Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-06-10
"REMINISCENCES OF ISIi.
Henry Clay and James G. Blaine-Their
Relation to their Parties-A SingulariCoinl
cidence Between Them.


Relation to their Parties-A singulariCoinl
cidenee Between Them.
To TIE Editor Of TIE Register.
Forty years ago, or 1874, was the most
memorable presidential campaign in the
history Of our government The great
American Statesman, and greatest living
orator,-the immOrtOl Clay, was nominated
for the presidency under precisely such cir
cumstances as James G. Blaine was at Chi
cago The Wing party idolized Mr. Clay.
just as the masses Of the Republican party
do Mr.. Blaine. Mr. Clay was a candidate
before the Wing conventions three times
$50, 1874, and 1913. Gen. Taylor beat
him in ls4S on the ground OF availability.
The Wings were wild with excitement and
enthusiasm over the nomination Of Mr..
Clay in 1874, Just as the Republicans are
now over the nomination of Mr.. Blaine.
The Wings hooted at the idea that any one
could beat Clay, Just as the Republicans do
now, that anyone can defeat Mr.. Blaine.
The issues, then. were the tariff and the
annexation of Texas. The Wings adyO-
Gated the tariff Of 1912 and were against
the annexation of Texas. The Democrats,
under the banner of James Knox Polk
their candidate for the Presidency, and
man almost unknown outside of his State,
(TenneSSee) were opposed 10 the high tar't
of lS42, and were in favor Of the anneNn
ton of Texas The campaign was long
and fearfulv hot and bitter one; none LIKE
it before and none since on the American
continent so tar as personal feeling en-
tered into the merits OF the campaign
Wing borbacues on a gigantic STALE wrr'
common in every county almost tarougd
out the United States. Speeches BY tn
hundred by such men rs PrentiSS To l.
Marshall, Tom COrwin, William {. Reer"
Of ' irginia. Daniel Webster William ~.
Seward and all the distinguished wings oil
rha, day contributed to inHame the public
feeling in the Wing ranks: but while the
Wings were thus active and aggressive in
their effort 10 elect Mr. Ciay, the Democrats
were not idle, though less demOuStrative In
their policy than the Wings The Demo
cratic papers hunted Mr. Clay down with
almost bloodhound Savagery and ferOcity.
He was pictorially exhibited in
the columns Of their papers
as a murderer duclliSt, a gambler aud
political hbertine 1t was nothing unusual
to SEE a portrait Of Mr. CLAY with coffin
sign. cross bones and deck of cards on the
bill at a country cross road. Personal feel
Ing between neighbOrs often led to serious
results and separated many men and tami-
lies. who had been life long friends before.
Aitcr the personal issues between the par
ties. the next and most important was the
annexation of Texas. The Wings dcnOunc.
eel it, while the Democrats on the other
hand, advocated it.
War with Mexico was thr ralIying CRY OF
the Wings, it we annexed Texas. but the
Democrats were not disturbed by The cry or
fears of war The annexation OF Texas
was their battle cry.
The election disappointed the Democrats
themselves, but differently from what it did
the over Sanguine wings.
Mr.. Polk Was elected over Mr. Clay. both
the great States of PENNSYLVANIA end New
York having voted for Mr. Polk; the first
BY some 1, 600 majority and he latter BY
some 5000.
We had no telegraph then, but one be
tween Baltimore aud Washington, and it
was many weeks before we knew certainly
WEIGH Oi tue LNb NhN tlctkths ~ NiOSC "oo
The vote in Pennsylvania and New York.
Lus closed one of thu hittcreS, hottest and
r,,s' diSgraccfnl campaigns in American
history. Mr.. Polk made an excellent Presi
i,nt, succeeding John Tyler, who was
made President by the death Of General
Harrison Mr. Biaine's friends will do well
to study the campaign and its candidates OF
lsN
The analogy between - aud II, is strik-
'ig and instructive The Plumed Knight
is doomed to defeat. Mr. Blaine viii never
le President Of the United States Mr
Lincoln was elected both terms, as a sec
tiOnal candidate, aud so have all his sue
CessOrs The scenes of 81 with the bloody
shirt aud seetionaliSm thrown in) will be re
enacted in 81. A great deal of personal
feeling viii enter and control the political
controversies Of this campaign. The war
paint will be visible on many a face before
the campaign closes, The campaign opens
hot, and it will intensity as it progresses,
\ There is music in the air.
"REMINISCENCES.