Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-10-11

and around the big log fire in the County
Treasurer S office the loungers were crowd
ed discussing the farming season and poll
ties. And there [ spent most of my time,
for there is mine of information to man
that wants to know what the People are
talking about.
OVER CONFIDENCE.
In the talks | listened to and engaged in
with those who are interested in politics, l
was disagreeably impressed with the over
confidence that seemed to pervade the Dem
ocrats here, as it does everywhere. Conf
dence is one thing; but over-confidence is
another and most dangerous attendant of a
political campaign. That and that alone
is the rock Oh which the Virginia Democ-
racy can find it possible to wreck itself this
campaign, and yet the feeling seems to have
spread itself like contagious disease
through the great body of our party. A
distinguished Democrat who has Travelled
over the State, told me to-day that he had
found the same thing everywhere he went
and that even at the State Central Commit
Ice, WI HUI llC dulClltlGu Ill h1CIllllOllu Il lew
days ago, he found it as bad as anywhere.
The reports received there from the dis
tricts were so roSe-cOlored that when he rose
to give his views to the effect that we had
before us as tough fight as we ever have,
views based on his observation in an ex-
tended tour, some Of the Committee called
him "croaker." To me there seems to
be something akin to madness in the man.
ner that the Democratic newspapers of the
State-with a few exceptions are telling
the story of the campaign. Not one in
twenty is pointing out to the people who
are against Malone, the critical necessity
of Work to avert the real danger that is in
front of them but on the contrary they
mathematical dimensions Of some gigantic
ehasm in the Republican party, and with
cOmplacent satisfaction are announcing the
fact that Malone is already beaten. l
once thought that the nomination of Ma
hone was the best thing that could happen
for the Democracy, but | am now convinc-
ed that it was not, for an idea seems to
have taken possession Of the party that the
very name of Malone as a candidate will
give us victory without the usual work to
secure it. Our people seem to forget that
Il stay-at home Democratic vote can easily
offset the advantage we gain from Mahone's
unpopularity in his own party.
THE SPEAKING.
Judge Waller r. Staples for the Democ-
racy and Col VIM. Lamb for the Malone
faction, were on the ground to speak. l
was very anxious to hear q joint debate be-
tween them and [ believe ninety mine out of
every hundred men who afterwards attend
ed the two separate meetings would have
rather heard a joint debate. There is a
sense of fair play in the breast of the aver
age white Virginian Of any politics, that
doesn' t get fully satisfied unless it has heard
both sides. But this feeling was not salts
fled to-day. There was the usual skirmish-
ing for position ON q joint debate between
the two committees. and the usual result
nothing. The Democratic committee made
one proposition | thought very fair-that
Col. Lamb should open in q hour, Judge
Staples reply in an hour and a quarter and
Col. Lamb have the closing Of twenty min
utes, something all public speakers are any
ions for. But it was not accepted. and
about o'clock the separate speaking COM
menced, each party being summoned by it's
cornet band-there being two bands from
EdinbTg. The Democrats marched to the
Opera Hall and the Malone faction to the
Opera House just across the street. Both
halls were quickly filled and remained so till
the end of the speeches. They are both very
small halls and the hallway of each was
filled with men standing up. | was very
much surprised to see in the Democratic
hall listening to Judge Staples, three OF four
colored men.
Judge Staples speech was an excellent
one, and not only that but it was a ''telling''
one with the people. | heard it discussed
ny the county Democrats afterwards, and
they seemed to be thoroughly pleased with
it. He went straight for Mahone's record
and made good piece OF work. His fa-
miliarity with it was the most complete 1
have vet seen on the stump.
SENATOR RIDDLEBERGEB AND THE
BLAIR BILL.
When Judge Staples came to candidate )