The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-06-02
PRIVATE pAlzsLL ON TuN

Congregational NOMINATION IN tue Olu AlnB'
ham DistrlCt over tho River.
To The Editor OitA HtGligeRcT.
SR;-As far as this section Of Ohio Is
known beyond its borders, 1t is especially
distinguished because it is the home Of
the illustrious Bingham, a man whom l
class with the Chathans, Websters, Clays,
Summers and LinColns. am In favor OF
returning him to Congress and counsel all
my friends to nominate tho most distin-
puished man in Ohio, the contemporary and
associate OF Chase, Wade, Garfield and
Sherman, the equal Of any Of them,
1t is a curious fact Of history that men
OF genius, in all ages and countries, who
once entered upon official duty generally
have died in office. So fell Chatham, John
Quincy Adams, John q. Calhoun, Abraham
Lincoln, Charles Sumner, Daniel Webster,
Garfield and q thousand other illustTious
statesmen, whom the people continued in
office until death, The South shared It's
appreciation Of its great men in this way,
from Washington 'down to Alexander
Il, Stephens. 1t vas not long alter Wash
ington and Jackson retired from office
until they slept with their fathers. The
Earl OF Chatham borne in on Tie should
ers Of his attendants, and Alexander H.
Stephens rolled in his chair, are historic
pictures that illustrate powerfully the
instinct OF the people to retain eminent
statesmen until death. But Bingham has
not reached that point Of senility and de-
Crepituds, and is yet q strong clear headed
old statesman able to cope on the floor Of
the House with the largest Democrat
there.
have heard some Of the smart young
Alexis who cannot appreciate the value
Of distinguished services and influence,
and who cannot gauge the genius Of Bling.
ham except by the colorot his snowy beard
and locks, and by counting his three score
and ten years, say that his day Is past,
that he Is too old, and that he knows moth
ing Of the new questions that have sprung
up since the days OF reconstruction and
the impeachment OF Andrew johnson.
Yet l happen to know that on the labor
question, and the Chinese question, the
fishery complications with Canada, and
all the vital questions Of the day he pos
sesses o fund Of accurate knowledge that
nothing less than his gifts and his expert
enCe can ever give his beRrdleSs critics.
He has forgotten more OF American his
tory, law, literature, science, statesman
and diplomacy than all his yerdant
young critics ever shall possess, and re-
tAins, with his powerful memory, more Of
the principles and details Of all these mat
ters than any man now living in Ohio.
He has genius-whatever that is-like
Henry Clay, like Garfield, and such
men do not grow old, they are always
young. He ia the only orator ! ever yet
heard, and 1t would puzzle some Of these
young folks who consider Bingham too old,
10 name any public speaker since 1910
that l have not heard.
In 1868 when l myself was almost nom
mated against Bingham, and the Conyen.
ton was wildly a%pplauding my name, l
stepped forward and withdrew In a speech
in favor Of Bingham. l thought he had
more ability to represent this grand old
district in Congress than / had, and l
think 80 still, while l would make that
concession to no other man In this district
then or now. Once more, l decline in
favor Of Bingham, and beg the people to
honor themselves, the district and the
State, by returning the peer Of Sumner,
Wade and Garfield to the chair he first
made illustrious as our Representative,
par excellence.
What Democrat desires TO gee Lamar,
Randall, Pendleton, Bayard or any great
representative OF Democracy retired TO
life until he dies? What Repub.
iiCan demands the retirement Of John
Sherman, Kelley, Harrison, Logan or
BlRine7
II they could they would keep these
men in office until Methusaleh's age
should seem infancy in comparison. And
80 l find on inquiry all the better classes
Of Republicans, those who best under
stand and appreciate the great services
and abilities Of Bingham, are loudly de.
manding his denomination, and that he
will be renOminated in q storm and tenn
pest Of enthusiasm there Is no sort Of
doubt. PRIVATE DALzELI.
CatdweR, Ohio, May 81.