The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-09-21
CAMPAIGN DRIFT.
COL. BEN WILSON AT RIrCHIErOwN
LAST NIGHT.
A Much Better Meeting than speech
John o. PendIeton FOlIoWs-Gon.
eraI Intelligence from the Club
Rooms and wlEWams-
Meetings Tonight

Wilson spoke to the citizens Of the Eighth
ward last night from stand erected on
a vacant lot west OF Jacob street. The
stsnd was very neatly decorated with flags
and lanterns, and the turnout must Ger.
tainly be considered flattering TO the
Colonel, considering the inClemency ofthe
atmosphere, the dampness OF the ground,
and the local character OF the assembly.
A very good audience, In size, was pres.
ept, and all were reasonably attentive.
The speaker did not add lustre TO his
fame by his effort on the occasion, but he
was evidently laboring under the disad.
yantaRes OF hoarseness and WEAKNESS,
from long.continued speaking out Of doors.
After referring TO the anxiety OF the
people 10 hear the issues Of the campaign
discussed, as evidenced by the large atten
dance here and at other meetings, he
launched out on a discussion Of the vari-
GUS germaine issues, taking for his text
list OF questions Furnished" him by
some one. One was, "What caused the
bard times OF 1872" In reply to this he
explained that in the spring Of 1873 there
was a large volume Of money in circula.
ton, labor was getting its proper reward,
cereals were commanding high prices, and
ageneTal good time WAS prevailing. "But
10 six months there was change, and a
condition the reverse Of what have pOr-
trayed existed. What was the cause OF it?
It was all attributable to the legislation Of
the Radical party"
They demonetized and destroyed the
silver dollar, and they passed the Resump.
ton act. An alliterative and alphabet
cal list was given Of the evils and woes
that must have followed in the wake OF
this legislation, had not the Democracy
come into power in the opportune mo.
ment, and, with the assistance OF Provi.
dence, brought about better state OF al.
fairs. One, clause OF the Resumption bill
provided that as the greenbacks were 10.
deemed in gold they should be destroyed.
This provision was repealed by the Demo.
Gratis, thus keeping in circulation the Gov.
eminent notes. They also remOnetized
silver. These measures made up the share
Of the Democracy in securing prosperity
for the country. Providence gave us good
crops at q period oil poor crops in Eu.
rope. Had it not been for all these things
Counteracting the policy Of the Republi:
can party, we today would be beggared
and starving nation.
The Colonel next referred to the charges
made against him OF having advocated one
side OF question at one place in the dis
trict and another elsewhere. 81 believe,
my friends, there have been more lies to
the square inch told about me in this
campaign than any other man on the
lace Of the globe" [Laughter.l He EN-
lphatiCally denied the truth OF any such
statement, and denounced any person
making it in round and emphatic terms.
His main point was in regard 10 the
"tarifI for revenue only" plank OF the
Democratic platform. He explained that
be did not frame the platform, but his con-
Ception OF the expression referred to was
that 1t did not mean a tariff for no purpose
but the raising Of revenue; but, no other
means than tariff for collecting Govern
ment revenues This idea he expanded
at some length. He explained that rev.
enue must be raised in one OF two ways
either by tariff, or by direct taxation and
that the latter method would necessarily
be cumbrous, costly, and altogether im'
practicable. Therefore the plank in the
platform.
In closing he paid neat little tribute to
Hancock, saying the Democracy would
elect MIN, and by the blessing OF God and
the activity OF the Democratic party he
would be inaugurated. He also said that
In its decadence the old Wing party
reached out its arms and leaned for sup.
mort upon the "Know. Nothing" Society,
and drew fancied parallel to this in the
present situation Of Republicanism. which
lie said was leaning heavily on the Green
hackers organization.
AT the conclusion Of his remarks he was
greeted with applause, which was also
literally, II not discriminatory, bestowed
throughout. A massive and elegant
pyramid bouquet was presented to him
by the President OF the Hancock aud
English Cadets.
John o. Pendleton followed Col. Wilson
10 brief speech in characteristic strain.
The meeting owed much Of It's attraction
10 the melodious airs Of Josie Kramer's
band, which can make almost any event
indurable.
THE LA BELLE STREET ILLUMINATION.
In our report Of yesterday We very I'M.