Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-10-08
SENATOR KENNA.
An Enthusiastic Reception, and An Elo'
,uapt and Convincing Speech

An Enthusiastic Reception, and An Elo-
uuent and Convincing Speech
It was lust ten minutes to ten O'CLOCK
when Chairman A. ]. Sweeney advanced
to the front of the platform and introduced
Senator Kenna to the vast audience, which
filled every available square foot OF the
building. There was an instant OF silence
as Chairman Sweeney concluded, and then
the people burst forth into cheer which
was heard for squares, and made the arch
edlroof of the.big rink tremble. again and
again that cheer burst forth, and it was
several minutes bsfore it became possible
for the distinguished orator to proceed.
When he stood some chance Of being heard,
Senator Kenna said:-
Mr.. CHAIRMAN, MY FRIENDS AND
FELLOW CITIZENs:-The labor / have
performed during the last two or three
weeks 10 this campsign, speaking often
twice daily, and sometimes making both
nv addresses in the open air, admonishes
me to- night, at the outset, that if am to
be beard by this magnificent ou!pouring
of the Democracy of the city Of Wheeling,
I must crave its charitable indulgence.
We are accustomed to hearing q great
deal. during the progress of this Presiden-
tjsl canvass. about the new issues which
have been presented, yet if we stop and
study the situation for a moment, we will
see that the principal one now confronting
us is as
OLD AS HUMAN GOVERNMENT,
and now is, as ever, occupying a conspicu,
GUS position in public affairs. But we are
not, my friends, to be deluded into be-
lieving that there is but one issue before
tic people in this campaign. The record
of twenty five years of Republican NAL
administration is not to be forgotten.
IApplause. ! In 1866 the Republican
party occupied position of control over
a ,na,ion which stood foremost among
those of the earth. A vast continent
stretched ont before it, boundless res ources
were at its command, Thousands Of strong
arms were ready to take hold and move
forward the great machinery of o mighty
progress, and yet what was the result?
In the brief period Of less than q
quarter Of q century that great political
PARTY way hurled from power by the votes
of an int lligent ard free p opls. and they
have zone to stay. [Applause 1t puts
me in mind of the story Of the New Jersey
man who went oat to New Mexico 10
grow up with tho country. A short time
STEER his arrival, his old mother received
telegram from one Of her son's minel
fr;eI de, saying her boy was dad. She
telesraphed back: Send on tbs remains
The answer wa,: There >ain't any re
mains. Jimmy was kicked by mule. v
ITApplause So it is of the Republican
party. There 'ain't any remains worth
mentioning. [Applause.
WHAT WAS THE RECORD,
nv friends, of the admi abstraction Of tn
great affairs Of the country by the Repub
iican party? Mr.. Lincoln, whom all mel
now recognise as great and good MAD
had insugurated pol cy Of reconstruction
which would have translated Us from
condition of war to oae of profoun'
a,s and Brotherhood. But he wa
no sooner gone than bis wise an
humane policy was cast to the winds
The whole South was disfranchised, an
the peop'e put under such ban that her
ia West Virginia girl Of fourteen couldn
tesch a school uctl she had raised her arI
To heaven and sworn that she ba
. never borne arms against the govern
meut. The South was lying prostrat
under the horrors of war. If she had bee
wrong, she had certsiuly answered for i
, Her institutions and industries wei
T swept awsy; and in her extremity, n
citizens of capacity to conduct the aiiai
/ of l; C Il government wtre pIoscrifed an
sst upon, and horde Of capst baggers vi
. turned loose upon her, who in few sho
|, yesrs added $50, 000, 900 to the alread
! crushing burdens OF q stricken countr
? Here in our owu State lawyer couldn
: practice law. Why, I had to wait g
/ months myself, altar thought I was cor
: pStect ID take pIt Al san ooH So'o
9 defend man for assault and battery, b
1 fore could 90 into q court Of justice an
cav as much az "If your honor please,
y Men could net 20 into q jury box, bril
8 A suit or exercise any Of the 9th
d rights c1mmon to fieemen, and all th
t and much more u nder the rule OF a poli'
!, cal party which is nov asking to be aga
Is restored to power.
"a How did this Republican party condu
# itselfP Let me give you an examp
:, which will do for msny things. In
d make grave declarations about the Nj
mons, snd in that connection refer to
y Democratic platform, which some Rapr
y lem editors do me thu honor to say b
d Something to do with. Whether that
n true or not, sndorseit Bat let rs 10
d ct this Mormon matter little. When
4. Dsmot rats first said the Mormons bsd
d 20, tier were in New YORK, and they We
T. Next they located 10 Ohio, and sgsin
ls Democrats said they had to 60, and o.
" mora they moved. They went to Ilint