Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-13
LOCAL.
ALVEY Political Day at
Woodstock.
EX-SENATOR RIDDLEBERGER COMES
OUT FOR MCKINNEY IN A
CHARACTERISTIC SPEECH.

state senator James IL. Gordon OF Char
lottesville, a brother of ex-Mayor Gordon OF
Staunton, was at the Virginia Hotel here
Monday morning, on his way to fill an APP
pointment to speak at Woodstock. When
he returned here Monday night he had con-
siderably added to his experience as a cam
paigner in Virginia-he had seen Shena1l-
doah court day with politics hot and still
heating.
The Democrats of the county held their
county convention in Burnly Hall on that
day, and nominated p. w. Magruder for re-
preventative to the legislature. The mem
berS OF that party were in town in full
force, and Senator Gordon had fine au-
dience to speak to. Capt. w. A. Alexander
of Winchester also addressed them. The
Democrats were in fine spirits and ell
thuSiastic.
EXCITEMENT OF THE DAY-sENATOR
RIDDLEBERGER SPEAKS.
But the excitement of the day lay in an
other direction. A short distance off are
two hotels on opposite sides of the street,
facing each other. In the porch of one of
them was Gen. E. G. Darlington, a venera-
bleeX-Federal of1ice-holder and eX- Virginian
OF Washington city, who was addressing the
Mahoneites. His venerable appearance and
white hair led to the belief that it was
Christopher Columbus OF Rip Van Wrinkle,
and the age OF the arguments he used con-
firmed the belief. A brass band was assist
ing him i'll his efforts.
On the porch of the opposite hotel, soon
appeared ex-senator Fl. II. Riddleberger
listening to a serenade from a brass band
which had been engaged for the Democratic
County Convention. The moment he stood
up to thank the band, the crowd of Malone
ties from the other side of the street
surged over. Among them were half
dozen men who appeared wild with anger,
the leader a tremendous SiX-footer with
side whiskers, announcing in stentorian
tones that Riddleberger had been bought
by the Democrats and was recreant to the
Republican party. Behind him were men
who had put their hats Oh sticks SO as to
shake them at Riddeberger. The ex-U. S.
Senator who has the reputation, whether
he is fighting Mahoneites OF Democrats, of
not being afraid of what is in front of him,
surveyed the bowling crowd with his head
in a listening attitude to catch what they
were saying. At last he caught it, and invited
the head speaker to come up Oh the porch.
The siX-footer did not come. Whereupon
MI. Riddleberger addressed few weighty
remarks to the crowd. Their weight may
be judged Of from the opening sentence.
SOME PERSONAL REMARKS.
''Before [ commence this speech said
Mr.. Riddleberger, pointing his finger in the
face of the siX-footer, Il denounce you as
a liar, scoundrel and coward" And
then after waiting a moment for q reply
and none coming, he turned to the crowd
and said: 'sYo gu see he knows so well that
he is a liar, that he don't take any offense at
it."
''They are very mad with me-" said Mr..
Riddleberger, continuing, ''because they
say am going to make Dem ocratic
speech. Why, fellow-citizens, [ never made
any but Democratic speech in my life and
made a speech in which did not advocate
the rights Of the people and that is the true
Democracy" (Cheers.)
The Malone brass band here played so
as to drown Mr.. Riddleberger's voice, and
he leaned over the porch railing to the Dem
ocratic brass band and said: ''Boys give
'em Dixie. y And they did, and for while
it was one confused uproar of music, bowls
and counter-howls, for by this time the
Democrats were aroused and didn propose
to see Riddleberger drowned out.
A STARTLING REPLY TO AN INVITA-
TION.
1t was evidently no use to try and down
Riddleberger and the Democrats both, so
Gen. Darlington called out from has hotel
porch, captain Riddleberger come over
here and IL divide time with you.''
To this Senator Riddleberger, who had
borne the Interruptions of the Malone
mob about as long as his temper would
stand it, made from has porch this brief,
but meaning reply:
''You go to hell !"
This reply SO astonished Gen. Christopher
Columbus Darlington that he forgot his
tariff statistics and wandered back to the
history of the foundation of the govern
ment and his early acquaintance with
George Washington, Pocahontas, and the
Aborigines who formerly hunted over the
Valley of the Shenandoah. 1t is supposed
that he had gotten down as far as the letter
G in his genealogy of the descendants Of
Pocahontas- by that time the lungs Of
the brawny Shenandoah Democrats had
gotten to work and no man could tell
whether it was q political meeting OIL a
thunder storm that was under way-when
Judge Henry G. Allen in the interest of
order suggested that Senator Riddleberger
should speak from in front of the Court
House. The Senator accepted the sugges-
tion and went to the Court House. The
Democrats and Mahoneites both followed
him-the latter wanting to hear what he
was going to say about Mahone-and left
Gen. Darlington addressing baker S
dozen.
THE ONLY TWO ISSUES IN THE
CAMPAIGN.
AT the Court House, Senator Riddleberger
started out by saying that there were in
this campaign but two issues. One was
whether the debt settlement should be
ripped up again. On that issue he was with
the Democrats in their support of the Rid
dleberger bill. Great cheering). The other
was whether this is the white man S OF
the black mans country. On that II take
my stand with the white man. Here
there was a perfect cyclone of cheering).
II will not give up my position Oh the debt