Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-07
MR. EPES N SUSSEX,
He Opens the Democratic Cam
paign IN the County,
PAYS RESPECT TO Mr. THORP
The Latter'S COlored Republican 0ppO-
lent Also Represented.
MEsSRs. LAWLESs AND BOYkIN.
Captain Lamb and Mr.. Rfxey Mt
King George COurt-HOuse-They
Address "A Large Democratic Audi
ence-NOtes.
MEssRs. LAwLEss AND BOYKIN
ence-NOtes.

SUSSEX COURTHOUSE. VA. October
-(Special)-To-day being court-day OF
Sussex county, and the first opportunity
during the present campaign to hear the
speakers of the respective parties, large
crowd OF the citizens turned out, and the
courthouse and green was filled with a
representative assemblage all during the
day. Hon. Sydney p. Epes. the Demo-
cratic nominee for Congress- who had
been confined to his bed for some time by
Illness, was on hand TO represent the
Democrats. Practically all the white
people present were in Mr.. Epes's audi
ence, and listened to him with close at
tention. Mr. Epes made magnificent
speech, covering all the issues OF the
campaign, and particularly dwelling upon
the outrages perpetrated upon the Demo-
cratic party by the action of the Election
Committee in depriving him of his seat in
Congress, in favor OF the Republican
nominee-Thorp. In the course of Mr..
Epes's remarks he took occasion TO refer
to the recent interview published In the
washington Post by Mr.. r. t. Thorp.
In this connection Mr.. Epes said: j
take this, the first public opportunity, TO
express to the people of this district and
to the country, the Indignation which /
feel i'm common with all gentlemen who
are familiar with the circumstances, IN
regard to an interview published in the
Washington Post OF the Sd instant, in
which one of my OPPONENTS Mr. II. II.
Thorp, of Mecklenburg. undertakes 10 re-
view the situation in the Fourth Virginia
District, and to make several statements
personal to myself. Mr.. Thorp has made
| statements to Washington reporter that
| he would not dare to make upon the hust-
| ings i'm any county OF this district. Having
successfully euchred the negro Jones out
| of the bald honor of a Republican nomi-
nation in this district, he pretends to say
| that since his selection by the chairman
| of the Republican Congressional Commit
| tee as the nominee OF his party, though
| there had been some friction in regard
| to the action of the nominating conven-
| ton, his affairs have now been happily
| settled. and that he has no reason to
| doubt that he will receive the loyal sup
| port of every Republican in the district.
| You have seen, or may see, Tor
| yourselves, on this very court
! green, an enthusiastic horde of ne
| groes listening 10 and applauding every
| word OF the speakers for Jones. This Is
| only a sample OF the revolt that extends
| from Sussex to Prince Edward agatnst'the
| chicanery practiced by Thorp.
| Not only the negroes VINO have been
| cheated out OF their logical nominee
| but the great majority of the white Re'
| publlcans of this district are frank to
| saw that they not only desire the defeat
| OF Thorp in this election, but they crave
| his elimination from the politics Of Viz
| ginia.
| FAIR ELECTIONS CRY.
| Mr. Thorp cries for fair elections, and
| vet ne now willingly occupies the place
| and draws the emoluments or the posi-
| ,ion IN which [ was elected by the people
| of this district. | need not further advert
| 10 the Washington Post interview, whlch
| was prepared and published simply as an
| anpeal TO the Republican campaign iund'
| and as a preparation for future CON
| 90, excent 10 say that so far as Mr..
| Thorp undertakes TO say tIiat ei,ner a.
| Necklenburg, or at Prince EDWARD, OF at
| any other place, he presented to me or
10 any of my political friends, chal-
Ienge TO debate the questions at issue De-
| tween us. such statement Is raise.
have never had any communication with
| Mr. Thorn or from any OF his adherents'
nor have my friends, so FAR as am
! advised I may say further, that thouSh
| have not received any challenge, dlrec'
| or indirect. from Mr.. Thorp TO debate
| the questions of the pending campaign, y,
| were | TO receive such an oHer siouiu
raiact the same with the contempt whicn
~ an ofrer merits. Mr.. Thorp knows,
| as well as the people of the Fourth DIS
trict that were he to make such chal-
| Ienve IL would be only the clap-Hap OF
~ noIitician endeav0yng 10 secure
,hronph the agencies Of the Democratic
80, on opportunlty to address an audi
| p - substantial and respectable elti-
- Following the universal precedent
q, ,his district. and wherever the Repuo-
Ican marty is constituted, as IL 10 he,e
of tha most ignorant element Oh 'ne
negro nopulation, | decline, ana shah d,
wavs decline, TO permit poi''o"i 1 1u-
.,,,ar "a exploit his views through my
s'.,antalitv before an audience COM
'aa 'ls of the respectable. law-abidins'
- 10 wing citizens OF my district. Inere
III one step from dividing time WIN
! Nr Thorn 10 dividing time WIN MS poh'-
80 henchman. the negro. Ross ham
m,nn NO. of Mecklenburg. who. alone OF his
race is retained in an oinciai capacity
taee hr Mr. Thorp's influence. and alone
oong ~ the representative political lead
anV ~ his people. now supports Dit. rhorp
his campaign. l can well understand
nat - Mr.. Thcrp would be wiling. as ne
atasses TO have said. to pay the ex-
as piose of a horse and buggy II would
ppei,.e with him through the counties OF
the district.
XIV OTHER SPEAKERS.
,r,cb enthusiasm was created ey ir
80 speech. After he had closed Hon.
p,sa Lp r lanlen was called on. and
msGa .osls a most happy speech in response
70 csnator n. f. Boykin. of Isle OF Wight,
- ras engaged In the trial OF case
~ me county Court. was called upon Dy
~ m audience and made forcitie speech.
s,ch lle Was enthusiastically received.
NJ n. T. Thorp. one OF the hepubhcan
ne,dates. spoke 10 about twen'y-nVe
.sg~oes on the court green. Inc coiofed
nrs,or Davis, and anoIher coioreo man
,a,,ocated the cause OF T. l.. Jones. the
a,n.r Republ!can candidate. The eosorou