The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-06-02

That Joint Debate.
Fdtmoni Wrt virgiHtm.
An ass in politics writes glibly Of
"the scholar in politics" = dating his let
ters at Fairmont and publishing them
in the Wheeling slang-slinger, otherwise
known Us the Wheeling Register. II in
telligent men suppose from the efforts
OF the ass in politics and the slang
Singer that General Golf is afraid to
meet Mr.. William L Wilson, who is de-
scribed as "the scholar in politics" let
them reflect that General GOT sspeeches
on the tariff issue are pronounced by
good judges in politics us among the
very best thus far delivered, and that
thousands Of copies OF them have been
distributed throughout the country for
perusal by the intelligent voters. That
is no evidence OF General Colts ina
bility to meet Mr.. Wilson, and sensible
men will conclude that II formal chal.
lenge from Mr.. Wilson to General Coil
for Joint debate should be declined, it
will be because OF some unavoidable cir
cumstance. Let it be remembered, how.
ever, that Mr.. Wilson has not challenged
General Golf, and let it be further under
stood that he never will. 1t is only the
fool friends OF "the scholar in pohtics"
(of which class the ass in politicsand the
slang-slinger are fair samples) who are
making such an "ado about nothing. "
II the ass in politics has no memory OF
the event, let usinform him that General
Flick met the scholar in politics" at
Phillippi, in joint debate, in the cam
paign OF 1886, and the result was so dis
astrous to the scholar" that he
never afterwards permitted the ponder
Gus General to repeat the experiment.
The ass should also recall the fact that
General Golf once met the late Henry
NJ. Mathews, at Weston, during their
campaign for Governor in 1876, and the
Democratic kept Mr.. Mathews
out OF the Generals path during the re.
mainder OF that campaign. General Golf
was also allowed to cross swords with the
Hon. John Brannon, in 1886, and the
memory Of that brief grapple with a
master debater is sufficient even at this
late day to cause each particular hair on
the Hon. Johns head to stand on end,
The able Congressman from the First
District has met every Democratic
lender in the State when properly
invited to the intellectual combat. II
is not likely he would shrink from
so easy n conquest us. would be afforded
him were Mr.. Wilson to ask him to de.
bate the tarilfquestion with him, though
at present there is no call upon his
courtesy. II the editor OF the Register
Tor the general manager, us the case may
bel is spelling for fight OF that kind
let him challenge the editor OF the Is
TELLrGENcER to n joint debate on the
tariff "befOre q Wheeling audience,
and we'll guarantee that the slang-slingel
will not want another such contract dur
ing the campaign. Meanwhile, the ass
in politics should save his pOstagt
stamps for use in more frni
full cause than the attempt t
belittle the gentleman in politics. Ad
hitting that we have already yieldet
more space to this subject than it merits
it should nevertheless beadded that Mr.
Wilson, "the scholar in politics" is ablt
to prepare an ingenious and altogethe
interesting address, ii given the tint
necessary for its preparation. He cat
straddle u question as cleverly as can an!
gentleman Of our acquaintance, and cat
pose us the representative OF both side'
Of controversy with less embarrassment
than any free trader in the State. Blu
his training has not been such us to fl
him for debate with an antagonist o
General Colts or General Flick
ability-where reckless statements ant
ingenious theories can be fully met
nor is he the peer in this respect 0
hundreds OF others who might be nance
in both parties. he was never distin
guished at the bar nor on the stump
while the two Republicans named, ant
many others not named, have made
reputation in both capacities. 1t is non
sense to talk OF General Colts inabilt.
to meet Mr.. Wilson; but it would b
disastrous to Mr.. Wilson il he shoult
enter into u debate with the Hon
George G. Sturgiss, the Hon. J. NJ. la
gans, the Hon. W. p. Hubbard, tn
Hon, John A. Hutchinson, and scor
or more OF other Republican orators VIII
might be mentioned. When We adj
that Mr.. Wilson is nice deClaimer, III
is said OF his ability that can be said.