The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-09-20
REsr L.RERrI.

Democratic Meeting Last FrIday-Coi.
Ben and Joe Woods Address n Very
select AudIence-Not n Cheer nj the
Close.
WEST LIBERTY, W. Va, September II.
Editor InielIIgsncer.
The unterrified Democracy held meet
ing here at 9 o'clock P. N, and as they had
blazing posters all over the county, an.
nounciug that the Hon. Ben Wilson and
the Hon. ], j. Woods would address the
meeting, we, of course, expected to see an
immense audience present. But we were
doomed to disappointment, and were
forced to conclude from the complexion
and size Of the audience that Democracy
here is on the wane, and that Wilson stock
is below par; for the entire number pres
emit consisted Of thirty Democratic voters,
twenty.one Republicans, two Greenback-
ers, ten boys and FIVE ladies. This in
cluded the speakers and also Lew jordan,
Thomas O'Brien and Frank Walters. Col.
Ben was introduced TO this iNlneIiSe audi.
ence by Mr.. VIM. Caldwell, member OF
the Democratic Executive Committee, who
appointed S. S. Jacob chairman. Ashley
had no use for Secretary mot desiring
the proceedings Of the meeting published)
there was no one appointed.
Col. Ben led of in his usual style; but 1t
was very evident that the ANAL number
before him convinced him that his name
was not q power in this community to call
out tho people, and that his star was
wayering. He knew that the people
here had.some knowledge Of his record IN
Congress, and OF the charge that Mr..
Hutchinson had made sgainst him OF dodg-
ing important votes, and he labored very
zeslously to show that all Congressman
failed TO vote on many occasions: de
charged the Republican party With being
responsible for the money panic OF 1873,
with filling the country with tranps,
thieves and yagaboDds thereby, and said
that the Democratic party, by their wise
legislation in Congress, had redeemed the
country and reformed this grand army OF
tramps, and that the Republican party was
not entitled to any credit for the prosper.
GUS times We now enjoy, but that Provi'
dence had blessed this country with
good crops, which was the cause Of our
prosperity. He also informed the audi
ence OF the number OF bills in Con-
gress on which he had voted yea and Gen.
Garfield had voted no, but he did not tell
them that he did not vote for or against
the Ordinance OF Secession in the Virginia
Convention, or whether he had lodged
that vote or not. He.also gave us Ions
list OF men who had formerly been proml'
nent Repu. blicans who had severed theil
connection with the Republican party and
come over to the Democracy, but in thai
number he failed to present the name Of
General Butler, or say any thing in re-
ference to his speech in Faueuil Hall
which the Wheeling Register is printing
and sending out as supplements by the
thousand over the country. The Demo
cratic party should give General Butler q
hearty welcome. He left their party
twenty years ago and no man in the couu'
try received more abuse from the Demo
cratic party than did Butler. But he il
now Democrat once more, and, OF course
Colonel Ben, the Register man and the
Democratic party will not accuse him OIL
stealing spoons at New Orleans.
Wilson made a fair bid for the Green
back vote by trying TO make 1t appear
that the Democratic party had done
more in Congress toward carrying out the
PRINCIPLES oil the Greenbackers than they
were able to do themselves. No doubt
he thought this would be tafy for that
party, but they are not to be caught In
that trap. Several gentlemen present who
had heard Col. Ben on former occasions
thought 1t was the poorest effort they had
ever heard Kim make; but no doubt the
yery small audience told heavily upon
him, and thus he failed entirely to enthuse
them. The only attempt that was made
at cheer was when he told the audience
his famous anecdote of the FrenchmRn
who went into the jungles Of Africa 10
hunt alton, butthe cheer was very feeble.
At the close OF his speech he informed
us that we would be enlightened. on the
Issues OF the day by the Hon. ]. ]. Woods,
State Senator, who Is a promising young
lawyer OF Wheeling. Col. Ben spoke Of
him in such glowing terms as an orator
that We expected TO hear something pro.
found and eloquentfrnm him. The Colonel
said that the young Senator was as pretty
as q moCkinH.bird or a picture book; IN
fact very handsome. We had no idea at
the time that the Col. was speaking ironic'
ally, but when the Senator got up We saw
the point. We admire our young Senator
very much, but in all caudor think he has
miesed his calling when taking to the
stump. At least he appeared very much
out OF his element on this occasion. His
argument as well as his voice was very
weak, and we would advise him to drop
politics and stick 10 law or study Theoi.
ogy. He stated that the Democrat.
ic party wanted 10 do away with
all hatred, envy and malice hetween the
North and the South, but the Republican
party used every effort to keep up tie
strife, and without this the Republican
party had nothing 10 speak oil. He also
told us that President Hayes had not been
elected by the people, but s, ]. Tilden had
and that Hayes had been seated by fraud
and the corruption Of the Returning Board
and that he had rewarded all OF them by
giving them office but one; and that one
was Garfield, (the Senator did not tell Us
so, but we feel confident the American
people will reward him In November by
eleCtipg him President.) Here the Sena.
tor produced any amount OF statistics, that
he must have gathered from Vinegar
Biiters" almanac, which he read 10 his not
very attentive audience.
At the conclusion OF his speech be was
presented with button.hole bouquet d..
Iecled to the gentleman who had voice
like hooking bird, and knew that Hayes
was not elected. The meeting closed