Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-03
GIBSON's LECTURE.
A EulI Resume.

This distinguished gentleman made
his first appearance before Wheeling
audience at Washington Hall, last even
ing. He is apparently about 90 years
of age. above medium height and can
hardly fail TO attract attention in crowd
from his striking appearance and eccen-
trio peculiarities. For years the Cen
eral has been prominent man in Ohio
political circles, and at one time was
State Treasurer, an office Of which he
doubtless entertains no pleasant recol-
lections, owing to the alleged miscon-
duct or rascality OF one OF his clerks or
deputies.
The General, however, is not so
famous for the offices he has filled, as
he is for the eloquence which has made
his name as a stump speaker house
hold world throughout the hills and val
levs of Ohio. During the last exciting
political campaign across the river Glib.
son was beyond peradventure, the
Aaron OF a conflict in which Calico
Charles Foster figured as the Moses, and
when the failing voice and weakening
lungs OF Calico Charley warned his audi
ence that his oratory was losing It's
vitality, there was Gibson with glowing
imaginary and eloquent tongue always
ready TO repair the breaches, spring into
the arena and bring down the
house with the laundering accla-
nations and loud acclaims OF
the listenings and appreciative
Radical Republican hosts. Gibson's elo.-
uuence was taking, was persuasive and
effective beyond all precedent. II tins
were not the truth, we should be de-
priyed of any reasonable explanation as
to the WHY'S and wherefOres OF Fosters
election, and We earnestly believe that
in the great hereafter, when the beOple
of Ohio are called upon to plead to an
indictment of which the burden is that
more of them voted for calico than Tor
the warrior, that they Will assign as the
only plausible, quasi-decent excuse Tor
their misbehavior in that behalf, the
persuasive, delusive, honey-combed,
fascinating and artiul tongue OF that
verbal artlst-General Bill Gibson.
last fall General Gibson spoke TO n
large audience of the faithful at Bridge
port. and excited great enthusiasm III
the hearts of the brethren. To this Tact
the Hon. A. w. Campbell attributes the
overwhelming and surprising increase
in the Republican vote in Pease town
shin at the last election, though we be-
lieVe that Postmaster Todd has an ldea
that his ample and llerculean shoulders
can sustain a large part OF that delight
full and refreshing burden.
At any rate rumor OF the General's
unusual and attractive eloquence
reached this city, and it occurred to the
enterprising in religious circles that 1t
might draw in a profitable way, and
Gibson, who, to do him justice, has
heart which is as charitable as his tongue
is artistic in word-painting, in response
to an invitation came TO the city TO de
liver his lecture "AlOng the Lines" Tor
the benefit of the congregation OF the
Disciples Church.
He was introduced TO his audience by
Hon. A. w. Campbell, and ut once
plunged into his subject. In the course
of his first half hour he thoroughly dem
Onstrated that surprising reputation
rs stump orator may be radically lost
when a speaker ventures into the lee
ture field and brings before a cultivated
and rejecting audience the dictlon and
immethodical arrangement acquired IN
that kind of speaking. We have no
doubt that General Gibson is iasclnat-
ing stump orator, but we do not hesitate
10 say, when we consider his brilliant
reputation, that as a lecturer he is dis
appointment; nay, worse, Il failure.
His lecture was simply narrative OF
the battles of the war. Ii was as nm
partial narrative as was ever written
or spoken. 1t was eminently Just to
the heroes OF both sides. Its spirit was
excellent throughout save at the be-
ginning, when he seemed inclined 10
dish up few of the doctrines OF his
own party. When we have spoken
thus we have said all that can well be
said in favor of the matter OF his address.
His mistakes of facts were numerous.
He killed StOnewall Jackson week or
ten days too early. lie sent Lee across
the Potomac after Antietam one day
before the General started. His gram
mar was such as would ensure a school
boy trashng and his method OF build
ing sentence was striklngly novel,
while his pronunciation would not be
considered edilying in Boston high
school. His peculiar sounding OF
such words as prairie, menace, menaclng,
climb and numerous others was
brilliantly original and delightfully."-
soothing to the ears OF iastidiOus as
sembly. Repetitions were the order OF
the evening, both in ideas and in words.
The Generals love for such words as
"thundering, routed" and crashing"
was illustrated by calling each of them
at the least one hundred times into his
discourse. His imagery was 50 deci-
dedly the speakers own that a diligent
search would fail to discover any SINH
laritv between it and that to which
well-read people have been accustomed.
His figures of speech were startling and
might well be considered as distiguring.
He INDUCED in several eloquent flights,
notably his eulogy upon Stone
wall Jackson and his description
of the assassination of Lincoln, but these
were sadly marred by lack of neatness
in language and want of that that lit
erary finish which we never miss in the
cultivated platform elOquence of Wen
dell Phillips, a BeeCher and an Ingersoll.
In short, the lecture was simply
brieting of what may be found in any
ordinarily well written history of the
war. 1t was an hour too long. The
General has fine manner and good
voice, and will long entertain political
audiences, but should not venture again
into the lecture world.
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