The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-09-06
The Joint Discussion between
Golf and Mathews at Weston.
IVpOroN w Va Sent Ath 1874
WESTON, W. VA, Sept.


S9ASAst
Editors Of the In,elligenor
General Golf never won a more glori.
GUS victory for truth and right on the
bloody field than he did on Saturday last
here. As yous have been advised, the
Democratic Convention broke up on Fri
day 10 row and free fight, some think
for the purpose Of preventing Golf from
speaking. But our gallant standard
bearer was not TO be silenced in this way.
It was agreed that the two candidates for
Governor should speak Saturday, begin.
ming at l P. NJ. Mathews opened in a
speech OF two hours, and II was consid.
cred fine effort only for the absurdities
OF which it was mainly composed. II
was evident he had prepared his speech
not expecting reply. He made some
assertions that even the most credulous
refused to swallow, or II they did man
age 10 get them down, soon came up.
Mathews asserted what he believed was
not generally taught to Democrats $50 he
himself said), namely, that the glorious
old Democratic party had put down the
rebellion, had given US our new State,
our public free schools, freed the negroes
and enfranchised him, etc. Although
the court house was mainly filed with
| Democrats, il was very apparent that he
was not believed. He also told some,
WORKOUT anecdotes that long ago had
lost their point; asserted that II the Re
publicans came into power they would
restore the registration law, test oaths.
etc.; quoted from the INrELLlGENCER OF
1867, in which you spoke Of sending
troops TO the Greenbrier Valley to sup
press u rising rebellion among Mathews
and some OF his reconstructed friends.
He did not deny that they were creating
trouble down there; said he supposed he
had signed the petition to carry Green
brier, Monroe and some adjoining coun-
ties into the old State; justified himself
by saying that he was not allowed to
vote, hold office, etc., and that he would
rather live under the Gar Of Russia or
tho King OF the Fiji Islands. After doing
his best 10 resurrect buried animosities
and to work on the prejudices OF the
audience, he closed with a pteous appeal
to bury the bloody shirt. He wanted 10
draw veil over the past.
Gen. Golf commenced in his usual easy
composed way, but gradually warmed to
his work and gave the Democracy and
its standard bearer such rebuke as they
have not had since the war ended. He
Mathews veil was the most transparent
article ever offered to the people OF Lewis
county, and altogether too thin to close
the eyes OF any one. He only referred to
what Mathews claimed for the Democrat
ic party in regard to giving us Free
Schools, crushing the rebellion, &c. The
mere mention was enough. The allusion
to it in Colts sarcastic manner caused
such cheering rs is seldom heard.
Applause after applause greeted our
youthful Governor as he poured hot shot,
she'll and chain.lightning into their panic
stricken ranks. He sat down amid the
widest and most enthusiastic cheering
from the crowded audience. Faint and
feeble were the cheers that greeted Math-
ews. They seemed more like the wall Of
despairing men.
Golf was personally congratulated by
many Democrats, who crowded around
him and declared their intention to vote
for him and the entire Republican ticket,
some OF whom had never voted Repub.
lican ticket. Set old Lewis down on the
Republican side. It is predicted that
Mathews will never meet Goff again ina
joint discussion. Democratic curses are
loud and deep on the head Of poor Wof-
findin Of the, Democrat for hanging the
gate on the. other post, as he termsit.
REPORTER.