The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-23
NO. 60.
HON. CO.
eIIing Speech on National
aauIQ Questions. Ma
Delivered at Wheeling, ThHrsday
Night, Sept. 21st.

We have, from copious notes, pre-
pared the following synopsis OF the
speech delivered by the Hon. G. J.
FAULKNER at the Court House, in
Wheeling, Thursday evening Mr..
FAULKNERs audience was large, intel
ligent and appreciatiye one, and the
speaker held its closest attention for
the full hour and half occupied by
the delivery OF his remarks. After the
organization of the meeting, Mr.. FAuLH-
NER was introduced by Colonel W. w.
ARSErr, in few appropriate words.
Mr.. Faulkner said in substance:
The subjects which challenge our at
| tention in a canvass like the present,
are so numerous and distinct in charsc-
ter: they are each so full of interest
and instruction 10 those who wish Ia
cast a conscientious vote at the ap-
preaching elections, that the selection
of ANY particular topic for remark Is
not without embarrassment Ia the
speaker in the abundance Of the mate
rails before him.
First, there is the currency question
i mean that practical question ot cur
rency, the Resumption Act Of the lith
of January. 1875, which is now Il law
upon your statute book, originating in
"A Senatorial midnight caucus, imposed
upon the country by Republican lcgls-
lation and Republican policy, which is
every day prolonging and extending
the distress Of the country, forcing
shrinkage OF values, contracting the
circulation, paralyzing industry, pau
perizing labor, and throwing out of EN-
ployment thousands of honest labor
ers to hang upon the ragged edge al
destitution and despair.
Then, there are the frauds, iniIuitirs
and cOrruptionS unrarthed AMI brought
to light by the nine investigating COM
mittccs of the late House al Rrprrsen-
tativcs, and which form chapter oI
yiciuus and disgraceiul administration
without parallel in the history oi this
or OF any other free and enlightened
nation.
Then. there is the Southern recon
struction policy Of the Republican
party, with all its crucltics, opprrs-
| siOns and violations of constitutional
law, and particularly the recent orders
cmanating from the Departments oi
War and Justice, intended Ia establish
military terrorism and Ia invigoratr the
organizations oi the blacks in their per
sccutions oi those Oi their own rae"
who wish Ia get rid al carpct-bag mis-
rule and support the Democratic party
in their States.
Then again. there are the wasiriul
and cxtrayapant expenditures al th"
| National government, ranging from
$50 OOO, 40 10 SJ0,0OO,OOO a year bc-
yond just and economical admins
tration oi our ailairs; TIA" multiplied.
ton OF unnecessary offices ~ the m"r"
rewards of party service the prohlgair
advancement of salaries, and tls' r.ck
less squaudering oi hundreds of nil
lions Of the public domain Ia railroad
corporations.
Then again, there Is the United
States bond question, 10y which debt
created 10y the issue of paper AMI
originally payable in gold, silver, or
| legal currency, was, for the benefit ol
the bond-holders, and four years after
| the bonds were in their hands, made
payable exclusively in gold the bonds
| declared exempt from all taxation, and
our national debt, which mp Ia that
| time was domestic debt, converted
into foreign debt, by which We are
| A .f hnnIT.I
millions in gold 20 pay interest Ia our
foreign creditors, thus throwing an
almost insupcrable obstacle in the way
| Of that resumption Of spe,ic payment
which our opponents prDiess Ia hay"
- much at heart. ! regard this bond
question, when properly developed, ~
one Of the darkest pages in the history
Of the Republican party, and the facts
show incontcstibly that this Govern
ment, for the last eight years, has been
run exclusively in the interests Of the
bond.holder, and against the Interests
Of labor, of agriculture, oi manular-
tures and the mechanic arts, and oi the
great masses vi the community.
Now, gentlemen, each of thes" sub
jects, II properly presented, would ~
| itself occupy the time usually allowed
the speaker upon Occasions Oi Tins
kind. and these are the topics upon
which have heretofore spoken dnring
the present canvass.
DO not propO-e Ia touch, this even
ing. any IL those subjects, unless they
should incidentally fall within the
range Of my remarks; but i prOpO@e Ia
examine, and 80 far a. can To solve th.
inquiry, which Of the two great ma
tional parties now struggling Tor the
asrendancy in this nation, can be reli.1
upsn, il in power, 10 promote the cans"
of REPoRN and HOSE-r GOVERNMENT
There il one point, believe, npon
which the American people have reach
ed A fixed and unalterable conclusion,
and that il, that there must be REyoKN
! in the administration ~ our national
affairs. 80 enormous have been th.
expenditures Of public money; ~ in
tDlerable have become the burdens oi
taxation; ~ depressed are all the III.
dustries and energies Of the nation; ~
revolving 10 the pride of American citi.
zenship have been the exposures "i
those having the control of the Goy-
ernment-and ! sllude not merely Ia
| what have resulted from the last sessiOn
Of a Democratic House of kepres~nta-
tiyes. but th0se which have resulted in
prcyious Republican Congresses, such
a. the Credit MObilier scandals, the
Sanborn contracts, the infamous salary
qrab, the custom house aud Indian
agency frauds,-I say - thoroughly il
! the past and present condition ii this
administration understood, and ~ pro-
foundly impressed are the American
people that reform has become essen-
tial 10 the preservation of our free
institutions, that no party can decently
ask their sufierage at the approaching
Presidential election unless that party
be honestly aud truthfully pledged and
! committed 10 the canse Of retrench-
ment, economy, and pure adninistra-
tion Of public affairs.