The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-09-25

"Who arc you?" "Whn's nc?" ran.
out from the floor and galleries Of Fancul
Hall, and before the subject OF these point
cd, impatient and not too good-humored
inquiries could make reply there came
from the gallery in clear, confident
-.H'"" les un lrishman and his names
Kelleyw o.
"..s the year the anti-Catholic feeling
was rife, and the memory OF the burning
of the Charlcstown convent and tile tenn
per which had broughtit about Ind been
little soi.ened by time. Another mime
than Kelley would have served rs well,
perhaps better, for it suggested to anti.
Catholic zealots Irish birth and adherence
to the prescribed faith. But that was not
all that was against the tall, slender, dark.
eyed, big.headed young man who had
suddenly jolted great political meeting
out OF the rut Of the official programme.
1t was one OF those Sunday evening mass
meetings which in the earlier days both
political parties in Massachusetts were
wont to hold Immediately preceding the
annual election, for tho Puritan Sabbath
begun with the setting Of the sun on Sat
urday ond wound up with the going
down .oi the same on Sunday. Those
were the days when refractory children
were whipped on Monday for chewing
gum on Sunday. The local magnates OF
the party filed the platform. David Hem
shaw, Collector OF tile Port of Boston, pre-
sided. Harvey Prince, OF Salem, the clio.
qnent sailor.lawyer, wasspeaking, and, by
III! the signs, about to wind upl brilliant
PeroFation, in which he was adjuririg ilis
hearers to stand by the good ship ofDem-
ocracy. United States District Attorney
Hallett, who was to follow, had alreay u,i-
furled his ample white handkerchief,
ready to wipe from his brow the nerspire-
ton Of patriotism, The Chairman was
ready to Introduce Mr.. uallctt.. MIR.
Prince was descending from the tribune
when young man, who had got in early
and slowed himself in q corner Of the
stage, so TINT no word OF the speeches
might DO lost to him, and that he might
look these men fair in the face, moved by
4 reckless impulse, sprang to the place.
The house was chilled. The ponderous
and distinguished Chairman did not rise
to announce ''the next speaker" which
may be pardoned to him, for the Chair.
man had not the honor Of his talented
young friend 8 acquaintance. Nota soul
in the house knew him but the man in
the gallery who said he was m Irishman
and his name was Kelley. Thus
put upon his mcttle, the pre-
sHmptuous intruder drew himself
up for all he WIS worth, and in tones
which even then were deep and strong
flung buck, "Who am L! Twill tell you
who I am directly. l am an American
citizen, q man who can earn his living by
tho sweat ofhls brpw and the cunning Of
his good right hand-pnc who has come
to this cr;dled Temple OF Liberty TO
pledge himself to stem the tide Of time on
board the good slip Democracy, with her
to swim or with her gloriously to sink"
Throe laundering rounds Of applause
wentu and then another, The RESPONSE
to Mr.. Princes appeal had heen SO instan.
taneous and so fun Of fire that the people
saw in the intruder one who spoke on the
inspiration Of the moment, The speech
wns short, but it established young Kel-
ley's sNccvss rs n public speaker, and il
drew from tile assembled magnates press.
ing invitation to remain on the platform
until the close Of the meeting. Tie news
papers spoke kindly OF tho young inc.
chanic's rash performance, and from that
time he was among the speakers in re-
quest atall the great public gatherings oi
tho DemDcrat!p party IN Massachusetts.
The man WHO first took the floor BY mad
dash OF refrigerating impudencc has held
it ever since by. the force Of his strong
character cha and tie power Of his great abili:
n, ~ Ills Ancestry. J,gg; 7II-
~ William narroh X ellnv ic fl,o fill NAME