Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-11

s. C. BURDErr,
+. CAwrHoRS,
JAS. Z. WINrZ,
JACOB COOPER,
J. g. BoGGEsS.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, April 4th, 1888.
Ncssrs $. c. Burdett j. P. Wint:, +. Cqw-
thorn, j. Cooper and j. g. BOggeSs:
GENrLENES:-I have your favor OF March !
30th. IL affords me great pleasure to COM
ply with the request therein contained.
Ii will be remembered that in common
with yourselves, opposed the Democracy
in the can paigns to which you refer, on
certain grounds, viz: The unsatisfactory
position of that party upon the currency
question, and the alleged abuses in its
methods OF making nominations.
n Questions OF Finance
were still uppermost and controlling in the
politics OF the country, or if there were
manifest on the part OF the Democratic
party no disposition to revise and correct
its methods, there would be no course left
for you and me save that which We have
heretofore pursued.
But whether with our aid or without it,
because of the agitation in which we en-
gagged, or in spite of it, the course OF events
has excluded the money question from the
field of practical politics. The legal ten
ders, now receivable for duties on imports,
have been made PermaIn,
country. Silver has been remonetized
public debt has been refunded at a large
reduction in the rate of interest, and in
direct method of taxing the bonds which
represent that debt. The volume of cur
rency in circulation, greater than ever be-
fore, is sufficient to protect the wages OF
labor and the value of its products against
artificial contraction. Every result for
| which we contended had been realized,
| save the single point that the right TO issue
paper money has not been taken from the
banks and retored to the government.
The National Banks,
however, have been re-chartered, and until
their charters expire, those who advocate
the issue Of paper money by the Govern
ment alone cannot hope for practical re-
suits. Without abandoning my views on
that question, | am content TO leave its
continued agitation to those who have the
youth, hope and patience to wait half
lifetime for possible opportunity to reach
the public ear.
The impression that in the councils of
the dominant party in the State, the rights
of the masses have been subordinated TO
the purposes of few, has formed with
| many persons a ground of objection 10 con-
timed, unquestiOning cooperation with
the Democracy. But the right OF objection
involves, to a certain extent, the duty OF
approval when the causes OF complaint are
removed. | submit that the convention
which nominated Mr.. Snyder was a fairly
tatiye of the masses from
whose midst it came. 1t was
No Mere ConcIave
- l.. 4 ~ =.
To proclaim and ratify predetermined re-
suits, but it was a free and fair convention
of solid, substantial. intelligent men, the
equal of any ever assembled in the State
In my Judgment that convention, by its
fairly representative character, the har-
mopy of its deliberations and the wisdom
of its choice, especially when these are con-
trasted with the remarkable proceedings OF
a later party convention OF another party,
has won the admiration and will receive
the approval of many persons who have
not always voted the Democratic ticket.
The Democratic party being largely in the
ascendant in the distrlct-able almost
TO compel success, without reference to the
candidate or the mode of his selection-owed
il TO the people to present an acceptable
man in an acceptable manner. 1t is but
fair 10 say that in the nomination of c. p
SNYDER, that obligation has been faithfully
met; and that those who might have with
held their support of an unfair nomina-
tion, will respond with a heartiness that
ought TO encourage future conventions in
doing the right thing in the right way.
To those who are familiar with our dis
trict, it can scarcely appear that at this
juncture there is any occasion for
Partisan Controversy i
for les own sake alone. The temper of the
people is adverse to the disturbance and
excitement of a bitter campaign. The
great aud growing interests of the dis
trict demand repose. Our people are &C
lively and prosperously engaged in the
varied pursuits for which a kindly Provi-
dence has furnished here the material and
the field. Labor is well employed and we'll
rewarded. Enterprises for the develop
ment of our diversified resources are spring.
ing up on every side. A market better
than our farmers have known before,
is brought home to their doors. The hand
of the builder is everywhere busy. The
| wilderness Of yesterday yields to the min
| ing hamlet of to-day, to become in turn
the town or city of the morrow. Public
| and private capital is finding investment
in our midst, improving natural channels
OF commerce, building railroads, erecting
furnaces, opening mines or gathering the
yield of our splendid forests for the build
ing and beautifying of countless distant
pering and every class is contented,
Isee no Reason
for asking The people to turn aside from
the cheerful riyalries of their industrial
and commercial activity TO psrtake Of the
bitterness and excitement and outcry of a
contest, whose result is foreordained and
fixed beyond the changing power of cam
paign eloquence, art or influence.
Had the convention nominated q man
whose election could have put in peril the
future of our district as involved in the
tariff question, then indeed an opposition
not only fierce but formidable, might have
been arrayed against him. For years we
have given to the world the facts, the fig
ures, the statistics and the mans to verify
our claim to the possession of valuable re
sources in iron, coal, salt and timber
Upon these, and especially upon our cOal
and timber depend our present prosperity,
and
Our FIXTURE Growth.
The timber regions drained by the Green.
brier, Elk, Big Sandy, Coal and Guyandotte
rivers would all be iniurioasly affected by |
free trade IN Canadian lumber. The coking |
Goals of the Gauley, New river and Flat |
Top regions, the ores of'Pocahontas, Green |
brier and Monroe, and the gas and steam |
Goals Of our own Kanawhs would lose their !
value with the admission of foreign ores |
and fuels duty free. The people identified \
with these great interests fully understand |
this danger.
But few days ago the first shipment of /
coal over the New River division of the |
Norfolk and Western Railroad, was made
from the border OF Mercer county to the
board. Ii was an event in the history OF |
the Virginias, deemed worthy to be rejoiced |
over at home and csbled abrsad. It marked
another step in the material and political
progress of the South. When the people
of the venerable city of Norfolk Assem- hiad