The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-06-22

We have assembled again to select
President for GO,OOO,OOO of free people
Who most in character is the very es
sence OF these people? Who, OF all tn
names suggested, will draw support mos
largely from all classes? Who can bes
bring together and reunite the broker
fragments Of our party? Who by per
sonal courage and sublime confidence il
his own convictions is an ideal leader o
the American people? Who mos
strikingly stands for cosmopolitan Amer
lean character? These are the question:
OF the hour addressed to us all. sug
gest the name OF Walter Q. Gresham, 0
Illinois, and invite thoughtful consid
Grafton OF some OF the reasons why III
should be nominated. He was born o
sturdy and rugged parents in Harrison
county, Indiana, tifty-seven years ago
and has spent one-third OF his life IL
lobor upon farm. He acquired by ma
ture and education profound belief in
the fundamental doctrines OF govern
ment and the union OF the States, zone
and inseperable," as taught by the lives
and example OF Washington and Ham.
ilton, Clay and Webster, Lincoln and
Thad Stevens, and Il disbelief in and
aversion for the political heresies oi
John c. Calhoun, Breckenridge, Jefler.
son Davis and Lamar-of property in
man and the right Of secession. He has
always been an unwavering and
INFLExIDLE REPUBLICAN.
One-third OF century ago he organized
the party Of Fremont and Dayton in his
native county, which consisted, all told,
Of four people. In 1860, then at the age
Of 20, he was elected to the State Legis-
lature at the same time Mr.. Lincoln was
elected President, from n Democratic
county, and by the aid OF German votes.
There he originated and passed Il law
which authorized Oliver +. Morton, our
greatest war Governor, to organize and
arm, ut the expense OF the State, any
regiment, anywhere in the State. We
owe the peace and loyalty OF Indiana, at
this critical period, to the admirable
working OF this law, and the fact that
she was not behind the call OF the Presi-
dent one moment in furnishing her
quota OF men. After performing this
service OF great value to the State, he Sc
lected 1000 young neighbors and friends
and marched at their head into Ken
lucky with General Sherman at the very
beginning OF the war. These forces aid
ed the loyal element therein, holding
true to the Union the northern part OF
that State, while the southern part
broke Off and went into the rebellion.
But for the presence OF these troops the
Ohio river would have probably been
THE DIVIDING LINE
and Southern Ohio, Indiana and Illinois
would have been the first battle ground.
He served with Grant at Shiloh and
Vicksburg, and was distinguished
figure with Sherman in his march upon
Atlanta in 1864. lie was frequently pro-
NOTED for gallant conduct on the battle
field.
After a lengthy sketch of Judge
GFesham's career, and comparison Of
his life to that Of Lincoln, Mr.. SWEET
proceeded:
The movement In his behalf, like the
movement for Lincoln, is the spontane-
Gus and unorganized action OF the peo-
pie. Like Lincoln, Gresham is not work
ing for the Presidential Office. He be-
lieves that this exalted Office should
never be sought and never declined.
Like him, too, he believes that causes
which tend to great consequences should
be left TO work out their results unaided,
and that they cannot be materially has
tened or impedea by personal interfer-
ence. Like Lincoln in character,
honest and simple, but robust, fearless
in danger, full OF justice and Of noble
heart, he stands out in prominence us an
ideal candidate. May also he pardoned
for saying in this august presence that
back in 1S49, at the age OF twenty-four,
! first met Abraham Lincoln, lie being
then forty-0ne. Ever afterwards l sat at
his feet as Saul Of Tarsus sat at the feet
of Gamaliel, and was permitted, us we
walked together the journey OF liio,
to lean on his own great arm for sup
port. | watched his thoughtful face
when the news first reached him that he
had received n large vote for Vice Presl-
dent at Philadelphia, when FremOntand
Dayton were nominated, and when the
thought OF
GREAT POLITICAL rREFERMENT
first took root in his mind. | know
from this intimate relation how conf.
dence and sympathy may exist between
great leader and the people without
either knowing the other. can never
forget how in moments OF great doubt
he agoniged, watched and listened for
tokens OF guidance from the common
people us the mariner watches for the
sun to learn where he is and whittier he
is drifting through the darkness and
mists OF storm. The same sympathy
and confidence exist between Gresham
and the people that existed between
Lincoln and thepeople. His heart also
has beaten in sympathy with the sons
OF toll, for he has labored with them in
sunshine and in cold. He, too, has
been promoted from their ranks and
knows the taste Of poverty and like
them has earned his bread Sin the
sweat OF his face" He has meyer for
gotten their lives OF privgtion and self
denial in their hard struggle for exis-
tenne, WDetIlcE uOlluLlCh W lTCClutH'
He had that sublime faith in their hon
esty and patriotism that like Lincoln,
he was willing to have his body pierced
with bullets in their behalf. The rich,
too, have found ample protection and
the adjustment Of every right in the
eouipoise OF his character.
lie has always stood with his party
ior the
PROTECTION OF AMERICAS LABOR
against foreign competition, and has
always believed in fair wages for fair
work. He has advocated pensions for
the manned, worn and dependent de.
tenders OF the Union. He knows by ex,
perIenUe how the rebel bullet tears and
hurts, for he himself has been wounded
and carried on a stretcher from the field
of battle, and has borne the pains and
sees the needs OF the decrepit and health
broken soldier. Weshould also not for
eet that this nation has arrived at thai
Stage Of civilization aud development
that it has right to demand common
honesty in politics. If young man
happens to acquire the prefix OF "Hop