Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-21
THE SPEECH.
A Full Report of an Able Political Ad-
dress.

r.
oeptiOn. / come to you not as stranger, but
rather as q neighbor to the house of his
friends. Coming to Wheeling, come to
scene of the surroundings of years
long gone by, and if time would permit
should indulge at more length and with pro-
founder feelings than the proprietieS of this
occasion will justify in the pleasing and
happy recOllections which this occasion to
me recalls. My friends, We are confronted
again, rs we are every alternate year, by
m impending election. We are called up
On to exercise the function of American
We are expected by the cOnsti-
tuition and by the laws of our great and
good country to exercise this function wisely
and well. Fortunately for our people, happi-
" forus, no king nor potentate rules herebut
to the theories of the govern
meut which our fathers gave us, citizen
ship on this continent is supreme. Each
man upon whom citizenship is involved
receives with it, whether Ne be native
born or naturalized,
CORRESPONDING RESPONSIBILITIES.
This government is ours, and is to be
conducted by US in our own way, with
plenary power both to prescribe and en-
force the manner OF its conduct, so that
let me remind you in the outset that many
of the evils of which we complain at va
riOus stages of our cOuntry's history, If not
of our own commission are ut least of our
tolerance The power is in our hands, del
eglted to us by the blood and yalOr which
liberated this country. The duty is upon
us and not upon others, then, rs to making
and conducting the affairs of this great
Our rulers are Ofour choosing and
Of the choosing of nobody else.
They are our agents. While
we may be deceived by them, or
some of them, while their courSe in public
duty or of disregard OF it may 10y no human
knowledge have been tOreSeeu or prevented,
When those agents come to deal with the
of the government, the theory
upon which they are elected, we must in
evitably find in the end that we are res
in u great measure, both for the
character Of the agency which we select,
and for the course which those agen-
cies pursue.
We had change in the administration
Of this government short time ago-l
suppose you heard something of it, LAp-
plause. I For some reason in the superior
wisdom of this great and good people the
party was politely but forcibly
invited to
STEP DOWN AND OUT,
and some of them did step down, and some
Of them did step out Applause.
By the verdict to which Col. White 80
alluded, the American people
entrusted the administration Of their pub
lie affairs for the next four years to other
hands, and thank God TO Democratic
hands. Applause. May we not proiita-
bly, on this occasion, pause for moment
and ask ourselves why this occurred?
Nav we not proftably devote few mo-
ments this evening to this inquiry in
spirit of mutual consultation and confer
ence, and with purpose which shall
esehew entirely all preiudices and every
save that Of country and
country alone.
Why the change in 1884 in the manage
mentof the affairs of this country2 The
party had controlled 1T for
TWENTY-FIVE years. Omitting the period OF
the war and beginning with the response
Lilitees of fpeace, what was its condition,
and what their power? Lee had surren-
dered at AppOmatOX; Smith the Western
armies Mt Shreveport; all had surrendered
The COnfederates returned to their homes
The armies of the Union were disbanded
and relegated to the pursuits OF peace:
The magnificent continent spread IT'S vast
before the eyes OF mankind;
unlimited resources, bouudleSs capaci-
ties, and treasury increasing un-
der a process of increased taxes were
LAID AT THE FEET
of the Republican organization. This great
neople said toit: Take all this; we hand
into your keeping the destines OF this great
people, with these great agencies for their
good to be subject to your command. see
to it that you meet the responsibilities
which we impose upon you, and meet them
well.
I shall not, NV friends, gointO disqul-
sitiou tonight with reference to the merits
which have attached to the course OF any
marty or any set of men prior to the close
of the war. Our country has advanced,
tbsv saw: so il has. Manufactures have
increased, so they say-so they have. Pop
ulation has multiplied they say so II mas
The great West has grown in thick settle
mentS in MANY quarters and Is rapidly
growing into thick settlements IN other
quarters they say-that Is true. LOOKING
at the condition of this country at the
close of the war, might we not reasonably
have expected all that. Would any sane
man venture to assert for
a single moment that any political
marty would be required to exercise any
executive, legislative or judicial action
TO bring ab out all that
i have alluded to here
in an incidental way of the progress and
OF this great country? L see
no other claim on that score, no merit
save and exeeptthat upon that, as upon
almost all the other achievements Of po-
litieal parties or of men In this country, OF
upon natural results, both during and
since the war, the Republican paFty has
cultivated as q cardinal doctrine under
paraphrases of holy Scripture, Render un-
10 Ceaser that which is Cesser's, but rem
der unto the Republican party that which
is Gods. The Almighty OmnipOtent made
this Continent and made it to grow into
blessing to mankind and the Republican
party
COULD NOT STOP IT.
The Almighty has made your vast prairies
buried your magnificent minerals and Gov
cred your valleys and bill sides with their
splendid growth of forestry, but may we
not for a moment view the other side Of
that picture and with all your opportunl.
ties with all your native wealth, with all
your vigorous brain power ana Win Tne
strong arm Of manhood IN TINS country