Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-02
A GREAT JOINT DEBATE
Democrats, Republicans and Populists at
Manassas
Speaking for Five Hours i'm the Court
House-Congressman Meredith
Not Present.
peSial Correspondence Of The Evening star.

special Correspondence OF The Evening star.
MANASSAS, Va, October 1, 1894
The democrats. republicans and popu-
lists OF the eighth congressional district
OF Virginia met here Ia joint debate to-
day. and for five hours the walls of the
court house rang with the bursts OF
eloQuence displayed by the respective
speakers. 1t was really a Democratic day.
Mr.. Meredith, the democratic candidate,
while present took no active part in the
debate. his cause and that OF the party
being ably upheld by Judge McCabe Of
Loudoun and Gen. Eppa Hunton OF War
renton. p. H. McCaul OF Culpeper the
republican nominee and Mr.. ]. s. Mason
Of Marshall. the populist each spoke in his
own behalf.
Today was court day." and everybody
who has ever attended court I'm a country
town knows what that means to county
people for miles around and who have for
days looked forward to It In anticipation
OF a trip to town.
BY O'Clock the people began to arrive.
They came singly and by twos They
came by threes and by wagon loads,
astride every beast from the farm mule to
the thoroughbred hunter; In every convey
ance from the gocart TO the stylish turn
out and Inverted carriage.
For days all over the county flaming bills
had announced that today. court day, Mr.
McCaul, the republican candidate, would
attend grand rally at Manassas and make
an address on the political issues Of the
day. BY their side other flaming posters
announced amid a display of fancy type
that on the same day, court day, Judge
McCabe and Gen. Hunton would address q
gathering OF democrats at Manassas Cd
me political issues of the day. No posters.
however, announced that Mr. Mason of the
populists would be there, but everybody
said he would come, and he did.
AFTER the arrival OF the speakers Il wa,
decided to unite the meetings into joint
debate. allowing Mr.. Mason, Mr. McCauI
and Mr.. McCabe. respectively TO speak one
hour each. and Gen. Hunton TO close Then
MI Mason wanted TO follow Mr.. McCaul
ana when the train arrfved-Judge LIPS.
comb having closed court at an early hour
TO allow the use of the court room-Mr Nc.
Caul being absent and attempts 10 fino
him proving Intellectual. the time while
waiting for him was taken by Mr.. Thorn
ton OF the democratic committee in a
pleasant Introductory talk and by Major
Jas. Purcell In a short address. in which
Calists."
Mr.. McCaul stin being absent Mr.. Mccabe
took the stand and had only begun when
McCaul was announced Mr.. McCabe very
graciousiy stepped aside for him to COM
ualsts."
Mr.. Mason Opened.
Then followed something Of a discussion
as to who should tpeak first and finally
Mr.. Mason took The stand. For nearly an
hour he attempted to make plain the doc.
trines Of populism, amid an almost con-
tinual hum Of conversation that at times
almost drowned his voice. When ne fin
ishsd IL is doubtful IL nfty people knew
what he had said. AS be bowed from the
stand some one proposed three cheers for
Mereolth. and they were given with a will
MI McCaul next took the platform being
introduced by Mr.. Dodge. Chairman OF the
republican committee. AS has often been
Al ana
one. too He Is witty, quick. has a fine
presence and a coed command of lauguaRe
ana Is a man who can hold the attention Of
crowd, while he says little but empha-
sizes that little by dozens of little gestures
and smiles that would make a comedian
green with envy. His speech today was
one OF the sort that four out of 1--WE persons
In gathering Of this kind would describe
as file, excellent and to the point" He
seemed particularly put out that he would
have no CHARGE for a reply to those that
would follow him, but stated that he CON
sidered IL one of the highest compliments
that had ever been paid him. not TO have
the Chance This he said with a smile
and attitude and gesture that said palmer
tnan words, They're afraid to-seeg''
Judge McCabe's Address.
Mr.. McCaul was followed by Judge J. a.
McCabe Of Loudoun county. His speech
was an able one. well delivered, and in such
an earnest and forcible manner that he
for an hour-the third of the debate. He
spoke on the usual democratic lines for
free trade. or tariff for revenue only, and
In a large degree answered what Mr.
Mason and Mr. McCaul had said.
He was literally applauded during his
speaking, and the order and attention were
better than during the time occupied by
either of the gentlemen who had preceded
him.
The next hour and a half-with no In
termission-was occupied by Senator Eppa
Hunton. His appearance was the signal
Tor vigorous cheering snd applause. By
the time he was well warmed TO his SUBJ
1ect. as the hour was getting late, a few
OF the audience, living a long way from
town, had to leave. but he held the ma
1ority to his last word. At times ne could
scarcely speak for the applause. and when
he closed, nearly the entire audience had
sat attentively listening TO the different
candidates from Il to after 8, and many
Of them had attended the court session be-
fore the speaking beuan