West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-08-06

this liquor question.
And then there was third con.
tingent in the conflict, contending
as did Bro. White, for
FREE SPEECH AND FAIR PLAY.
Mr.. Hubbard of Ohio, Mr.. Camp.
bell of Hancock and others spoke
forcibly in this behalf.
But it was manifest from the
outset that the Home was not to
have an even chance with the sa-
loon in this Convention if the com.
bined resources of the liquor oil.
garchy could prevent it. And so
with cat-calls and Misses, with A.
nesse and trickery in misleading
the delegates, under the bowling Of
the rahble, and the pressure of the
previous question, the motion to
re-commit was voted down.
ONCE MORE INTO THE BREACH.
The motion to recommit being
lost, Mr. Merrick again got the
floor and renewed his motion to
amend the report by adding his res.
olution, declaring in favor of the
submission of the Amendment to a
vote of the people.
The point Of order was again
raised that the resolution must be
referred without debate, but this
time, amid much wrangling and
confusion, it was shown to the
Chair that the action of the Con.
vention during its temporary or.
ganization, was superseded by its
subsequent adoption of the rules Of
the Legislature, which contained
no requirement that resolutions
should be referred without debate.
The Chair, whose purpose was to
rule fairly throughout, rightly
overruled the point of order, and
Mr.. Merrick endeavored to address.
the Convention, and was proceed
ing to give the party of "great NOR
al ideas" some wholesome political
gospel truths; but nothing short of
a cyclone of eloquence could have
made Roadway against the saloon.
rabble that were determined to
howl out OF the Convention the
right of the people to be heard at
the polls.
ARRAIGNED FOR CowARDICE.
1t was during this last struggle
that Gov. Boreman administered
his most scathing rebuke to the
Convention for its cowardice in re-
fusing to face great moral and
political issue. He assured them
that this great question would not
down at their bidding.
He was unwilling chat the Re-
publican party should say it was
afraid to trust the people with the
ballot. If the parties of to-day are
too cowardly to face the issue of al
lowing the people to vote on the
liquor question, party that is not
afraid will soon rise up to meet it.
X X X X
But we cannot prolong this re-
port here. We hope to refer again
to the gallant stand and brave
speeches of Messrs. Merrick, c ars-
kadon, Atkinson and others, for
the right and the people, as we
shall doubtless have more to say of
the outrageous political trickery,
uproar and firesse by which an in
telligent Convention was deceived
and rushed to the rejection of a
most righteous resolution which
expressed the deliberate convic-
tions of more than three-fourths of
the delegates.
1t remains to be added, to the
shame of a great party, and the dis
grace of West Virginia, that upon
final vote by counties, the reso-
luton in favor of Submission" was
lost by vote of 313 to 103.
1t may be some consolation to our
Republican friends that the shame
and the disgrace is shared mutually
by both leading parties of West
Virginia.
1t is due, however, in this con-
nection, to note, that the Green
back party saved itself from this
dark load, by putting straight
grained Submission" plank in its
platform.
MARIETTA ASSOCIATION will be
| held with the Valley Baptist