The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-10-14
MIR. WALKERS SPEECH.

HENRY S. WALKER was in the city, &
suggestion was made that he be requested
to address the people of Ohio county las
evening. The suggestion was unani
mously adopted, and Mr.. MICHAEL
REILLY, ss chairman of the State Execu'
tive Committee, in accordance there
with, rendered to hr. WALKER the
= request of the club, He consented, and
though brief announcement was made
Of the fact, and though no band was
hired to get up feeling, tremendous as
semblage of Democrats, orderly and well
behaved, (not this time ''s communistic
mob bowling for spoils aud blood
gathered in front of the Court House
steps, eager and anxious to hear words OF
Democratic doctrine, their ergerness only
whetted by the recent glorious victories
for the Democracy in West Virginia,
Indiana and Ohio.
About quarter to eight, Mr.. WALKER
arrived, escorted by a committee which
called upon him at the st. James Hotel
and the meeting was orgs nized by the
election of Mr.. VIM l.. HEARN as chair
man. He introduced Mr.. WALKER in
a few appropriate remarks, and, amid
loud applause, that gentleman COM
menced his address.
He thanked the people of Wheeling
for this generous reception. II recalled
to his mind many pleasant memories OF
DAYS now long past, spent by him in their
midst. He regarded the demonstration,
however, not as personal compliment,
but the evidence of pleasure over what
he'd been achieved, and OF glorious an
ticipation of what is to come.
lie saw around him the faces of many
who were connected with the first or
ganizatlon OF West Virginia Democracy,
when the dark days Of test oaths and
registration formed obstacles against
Democratic success which seemed in-
surmountable. For West Virginia was
a State formed exclusively for the ben G.
fit of the Radical party, and every effort
o. that party had been to keep control of
the State, and fatten upon the offices
which it would sfford. But he coRgrstu-
lated all mCst heartily on their graz d
success, and on the brilliant result which
had followed their work. West Virginia
was intended rs house OF refuge for
Republican politicians, but one generation
had labored and another had entered
into their rest The people OF West
Virginia could not forget the record of
Radicalism in the State in the past.
They could not forget that when Southern
citizens of this State returned, having
accepted the situation, and anxious tor
peace, the Pierrepoints, the Steven
sons, the Boremans and Others Of that
sort, told them that they should not do
so, but attempted to oppress
and distrsnchise them. But thanks
to that Almighty Being who
never permits any people to suffer when
determined on liberty, they had been en-
abled to throw off their shackles, and to-
dsv stood tree and INDEPENDENT, able to
hold up their heads as freemen among
the States Of the Union.
The country was passing through a
crisis, which would apply the great test
of human capacity for self-government,
and determine the possibility OF Reform
in Republic. The late elections
meant that the demand for
\ power which would prove
an abler and safer management of our
public affairs than had existed in this
country for many years, was uppermost
in the public mind. This demand was
made In 1872. Grant then promised
economy, retrcnchment and reform.
But the pledges of that year were broken
by Grant, w countenanced the ap-
pointment of Tom Murphy to
the New York Custom House
in return for the present
of cottage at Long Branch. MIR. w. cited
the San Domingo swindle, for opposition
TO which Charles Sumner was retired
fsom his position in the Senate, and
tackled on to the end of the comparatively
obscure Committee on Education. He
cited the case OF Powell Clayton IN Ar
Kansas. who was elected at the point OF
the bsyonet to the United States Senate,
and kept there until his State recovere d
her freedom and he was forced to retire
He then cited in rapid succession
the cases of Delano, OrvIl Grant, Attor-
dey. general Williams, that man of splen-
did carriage Ia carriage which cost 81 800
of Government money, and for buying
which he was rewarded with an appoint
ment as Supreme Justice of the United
S,ates), Schenck, our poker playing min
istrr to England, and Bsbcock, the twice
indicted private secretary OF tie Presi-
dent every one OF whom showed no"
shametully the fair promises Of Reform
and honesty had been broken. and how
Radical profession is one thing and Its
practice another.
The speaker then in very handsome
styIe, proceeded to detail an imaginary
conver sation had with Governor (D
Golf at the Centennial. He said that
we all took great pride in speaking OF
this as the centennla year OF our eXs-
tence, and bossted greatly of the pro-
gress we have made in hundred years
Bu, should a red buttened mandarin,
high long tailed representative
of the heather Chlnee, approach the
Governor ~, at the Centennial next
week and say, "Governor (0, YOU are
the representative OF State IN the
Union, what progress have You made
since your government WAS formed!
The Governor (?) would reply, from
his standpoint, that Nv Washington, JEFF
ferson, Madison and all those old fel
laws. were very good men in their day;
but. bless your heart, they have not begun
to keep up with the progress of the age.
They knew nothing about appointing
relatives to office; about selling post
trsderships; about credit mobi'ier rings;
about growing fat and rich in office, or
abou, keeping bull pups as the iavorite
play things about the Presidentisl man
sioE. They would do well enough Tor
the early days of the Republic, but they
wouldn't do worth cent to run the
=, ,b;s nm Il phteDe cd qpp