The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-09-27
CROSSING SWORDS.
General Ewing and Stanley Mat
tAGVS on the Stump.
Gen. Ewing Has Much the Best Of
the Discussion.

OlbCubblOn OF Ewing anu MdVJuSMb III phN
City Park this afternoon was listened to
by crowd of $500, including many from
other points. The attendance was pretty
equally divided between the Democrats
and Republicans, also the enthusiasm
The crowd was respectful and attentive
throughout, though keptstanding for fully
three hours.
Senator Matthews seemed in bad hui
NOR, which perhaps can be attributed to
the shabby treatment he received at the
hands ofthe Republican Committee, He
arrived in the city and walked alone to
the Beckel House. The Committee had
made no arrangement to convey him to
the park, so Robert r. Dickey,a staunch
Democrat and one of the Vice Presidents
of the meeting, took him in his carriage
TO the park, and, at the close of the dis.
cussoD, General G. w. Houk, another
Democrat took bim in his carriage to the
depot. When he arrived at the hotel the
Senator was not received by the Repub-
lican Committee, and the first callers
were q party of four Democratic gentle
men.
1t is generally conceded here tonight
that General Ewing had decidedly the
best of the argument in the discussion,
and made fine impression; and it will
not be without good effect. The Repub-
licans of the better class admit that the
Senator did not come up to the standard
that they had expected, and that Cen
eral Ewing had much the best Of the dis
cussion.
General Ewing was introduced by Da-
Vid A. Houck, Democratic President OF
the meeting, who said that the gentlemen
who were to discuss the questions Of the
day we're of such character that the po-
sition of President of the meeting was
rather ornamental than useful, and there
was no use OF wasting time in prelimina-
ries further than had already been ar
ranged, and he would at once introduce
General Ewing, who would open the dis
cussion.
LGen. Ewing spoke for an hour, and
Mr. Matthews for an hour and half
Gen. Ewing then had half hour to close.
We have not space of course for the
speeches, but make some extracts from
Gen. Ewings half hour closing speech, as
of The discussion.
Reply Of General Ewing.
Gen. Ewing was received, upon his
coming forward to make his reply, with
loud applause, and cries Of "Give it to
him, Ewing" He said
FELLOW CIT1zENs-Th honorable gen,
tleman who followed me entirely mis-.
took my opinion as to the purity of all
Democrats, and the want of fidelity to
party interest ofall Republicans. Ispoke
only respecting the action of the party
which is dictated by party leaders, few
in numbers, and l have no word to take
back in Characterization of those meas
ures which those party leaders, as mere
instruments of the money power, have
lnaugurated in this country, to rob the
mass of the people, Democrats and Re.
publcans alike. Loud applause
Like Little Breeches," | amt no saint
because am Democrat, and my friend
was no saint when he was Democrat,
Iappause and laughter] even though he
showed his fidelity 10 the Southern
Democracy by acting as United States
District Attorney under Buchanan. in ex
ecuting the Fugitive Slave Law. [Great
laughter and applause have no doubt
that his tenderness for Democrats was
such that he did not serve as District At
torney without pay.
Now / am sorry to see my friend show
ing such intense feeling respecting lit
tie matter of political history, in respect
of which l want to give the facts to the
people, Instead of giving the facts, he
takes my statement as an arraignment of
his personal character, and pronounced
the statement, whoever is the author of
it, as lie. If did not state, certainly
intended to, and it seems to me that l
did, that it was an allegation that was
made--it is made in the public prints.
1t is made in the Columbus Herald, pub
lished by Mr.. Furay, who is the Repub-
lican candidate for State Senator in that
district. [Applause.] 1t is worthy, l can
tell him, of an answer instead of de-
nunCiation. did not state the facts of
that written obligation too strongly, if
the facts as stated in the Columbus Her.
aid are true. | repeat that it was after
the House had determined to respect the
action Of that Commission, which, l be-
lieye, will 60 down to history as infamous
instead of honorable. "ThaPs SOL" and
applause. 'r
reject Mr.. Joe Bradley whom be ex.
ats into an instrument of Providence.
[ Laughter.] Providence is reported to
be Interchangeable. 1t would hardly have
selected an istrument who was of the
opinion to-day when it would give the
pubiCans an Elector, that you might in
quire into the qualifications of an Elect
or, and of the opinion tomorrow, when
it would give the Democrats an .Elector,
that you could not inquire into such
qualification. Applause.
1t was when the infamous rulings of
that Commission had caused the Demo.
cratic party in the House to determine
not to revoluhonize, but, as said before,
to assert its inalienable constitutional
power to reject false and fraudulent re-
turns, that according to this statement in
the Herald, this written assurance was
given by the distinguished gentleman as
to what would be the action Of President
Hayes respecting the carpet-bag govern
mems if he became President, and on
the strength of that assurance the pur-
pose Of enough of the Democratic South
CAH nonuoAb WAS Cl1duSbuj Anu Lu0yt
acting on that assurance, allowed the de-
'cision of the Electoral Commission to
stand and, as said before, if this state
ment is true, then it would appear that
the Presidency was one object and bar
p gain extorted from the crushed and Grip
pied States of the South. II this state
ment, which Mr.. Matthews signed with
Charles Foster, was here, I would read it
from thestand. [Applause.] 2iI
Now, gentlemen, / wish to be under
stood. / do not impugn the fairness, the
honor and fidelity TO duty Of President
Hayes at all in that matter, or in any
other matter. lam proud Of his personal
character, as q Buckeye. He is my per-
sonal friend Nor do / impugn the con-
duct OF the gentleman in this matter, If
the exact statement, as made in the Co !