The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-08-14
DEMOCRATIC MEETING
Immense Gathering of the
People.
Eloquent and Telling Speeches,

were many ladies. We have seldom
witnessed such an attentive audience.
Although it was in the open air and
extended some distance from the speak
ers' stand, yet not word was spoken
in the way of applause during the two
long hours occupied by the speaker.
The deep interest manifested by the
people speaks volumes for the spirit OF
determination for change in the man.
ner of conducting the governmental
affairs of the country.
The large concourse of people was
first addressed by gentleman by the
name of Mcclure, who referred to the
more than ordinary import of the times.
He said the Union stood on more
shaky foundation to-day than it ever
did. He then detailed in very lucid
manner the financial condition of the
country. He said the cry of hard times
was heard on every hand. Why was it
that the workshops and the manufacto-
ries were either stopped or running on
fractional timeH The cause was not
with the people. 1t was chargeable to
the discredit of the Government. The
bonds of the United States are selling
from IS cents to 80 cents on the dollar.
Every greenback dollar in your peck
ct is worth only about 60 cents. Green
backs are not money-only the promise
of money. The debt of the United States
is something over $4,000, 100000. Thad.
Stevens, whose lifeless body now lies in
state, said that the debt was S., 000, 0O0,-
900, but he would call it only $4,000
00O,0 900. This debt must be paid, and
suppose that it was all in silver dol
lars, and at each tick of the watch
dollar was put aside, it would take $40
years to count it. Or suppose they were
laid in line, they would extend over
1000 miles, sufficient to reach four
times around this globe. He said the
actual expenses of the Government for
the last two years reached the sum of
81 200, 100000. This has to be paid by
heavy taxes. We had already paid
some $4,000, 900 in taxes, but the debt
instead of being lesscned had been in
creased. After explaining how the
poor man was taxed, he gave way for
Mr.. Good who had been announced to
speak.
Mr.. Good was then vociferously called
for, who said as this is very large
crowd,
Let us rend the mellow air
| With shout for Seymour and Blair
When the shouts of the audience made
the welkin ring.
MIR. G. then proceeded. He said the
country was aroused. Anxiety was de.
picted in every countenance. He would
touch slightly the currency and the
taxes. He did not subscribe to the doc
trine that national debt was ma
tional blessing He was not here to give
his preference to the New England bond
holder or to the Industrious mechanic
of Wheeling. He was for treating all
alike. He then went on at some length
to illustrate how this scheme of not
taxing bonds operated. He said we are
told that the bondholder came to the
rescue of the Government when it
was in peril. But howl They loaned
the Government 60 cts in legal tenders
and got the promise of one dollar for
the same with the interest in gold.
The bonds were never intended to be
paid in anything bat legal-tender notes.
1t was objected that the policy of the
Democrats would lead to reputation.
How can that be? 1t was not the char
acter of the money, but the ability OF
the Government to pay that gave conf
dence in the currency. He then gave
the National Banking system D scathing
investigation-gave a practical work
ing of the same-showed how they kept
in reserve the legal-tender notes, &c.
He said the Democratic doctrine was
"greenbacks then art and greenbacks
thou shalt remain"
Mr.. G. then went into a lengthy and
eloquent calculation of the condition of
the wives and mothers who gave up
their husbands and sons to fight for the
Union, and who now, returned halt and
MANNED, have to bear the burden of the
taxes. He gave very clear calculation
of this in the taxes and deprecated
currency which enters into every
branch OF trade. He took the purchas-
ing of pound of tobacco, which would
be worth only Scots. in gold, but when
paid in greenbacks cost 81. He cited
the people 20 the fact that that was the
legitimate method to find what taxes
the poor laboring man paid-to ascer-
tain it's cost in gold, and add the
balance as taxes. Equality of taxes
was the Democratic watchword.
| He then took up the reconstruction
policy. He cited the Crittenden reso-
luton rs being the principle for which
the soldiers fought. Had the deception
been apparent thousands of the brave
soldiers would have turned their backs
to the foe and went home. He dwelt
long and eloquently upon the condition
of the South. Referred to the sincere
submission of her noble brave to
the force of circumstances. He
said if the States were in the Union
then they were entitled to their rights
and privileges as States. If they were
ont of the Union then was secession an
accomplished fact and the Confederacy
was a Government de jare. But the
Rump had swept all away. Long be-