The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-10-29
Four Thousand Enthusiastic citi.
zens Extend Hearty Greetings,
And Mr.. Tilden Delivers a Long and
oarefuIIy.Prepared Speech.
The Rape Of the Presidency Bitter.
Iy Denounced end a Solemn
Oath Duly Registered.


fusely scattered about the nelghborhood
attracted a crowd Of some 5000 or 4,0Ot
persons. In addition to the members o
the Yong Mems Club, committee o
gentlemen Of the Manhattan Club also
attended the Berenade and reception il
Governor Tilden's parlor, which preceded
the main event Of the evening, viz, the
speech.
About lhali-past nine the crowd out
side had swelled to the requisite dimen
siOns, and had begun also to grow i'm
patient, shouting with vast strength O.
lungs Tor the appearance Of Gov. Tilden
That gentleman came out and took hii
position on the broad, stone guard to the
dOor-steps.
Immense cheering and cries OF "thret
cheers for President Tilden!" greeted hi,
appearance, and continued some minutes
Mr.. Tilden, when the noise had subsided
began his speech. He opened in low
tone and with little animation, but when
he reached the subject Of his personal
grievances Lis voice sometimes rose al
most to shout, aud his manner became
very animated. Speaking OF the present
Stale election, Mr.. Tilden said
The election, although for State Off.
GERS, has relations to national politics, tG
which ! know you will expect me to al.
lude. The condemnation by the people
Otthe greatest political crime In our his
tory, by which the result OF the Presiden.
tiAl election OF 1876 was set aside and re.
versed, il general and overwhelming
Her sister States might afford 10 have The
voice Of New York frit,ered away, or iti
expression deferred. 1t could not change
history. Itcould not alter the universal
judgment Of the civilized world. 1t could
not avert the moral retribution that is
pending. But New York herself cannot
afford 10 have her voice unheard.
A voice, ats been heard" Another
vOice, ave know you got robbed"
Mr.. Tilden-I did not get robbed; the
people got robbed. Great cheering.
The Declaration Of Independence, The
Bill Of Rights, the State Constitutions, all
contain assertions Of the right OF the peo
pie to govern themselves, and to change
their rulers at will. These declarations
have ceased TO have any meaning to the
American mind. They seemed truism
which there was nobody to dispute. The
contests known to US were contests be-
tween different portions OF our people
To comprehend the Significance of these
declarations it is necessary TO carry our
selves back TO the example OF human ex
perienCe, in view Of which our ancestors
acted. They had seen the governmental
machine and small governmental class
sometimes with the aid Of the army, able
10 rule arbitrarily over millions Of un-
organized, isolated atoms OF human socie
".
In forming the Government Of the
United States they endeayored to take
every precaution against The recurrence
Of suCn evils in this country. They KEEP
down the standing army to nomina
amount. They intended to limit thI
functions Of the Federal Government &C
as to prevent the growth to dangerous di
nensions OF an office holding class and O.
corrupt influences. They preserved The
State Governments as counterpoise, L
act as centers Of opinion, and as organ
lied means OF resistance 10 revolutionary
usurpation by the Federal Government
Jefferson, the leader Of liberal opinion, il
his first inaugural recognized the theory
Hamilton, the representative Of the ex
treme conservative sentiment in the Fed
eralist expounded with elaborate argu
ments; the father ot the constitution en-
forced these conclusions.
A Voice-"There were no Returning
Boards then." Mr.. Tilden (excitedly)-
No; there were no Returning Boards il
those days. The people elected theil
own officers, and there were no Returning
Boards Of Florida and Louisiana
[Cheering, and cry, "Go for 'em again"
The increase Of power Of the Federal
Government during the last twenty years
the creation Of avast oliice-holding clasl
with its numerous dependents, and thI
growth Of the means Of corrupt influence
have we'll nigh destroyed the balance o
our complex system. II was my iudg
ment in 1876 that public opinion demand
ing change Of administration needed L
embrace two.thirds Of the people at thu
beginning OF the canvass 10 order TO cas-
majority Of the votes at the election. l
this tendency is not arrested, its ineyita
bic result will be the practical destruction
Of our system. Let the Federal Govern
ment grasp power over the great corpora
tions Of our country, and acquire th,
means OF addressing their interests ant
their fears-let it take jurisdiction o
riots, which it is the duty OF the State L
thppress-let it find pretexts for increas
ing the army-and soon those in posses
sion OF the Government will have poWe
with which no opposition can successful,
compete.
In the canvass OF 1876, the Fedora
Government embarked in the contes
with unscrupulous activity. A membe
CT the Cabinet was the head OF the parti
san Committee. Agents stood at the doc
Of the pay Offices to exact contribution
from official subordinates. The who'll
oifce.holding class were made to exhaus
their power. Even the army, for the frs
time, 10 the disgust Of the soldiers AMI
many Of the officers, was moved abou
the country as an electiOneering instru
ment,
Here Mr.. Tilden, departing from hi
prepared speech, shouted out: .And her
let me say, fellow.citizens, that l for on
am undoubtedly opposed 10 any increas,
Of the army. I will never consent to it
never, no, never, neVerp
Mr.. Tildea continued: "Ali this wa
done under the eye Of the beneficiary o
it, who was making the air vocal viii
professions Of Civil Service reform. Il
began after be had himself exhausted al
the immoral advantages OF Civil Seryic
abuses. Public opinion in some State
was overborne by corrupt influences an,
by fraud. But 40 strong was the desir
for reform that the Democratic candidate
received 4,S00, 900 sufirages. This was
majority Of the popular vote Of abou
100000, and 1850 900 Of the white citi
zens. The step from an extreme deere
OF corrupt abuses in the elections 10
subyersion Of the elective system itself |
natural. No sooner was the election owe
than the whole power Of the otice.holdin
class, led by u Cabinet Minister, was ex
erted to procure, and did procure, fron
the State Canyassera Of two States illeea
or fraudulent certificates, which wer
made q ptelext for 4 false count Of Ii