Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-05-17
LOCKER ON In VIENNA.
A Critical Analysis OF the Repub-
liean Convention by a Sharp
Observer .Archie's Fight
Against His COlOred Brother.
correspondence Of the Register.

Observer -Archie's Fight
Against His COlOred Brother.
Special correspondents of the Register.
WHEELING, May l4th, 1880.
Anticipating anything except instruc-
ton in the principles of craftsmanship,
/ looked in upon the Republican con-
vention while in session in the city. The
members were a respectable looking
body OF men, and would, from their
looks, have inspired the belief in strsn-
ger that they were intelligent as we'll 90
good looking, but for the fact that they
would talk.
Was the convention harmOniousp Ii
the great Milton were in life and would
attempt another description OF pande-
monium, he could not describe il in
more graphic language than to say, ut
equals the Wheeling Republican State
Convention"
Enthusiasm? Yes, as enthusiastic as
the devils, who, in their dire extremity,
accuse each other of the grossest diabol-
ism.
Let tie "Martinsville Convention"
never be mentioned again. 1t has been
so lar eclipsed, IL has lost its power as q
synonym for confusion. But did not
the members eylnce much patriotism?
That depends upon what you mean by
the word. In "ranical" sense, they
did. If by patriotism you mean the
most sordid selfishness; intense greed
Tor office, with no scruples as
to the means Of success; viliication OF
better and purer men than themselves,
the lowest and basest order OF trickery
and demagOgueTy, then were they
indeed patriots.
This does not by any means apply TO
all the members OF the Convention, for
there were good men there, but they
were as pOwerless as the early Chris
tians in the hands OF the murderOus
mob. Governor Stevenson pleaded in
vain for moderation and fairness His
words to them were like idle tales, and
they were as UNDECIDED as the words OF
the ma tyr Stephen. Ii Is quite evident
that there is but one bond Of union in
the Republican party. 1t is held to-
gether by the cohesive power OF public
plumber. Take away the spoils OF office,
and the great party ofmoral idea" would
cease to exist. This is strong language
| know, but is 1t not the truth? Let us
see. Who in the main composed the
convention? The friends OF Grant,
Blaine and Sherman. Why the friends
OF these men, and why do they want
either OF them to fill the seat once filled
by honest men, statesmen and patriots?
Who is Grant? A butcher, with i'm
perlaliStic tendencies. An individual
who has been at public expense shown
to the mOnarChs oil the old world, and
seemed much more To enjoy the splen-
doris of the throne than the slmp lefty
of democracy. A man who has shielded
criminals, wInked at their cTiminality,
in plundering the public treasury, and
who, after they have been convicted,
has pardOned them. Whose chief
recommendation is that ''he stick
To his friends, which means that the
man who helps him into office, he will
place IN position without regard TO the
good of the county, the mans honesty or
his fitness Tor the place A man who
seems To think that the Union is his by
right OF purchase and he proposes to use
it as II pleases him.
Who IL Blaine? A Pennsylvania
blatherskite and demagOgue OF the first
water, with some briliancy OF speech
aud personal magma ism, but without a
shadow OF claim To- craftsmanship, and
still less any honesty. \ man who Tor
his own personal emolument prOstituted
his position as Speaker at the House 10
have passed hill that would plumber
the public Treasury by company, special
privileges or a monopoly.
Who is Sherman? \ man who by
means OF public office, has leaped from
comparative poverty To gigantic wealth
A man who grinds the lace OF the poor;
who breaches honesty, but Is supposed
not To practice It. \ mdn who inCulCates
civil service reform, ia speech, Vet who
in practice Is prOstlluuug his high Office
10 elevate him II possible tn II mure
exasrd one; whose hired emissares,
paid 'rlm the federal treasury, are pack
ing State conventions in his interest
These men every one OF whom is black
cued and stained in his public lite, are
the men who excited So much interest
among the members of the Convention.
An honest statesman like Edmunds had
no following there. The motely crowd
Of Office seekers know full well
that such as they would not be pre-
sented 10y such statesman. Now, they
are opposed To him, and are in favor OF
those who will pay them for nominating
and electing him.
The Blaine men had the ascendency,
and they applied the gag without mercy,
aud stopped every voice that was against
their iavorite. They even went so far
as to disregard the manifest right OF the
Congressional districts TO name the dis
trict delegates, hut bound them To vote
for their iayorite But this is consistent
Repubicanism. Ii Is Capitalization OF
power, an affirmation OF the doctrine that
the House represents the people and
senate the sovereignty Of the States.
The Convention wound up in fine
gladItOrial contest between Archie
Campbell aud an African from the jun
giles of the Third "dcestriCt' Ohio
county Republicans preferred the mig
ger" hut the denilens OF the said dee
strict cOmpelled them 10 take Archie.