Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-29
GIBSON ON THE STUMP.
The Fourth District Congressman
Speaks
TO THE PEOPLE OF WRIT COUNTY.
A Ringing Araignment of the Party Of
Corruption and Fraud-Risdoings
of the u. S. MarshaI-The
Tariff Question.
Special 10 the ReQisteT.


ELIZABETH, WRIT COUNTY, W. Va, March
26.-This is The first day of the spring
term Of the Circuit Court of this county,
Hon. Jos. NJ. Jackson, presiding. And,
Notwithstanding the terrible condition Of
the roads, in consequence of the late flood,
this warm, pleasant weather brought out
quite large crowd Of people, including
members Of the bar from other places.
Among the citizens We noticed Hon. Eus.
tice Gibson, our member OF Congress, who
is here Tor pressing to to q trial, his suit
sgainst the late editor and proprietor Of the
Transcript, Cliff Wells, for libel.
Promptly at o'clock, Judge Jackson
took his seat upon the bench and proceeded
to business and they have way of dis
patching business here that is truly re
freshing. The Judges chargeto the Grand
Jury, was, although short, an admirable
presentation of their duties and the GRIM
inal laws of the State. There was upon the
criminal docket about fifty cases which
were all disposed of during the day, sew
eral OF them being tried by jury and about
a dozen confessions. W. f. Hall, Esq, the
Prosecuting Attorney is a remarkably
efficient officer and is the right man in the
right place, and is deserving of re-
election.
But
The Event Of the Day
was the speech of Congressman Gibson.
During the interval at noon there was a
general desire expressed to have him make
a speech, and upon solicitation, the Judge
cd n OF hnnF'S
purpose. At the ringing OF the bell, the
Court House was quickly filled, and VIM.
Beard, ESQ, called the meeting TO order
and introduced Mr.. Gibson, who commenc.
ed by saying he had DO expectation OF
making a speech, when he came here, but
being q Democrat he was always ready TO
give an account of his stewardship; that
although some persons might think 1t
rather early to discuss politics, but in his
opinion it wss at all time the duty OF any
American CT tizen to examine into the
workings OF our institutions and to scan
the actions Of men and the administration
of our public officers.
He then proceeded to review, in a very
lore e manner, the history and misdo-
ines Of the Republican party in connection
with corporations and monopoles
in grasping the public domains
and plundering the people. He
stated that the House OF Representa-
tiyes was busily engaged in preparing
measures Of relief for the people, but 1t
was uncertain whether the Republican
Senate would aid in enacting them into
laws or not. That the people might be
assured that the House would do all in its
power to secure a thorough reform in the
administration of the affairs OF the Govern
m.nt That already forty millions OF acres
of public land had been wrested from the
railroad monopOlists and secured to the
pt ople for homestesds, snd q. least hun
dred millions more would ultimately be
redeemed for the same purpose. Ihat
under the Republican rule nearly every
acre of valuable and productive land OF the
West had been gobblpd up by the railroad
cormorants and foreign capitalists and
nobility, co that il wns almost impossible
for q poor man to lind an acre he could
enter upon az homestead.
The Tariff Question.
lie next took up the tariff question, in
which he stated the position OF the Demo
cratic and Republican parties upon that
important subject. He stated that 1t was
not until the Republican party came into
low er that the doctrine OF protection for
protect on's sake was ever advocated by any
party in this country, but it is now the
avCwed policy Of that party that
the government should levy taxes
solely for the protection of certain monied
monopolisfs and consequently over one
hundred and thirty millions Of dollars than
is ecessary for the Legitimate expenses OF
the country, has annually been collected
frC m the people, under the guise OF the
tariff.
The expenses OF the government annual.
Ty amount to. over three hundred millions
OF dollars and if this is levied in Jndi.
citus manner it must necessarily afford
protection to any interest that may require
the fostering care OF the government. Ihe
Democratic party is neither for free trade
nCr protective tariff. 1t demands tariff
O laid as to provide for an economical
ad n, inistrstion of the government and
Which, while protecting labor shall not
io,ter monopolies. Any other sys-
tenn is calculated TO build up gigan.
;ic fortunes whereby certain favored
individuals may live in fine houses and
drive fast horses, while the great mass OF
the people toll through Lille in poverty and
want, and il the Republican system is per
uirred much longer to control the affairs
Of he nation, the people will soon be serfs
urVn their own farms.
A scathing Rebute 10 the Boss.
The speaker next took up the misman.
seement and corruption OF the DEPARTMENT
OF Ju tice, aud more particularly that OF /
the United States marshals, and told how
the whole country had been cursed with |
sysrms OF spies and informers, and how l
innocent farmers had been arrested and
bsndcuffed like the basest felon, simply TO |
Of BILE a few pet Office holders to pile up |
T. IS and plunder the public treasury. His
review OF the msdoings Of the L. 8. mar
shal for this State was scathing and was re- |
ceived with much applause.
Mr.. Gibson's time being limited be had
but few minutes to devote TO State poll |
tics. He, in a very plain and ssusfac;ory |
manner, explained thP re assessment bug
aboo, which the Republican leaders and
pspers were attempting to make SO
much capital out Of. He STATED that
the action Of the Governor Was in accord |
auce with the decision OF The supreme
Court.of Appeals AID he believed that u
would be sustained by the sober second |
thought OF the people Irrespective OF parry.
That recently some distinguished Repuoii-
can LAWYERS OF the city OF Wheeling, repre-
spptipg some large manufacturing comps
MES. had carefully examined into the
matter in the interest OF their clients, and
give IL as their opinion that the action OF
the Governor was in accordance with the
provisions OF the State Constitution. That
the difference among the Democrats IN re-
gard to the matter was family affair which
COulQ ana WOulu DC SclJlcu
selves without any assistance from othcious
Republicans. That il the Republican
leaders really wanted to belp. the people
LET them aid the Democrats In lessening the
burdenso taxes nog collected from them
under the pretext of protecting them.
That under Democratic rule in ten years
the bitter animosities and lawlessness
epRendered by the terrible civil war
bad been e1tiDguished and q spirit OF
Kindness and good feeling inaugurated
which had produced the most happy re,
suits. The public schools had prospered
ard every child in the State, white and
black, enjoyed their iHestimsbls blessings,
while the agricultural and manufacturing
interest had flourished in q manner unpar'
slieled in the history OF any State In the
Union.
In Con el .siea Mr.. Gibson Stated
that be had so far tried to discharge bis