Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-01
eREsHAMs ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
An Anidavit OF Very Damaging char-
ncter Presented.

An Afiidavit OF Very DehhaBmS ~
ncter Presented.
CINCIsNATI, May 31.-A special TO the
Commercial Gazette from Indianapolis, says;
Some of the Gresham papers have grown
very indignant because in my dispatches
alluded to the Know-nothing record OF the
Judge, and denouncs the story as false
The coming contest will be q very close
one and hair may turn the scale. Inc
Republicans have no votes to spare TINS
year and it is right that the party should
carefully weigh all that is in favor and all
that may be urged against every one VINO
il proposed as candidate. Anything less
than this would be sheer madness ana
folly and would invite defeat Ii the re-
suit is to depend upon the vote Oh TINS
State, aud it is generally conceded that u
will. the loss of only few hundred votes
would be fatal. The papers that are now
finding fault with me for referring to the
weak spots in Judge Gresham's proposed
candidacy have filled their columns with
misrepresentations of General Harrison,
Senator sherman and other candidates.
In Indiana there is large German ana
IIish vote. For years the Repnohesns
have had a large following among the Ger
mans, and Istierly have been making seri-
ous inrosds into the ranks OF the lrisn.
Thew are vet very sensitive as to the old
period of prescription under the Knownoth-
ING regime, and will not knowingly vote
for any one who took part IN that WORK OF
prescription. In 1855 Mr.. Gresham, then
a youpg man, was nominated by the Know
no,bipes of Harrison County for Clerk OF
that county, defeating Hugh Neeiey. he
accepted the nomination and made the race
but was defeated at the polls. have In
NV possession copy Of a certificate made
more than twenty-five years ago as TO what
he said in public discussion during that
eampaipn The certificate was made only
a few wears after the occurrence, when all
the circumstances were fresh In the memory
of those who signed the certificate, ana as
il has never been refuted it ought to stand
as good evidence. The eertincate IL 10 Inc
following effect:
"Wslter Q. Gresham, the present can
didate for representative in Harrison
county, said in speech in LoWden 9 scnooi
house, in Spencer township, in 1855, when
he was a candidate for Clerk against VIII
liam w. Mcmahon, in a discussion with
John Mathes, that the American or Know
Nothing party did not have to persuade
him to become member OF their order, LOT
Re always had an American heart; that ne
WAS brought up in the town OF Lanesvllie'
where the Americans could hardly get to
the polls TO vote for lazy, lousey, filthy,
Iop-sared, greasy Dntch;' that be was IN IL.
yor of stopping emigration from the Old
country to ours; that they were prisoners
and paupers; that the prisons, jalls and
aims houses had been emptied and brought
here
1--WE, the undersigned, citizens OF Harri-
son county, State OF Indiana, certify that
we we're present at political discussion
between Hon. John Msthes and Walter .
Gresham, at Lowden's school house, In
Spencer township, in said county, in the
year 1855, and that Walter 2 Gresham
made the foregoing remarks on that occa-
sion.
"Wm. Stevens, Henry Foster, Eli NJ
DAVE, Lewis Foster, j. K. Riperdan, Wal
ford Hickman, Thomas Davis, Dennis
Hickman, Geo. W. Walk, Samuel Taylor,
A. W. Davis, John l. Taylor, ?. b. Davis
Benjamin Kiutner, Joseph Pitman, An
thony Pitman, Edward Foster, ID. Frank
Walk, Leonard Kellar."
The Democrats of this State who have
been assisting in booming the Judge have
known all the time of the existence OF this
certificate, and does any Republican doubt
that il he should be nominated at Chicago
they would pull it on him and use 1T to its
greatest possible effectH Some OF the ign-
ers of that certificate are still living. SEN
ator Iugalls, only a few days ago used a
similar certificate against Dan. Voorhees,,
and with terrible effect. Had the Repub-
licsns any votes to spare it might be mex
cusable to bring forward this matter at this
time, but as the conditions are its publica-
ton is not only justifiable, but actually
demanded for the good ofthe party.