Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-09-28
SPEAKING MONDAY,
ONE PROHIBITION ANDTWO DEMO-
CRATIC SPEECHES.

COL II. s. CHEvES OF KENTUCKY; CAPT. MICA
JAT WOODS OF ALBEMARLE; AND CHARLES
V. MEREDITH, ESQ.,, OF RICHMOND.
terval, we spent all the time from IL o'clock a.
m. to O'Clock p. m. at the Courthouse listen
ing to the lengthy speeches made by Col R. S.
Cheves of Kentucky, in behalf of the Prohibi-
tion party; and by Capt MicaJah Woods of
Albemarle, and Charles v. Meredith, Esq, of
Richmond, in behalf Of the Democratic party
We took notes expecting to give report of
these speeches, but when we returned to the
office in the evening we found that the copy
previously given out and put in type did not
leave as space in the paper for such report as
we had hoped to give, and were forced to give
the brief notices which follow.
SPEECH OF COL. R. s. CHEvEs.
At 11:15 a. m. the Prohibition meeting was
called to order by Mr.. J. w. Bodley who presid-
ed. He said it was usual to have Prohibition
meetings opened with prayer, and he called
upon Rev. j. T. Williams, Pastor of the NJ. E.
Church of Staunton, to perform that duty,
which he did. At the conclusion of the prayer
Mr.. Bodley introduced Col. r. S. Cheves who
then entered upon his speech and spoke for an
hour and a half.
He said he would not abuse any party, but
he would condemn Them which,he did unspar-
ingly and with great impartiality..
The object of government Is to promote the
happiness of the people. The voter, like a ju-
ror, should hear both sides before coming to a
decision. Party, like an individual, should
have character, moral character, and yet In
gals, late U. S. Senator of Kansas, one Of the
most brilliant and eloquent Republicans in the
country, has enunicated the sentiment that the
decalogue has no place in politics. After hear
ing both sides, the voter should vote as his
Judgment and conscience dictate.
The tariff is simply question of dollars and
cents. 1t does not ruin your son as the liquor
traf1ic does. You should protect the boys and
save the homes Of the nation from the curse Of
intemperance. Moral character Is what makes
a nation great, and not factories or large
plantations. The tariff is a debatable question
and opinions are divided upon it, but not so
with reference to the liquor question. Tariff is
wrong in principle because it taxes what peo-
pie consume and not what they possess, and by
1t a poor man is taxed as much in support Of
the Federal Government as Vanderbilt with
his millions. The Prohibition party would
abolish the tarifit Is i'm favor of absolute free
trade. 1t would, however, prohibit trade with
nations that prohibit trade with US. The Re-
publican Congress spent billion of dollars,
and the Democratic CongressEfollowed their
example. The silver plank is the same in both
the Republican and Democratic platforms.
The Third party say they want more money.
No man can get more money without working
for it. The Prohibitionists oppose the Force
Bill and think it an infamous measure, but it
| Is not an issue. Harrison has come down from
his high horse, and gone into hole and drawn
the hole in after him.
SPEECH OF CAPT. MICAJAH WOODS.
After Col Cheves' speech, the court held a
brief session of half an hour and when it ad-
Journed, the Democratic meeting was held
Capt. John N. Opie, Chairman Of Democratic
County Committee, presided. He introduced
as the first speaker, Capt. MicaJah Woods Of
Albemarle.
| After referring to the honors achieved by the
SONS Of Augusta, he said that there never was
a campaign so important as this, because the
very essence of liberty was involved. The
Republican party is now making an effort tt
strike down the liberties of the people.
The shackles of party should be thrown off
and the issue in this campaign should be con-
sidered not as partlsans but as patriots. HI
represents party that was not sectional. TIL
| Republican party had ignored the South ex
cept to plumber us. He then discussed tn
tariff, showing how it has operated to max
the rich richer and the poor poorer; how it ha
fostered trusts, &C. The direct tax which wa
taken off the rich, railroads, telegraphs, banks
/ &c. should have been retained. They hav
grown rich and mighty and have laid hand
ON the government itself, to keep up their bust
ness and add to their wealth.
The millions of acres Of land voted to cOrpO
lrations should have been for the education o.
the negroes they had taken from bondage ant
made voters of. He spoke of the great servic
Hon. A. H. H. Stuart and Col. John B. Baldwin
had rendered the people of the State in SAVING
n them, through Grant, from being disfranchis
i ed, by having the obnoxious provisions OF tn
Underwood Constitution voted on separately
and he would ask the voters of Augusta t.
vote in this election as those great men woul
vote if now living. The Republican party ha
Ihad great men, but it is fast losing them-som
by death, and some by desertion who have be
come disguised with it. The manufacturers sci
the articles they make much cheaper to peopl
in foreign countries than they do here. Tn
Third party complain Of hard times, and the
Ihaye a right to complain; but it is the policy Q
the Republican party that makes them pool
The Democratic party, under the leadership o
Samuel ]. Randall had saved the South fror
!, the Force Bill as then attempted to be passe'
by the Republican party, and If it had neve
done any thing else than that it would be en-
titled to the gratitude and support of the pee
, ple. Democratic principles are now galnin
J strength in the West and we have a chance t.
, win. which should not be- lost by division!
. Either Harrison or Cleveland will be elected