the Republican
party. He stated that he made predictions theI
that the Democratic party would not fulhll i'll
pledges, and desired to know of his hearers
he had not been correct. Referring 10 MI
Tucker, who was on the stand, as the exponen
of the legislation or rather failure of the Demo
cratic President and House of Representative
to accomplish any progress on the line De
manded by The interests of the people at large
and especially those he was then addressing
and said that Captain Bumgardner would, i
he adhered to his party and platform, in the
event of his election, fall as proper represen'
tative of the sentiments of the people of the
district. He attributed every species of depres
sion and the labor troubles to the fact that the
Democratic party had control of the Govern
ment, and reproached that party for failure te
repeal the internal revenue laws. BE an
nounced himself out-and-out opposed to the
Civil.service law, and in any responsibility
which might devolve on him would disregard
stored to power, adopt measures for giving
more protection to iron ores and wool, and pass
the Blair educational bill. The ability and the
desire of that party to do these things were the
points Mr. Yost made in his opening of the
Canvass.
Mr.. Tucker presented Captain Bungardner
in elegant terms, expressing his desire for the
success of the able and worthy Democratic
standard haarer in the contest.
CAPTAIN Bumgardner commenced by refer
ring to the long service he had rendered his
party, and that never before this contest did he
have a personal interest in canvass. 1t had
been most pleasing service on his part in all
the past since he had been old enough to take
part in championipg the Democratic party,
to recall its history, and to hold up its aims in
promoting civil liberty, and the happiness OF
the people He had expected Mr.. Yost to at
tempt to give some substantial reason why he
people should prefer the Republican party to
The Democratic, but in vain ; and he (B) would
contrast the merits and dement's of the two
parties.
He arraigned the Republican party for itsterri-
b rule, by the bayonet, over the Southern
States, and the manner in which it attempted
to stamp out every right interest to the people
of the South-citing especially the manner of
the oppression in West Virginia, Missouri and
other States in forcing upon the people consti-
tutions written at Washington by the partisans
engaged in this work. AS an illustration of
this. he cited the facts as they were in the
county of Pocahontas West Va, where out OF
1880 voters all were disfranchised except about
300. Going over the whole scope of the oppres-
sion as then inflicted upon the South by the
Republican party which never recanted its
acts, he would call upon his opponent to define
his position, and to answer which side he would
maintain in such a contest against the people
of Virginia and the South. In this connection,
he read extracts condemnatory of that party
taken from the files of the Valley Virginian
some years ago, of which his opponent was
now one of it's editors, and son of the man
who wrote them. He. Mr.. Yost had endorsed
the Republican party in its management Of the
country through all the time it had control of
the Governmental was pertinent to ask how
he stood on these features of its history. But,
said Captain Bumgardner, it is not necessary
to go back and search through the past for the
designs of the Republican party upon whole
States and large portion of the white people
of those States. When Blaine was compelled
to acknowledge his defeat in 1884 his remedy
for subjugating the Democratic party was to
deprive the South of fifty or more of the cleo
toral votes in Southern States. In more re.
cent expression of Republican sentiment in
Ohio, this purpose was openly declared, and a
new recons truction of the subjugated States
was the remedy proposed. Turning to his
competitor, he desired know where he stood
upon these new questions. His opponent was
p ofuse in giving utterances to what he called
his own predictions, but not word from him,
In his laudations ofthe Republican party and
itss managers, escaped his lips touching
these recent movements Of his party to disown
aud to dishonor its own record because the re-
suits of their evil designs have been frus-
trated.
Just before and with his arraignment from
frsi to last of the Republican party Captain
Bumgardner's defence of the Democrats Of the
country in concentrating their power for good
Ito break of the letters, which had been bound
around whole States and great section of the
country restored to the union under Republic
G IN legislation was living and effective pre-
ssntation of the adverse circumstances under
which the party become effective in banishing
oppression and misrule--in overthrowing q
party which had practiced every enormity and
set at defiance every principle of justice and
right.
Touching upon the internal revenue system
he stated that the democratic party was oppos.
ed to its continuance, and had SO declared. The
democrats had succeeded in modifying and
taking off some of the taxation and would con-
unue to reduce it until the system was wiped
out. He reminded the people and Mr.. Yost of
the State of things at Staunton and through
ont The country under Republican Admins
tration when the officers of the internal reve
nue. were band of rowing partisans going over
the country to organize the Republican forces
TO the neglect oftheir duties. That was not the
case now. Mr.. Cleveand's order required the
officials to stay at their offices and to attend
to their business
Captain Bumgardner continued to answer
every point made by Mr.. Yost and had good
share OF time to ope. out from the narrow end
contracted view of things in which the latter
INDUCED. Mr.. Yost had attributed the depres-
sion OF every interest suffering f n the want of
to the policy of the democrats, and
that high tariff would correct all this. Cap.
tain Bumgardner responded that the panic
came in 1878, when the Republican party was
in control of the government. and that it at.
fectcd the whole civilized world alike. France
revealing in high tariff rule, felt it Just as did
England. Germany, Spain, and. in
TACT, not a civilized state was free from 1t.
Whilst Mr.. Yost INDUCED in mere assertion as
ne made his points and arguments, in assert
ing that the democratic platform, favored the
of duties. on raw materials. On this
he had to stand a correction by the document
itself. Captain Bumgardner showed that the
platforms of the democratic party, National
state, and District were In accord, and that In
laying taxes for support of the government
protection to the resources and industry of the
country was recognized feature in the demo-
cratic creed.
But the Blair Bill was Mr.. Yost's hobby, and
from near his opening remarks till he closed,
endeavored to involve Captain Bumgardner in
some Inconsistency during the past canvasses
and his present utterances about that matter.
captain Bumgardner thought Mr.. Yost ought
10 know his views, for they had met in discus
sion when that question was referred to. He
captain Bumgardnep was for it. He did not
regard 1t as party measure. Republicans
were opposed to it, and Republicans were in
favor OF 1t. Mr.. Reed, the caucus nominee of
the republican party for Speaker of the pres
ent House of Ropresen atives, was opposed to
the bill. So was Mr.. Hiscock, who was a can
n RNl-