Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-10-14
DEBATE.
THE WILSON AND GOFR SET-T0.
A Brief Synopsis Of the Great OratOrical
Contest
| GREAT AUDIENCE PRESENT.
Mondays Register" Will Present the Debate
in Full
Ts,,oram % he Sunday Re,tser.

to over flowing. Thousands Of people had
focked in from thu surrounding c.untry,
to hear the distinguished contestants;
and among them were the most prominent
leaders of both parties in this end of the
State. The Opera House was filled, nearly
3,OO0 people bsiug present, sbout evenly
divided in political preferences. 1t had
been agreed that each dsbater should have
two speeches, alternately. Mr.. Wilson to
speak frat.
Mr.. Alex Parks attempted to introduce
Mr.. Wilson, but as that gentleman arese
the tremsndous cheering completely
droTred the voice of Mr.. Parks.
It was some minut ss before Mr.. Wilton
could procsed. When at last he could be
heard, he told the audience that he Game
not t. address their throsts CT their heels,
bat their intellects." He reviewed the
acts of the administration, showing how
the public lands had been restored to the
people, the Interstate Commerce law had
been passed, and the silver question
had been settled on a "Bss's o.
fairness and justice to the business
interests of the country" But he said oil
other questions sink into nothing when
conffo ated by the great tax issue of the
day. This is the great question. Tie
system Of federal taxation now gathers q
surplus equal to one twelfth Of thu whole
circulating medium of the country $l1l,-
900, 900, a sum large enough to pay an
army of nearly 1900, GOO laborers at the
wageI paid by some of the employees in
who are preaching protection
to American labor" Great applause
To-day rev dangers of a contracted cur
rercy were threatening every interest.
The Republicans" he sud, shave all
along been denying that there was sur
plus, bat now they have just reported a
bill to IT ducs it." Tremendous applause ]
He took up Goff's speech in Congress and
exposed his errors ia manner that caused
the widest enthusiasm. 1t was the speech
of a naster and throughout his telling bits
were received with tremendous applause.
When he had finished, Goff came for
ward and was given an ovation by his
friends. His spsech was remarkabls for
the absence of argument and his inability
to answer the eloquent Democrat. Itwas
full of assertions with no proof, and gave
exhibitions cf his Cratoriesl powers hop
ing thus to cover mp his lack of kuowl-
edge on the leading questions. He at
tempt d an argument on the tariff, but af-
ter Listening 20 the preceedir speech it
fell very fat. He then began an ordinary
stump speech, calculated to cause enthusi-
ssm among Republican,, and in this be
was successful but in this only, for his
tariff talk was worse than ordinary. When
his time hal expired hs sat down amid
great cheering, which was c,utiuuei as
Mr. Wilson appeared for his twenty min
utes speech.
In this short time Mr.. Wilson answered
every assertion, and turrei what f1g ar
guments Got hal male against him AMI
his party. If his former speech had been
strong, this WIS stronger, and the argu-
msnts were sent home with double force
At times he could not 60 on for the tre-
menious cheering, and he would only re
fairly started aGaia when it would break
out afresl. Goff looked uncomfortable
when he arose to reply and attempted to
dodge the quGs ion By talking ab>ut free
schools, but he was b7ought by shouts
of Talk tariff; thal's what we want to
hear" He attempted to show that the
price of wheat was higher now than it had
been beewsen 1850 and 1860, clsimirg
that wheat at that time had sold only fr
81 cents, aud cattle at S6 to 81 per head;
horses $50 to SIS apiece.
This vas all b, could be persuaded to
say on the isciff and everybody knew it
was no. true, and expected something
when Mr.. Wilson rose for his ten minute
reply. They were not disappointed, fo-
he had heard that Golf was mixing that
assertion Throughout the State, and was
ready for it. He had gone ID ths clerks
offie, end found the records Of q public
sale that hsd bsea made in 1856, sd
sroyed that as thai time wheat sold for
SIs5 per busasl, cattle at $50 to $50
per head, torseI fOn 500 to
Sl6O. When this was heard the
immense audience became one mass of yell
ing humanity and hal he been in their
reach they would have carried him on their
shoulders. Mr.. Wilson finished amid I'M
bounded enthusiasm. Golf in in his re-
ply did not refer 10 TO the price Of wheat
and barely mentioned the tariff. He tik-
ed more about himself, and sat down dis
consolats, while the Republican leaders
looked as il they realized that their little
idol had aysin been badly wsrssed. The
discussion is the talk of The
towa to-night The Democrats a's
iuSilant and the Republicans
downcast. Everybody is surprised and
disappointed in Gen. Gof, and if this fret
debate is to b, taken as q sample Of what
he will get in those to follow, the Rspub'
licans had better take him home and kesI
him there.
Gen. Goff didn't attempt to answer Mr.
Wilson's masterly, logical and convincing
discussion Of the tariff and the effect Of the
Mills bill on ths industries Of the count y
He devoted half an hour 10 genera
declarations and another half hour t.
extracts from the Wheeling REGIsrER
published in 1888, which in no wsy
bore upon the subject of the debate appar
entity seeking to consume his time BY tn,
introduction Of every question fsseign /.
the great economic quts ion now presented
for the decision OF the peorlA asa ta,if
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