Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-07-31
GEN. j. B. WEAVER.
The Campaign Opened I'm
West Virginia.

back candidate for the Presidency,
addressed large meeting of our
citizens in the public square On the
Goth inst. Prominent on the stand
were Messrs. John t. Janney, III.
Thomas, John Farrin, G. Schel-
key, S. Lafevre, and other men,
bers of the party. The speaker
was introduced by Hon. B. M.
Kitchen, and we give below sym
opsis Of his speech, regrettirg that
want of space prevents our giving
it in full, as We have full aud
accurate report.
Mr.. Weaver said:
He trembled in the presence of
prejudice, and besought all to dis
miss it from their minds forget
for awhile party diffarences-recol-
lect only that we are citizr ns of
one common country, and that
what was good for one was good
for all living under one common
flag and moving to the same COM
mon destiny.
We did not live in a country
where it was believed that some
were born common people and
some with boots and spurs on. He
drew contrast between England
life and ours, between aristocratic
rule and democratic government,
and showed that the power to is
sue money was in England vested
Bank of England and that in our
country thesame power was vested
in the national banks in violence
to the spirit of the constitution,
Congress alone having that power,
and that the people we're thus
placed entirely at the mercy of the
monied power, who could con-
tract or initiate at will.
He showed that the financial
system of England and ours were
Identical. both placed on a public
debt, both paying interest, both
framed in the interest of the
wealthy classes, who did not want
the bonds paid but preferred their
remaining just as they are as long
rs they can get interest and prin-
cipal in gold and pay no taxes.
Banks and railroads were the
country's rulers. Mr.. Gladstone's
boast that England had caus-
ed all English speaking nations to
adopt the English system of f.
nance was true. Aristocratic Eng
land and democratic America were
governed by the same financial
policy.
He reviewed the acts of the
Congress of June Goth,
1874, and of January IA, 1875, and
declared them oppressive to the
people and in the interest of
wealth alone.
He condemned in severe terms
the decentralization of silver and
the virtual defeat of the Bland
silver bill, and arraigned the Dem
ocratic party for cowardice in not
resisting a Republican Senate in
their efforts to nullify it, and de-
clared that while the Democratic
party proclaimed themselves
Greenbackers, they always landed
at a hard money depot, and he ad-
vised all who had the interest of
the people at heart 20 change cars,
for with Bayard as conductor the
train would always run into the
same depot.
Both parties seeing the nee, q ity
of carrying New York built their
platforms 10 suit Wall street and
acceded to its demand.
He did not desire to flood the
country; he wanted gold silver
and paper, and enough. France
had $4S per capita, England $32;
we had only $l4. He wanted to
set the wheels of industry hum
ming to pay off bonds and stop in
terest. Mr.. Blaine's claim that the
interest did not add a feathers
weight to the burdens of the peo-
ule was foolish. To pay one hum
dred millions and not be hurt was
absurd.
He declared the formation of a
new party, and that within its
lines no bloody shirt would wave;
the blue and gray were united and
peace. happiness and a prosperous
country would be the result of the
reunion.
We have given synopsis mere
ly. The speech was we'll delivered,
temperate in tone aud expression,
was well received, and no doubt
made sound impression on the
audience.
Gen. Weaver Is a fine-looking
man OF middle age and agreeable
presence.
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