The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-10-01
BUFPOONERY
Characterizes the Speech Of
General Sheridan,
mixed WITH ILLOGICAL ANIMosITY
And Senselcss Assertions Against Demo-
crncy-Long MINDED TRADE ofAbuse
without Rhyme or Reason-The
Bloody Shirt made Conspicuous and
Waved High and Long.

How forgetful people, interested
only in the passing incidents of a
period, will become, and then again
how little it takes to satisfy some
people. Notwithstanding the bril-
liancy OF talent that has made his
tory of campaigns here, forgetting
those men whose words had left an
impress that faded mot for years,
there are those who said, at the com
pletion Of Gen. George A. Sheridan's
address, that's the finest speech /
ever heard. These susceptible and
emotional people had heard better
speeches, but that was long time
ago. They will get over it.
To the unbiased listener. be who
was there for no other purpose than
to listen without abnormal sympa-
thy for the cause. the speech came as
an aggregation of assertions without
argument long drawn out Grafton
of stories without the sequels APP
pended.
1t was the dedication of the hos
pital, or wigwam, or wash house, or
worlds fair, or whatever the G. o. p.
pow WOW concern on Peasants street
of needs must be called, and the
fresh, crisp winds Of the equinox
dallied gayly with the unkempt
whiskers Of the war-made land those
made on other plans) Republicans,
and it seemed that the looked for
rally would not be warmed by the
sun which was violating a law of the
court house ring for not coming in
hotter chunks. But paper was pos
ted over the apertures where windows
should have been, and the -imagina
tion by proper process of elonga
ton could be trained to aver that
the interior was comfortable. 1t was
the dedicatory service of the-what-
you -call-it. Mr.. Jones. he of gentle
voice and winning ways, made appro-
pirate Introductory remarks of the
speaker, who had come all the way
from New York on the tender boun-
ties of the Republican National Com
mittee, and he also said that the sick
and main and halt could find re-
fuge in the building after election,
but if this is true an extension of
contract must be obtained from Hus-
ton d Domain, who for the $3.50 only
agree to let the building stand till
the day when Republican hope shall
have fled, or in other words, till Nov.
IS.
Amid profusion Of cheese cloth
decoration and great expectancy the
general arose. He was greeted by
well filed house, the greater portion
of his hearers being our urban resi-
dents, the winds aforesaid, or too
much talk, keeping all but about 100
Of our rural relatives at home.
There was disappointment
that the people from the country
were not here in greater numbers, but
the campaign fund salary drawer
didn't know the difference, and didn't
care if he did. He began with joke
and he ended with one-none of your
hoary chestnuts, but fresh roasted,
brittle and sparkling ones, that made
everybody laugh and any one was
alone worth the price of admission.
1t is probably true that the speaker
had taken the part Of "Fhe General, "
in some drama. for his histrionic
ability is remarkable and enough to
make George Johns, Ed Mayors and
other ambitious thespian amatuers
turn a pale, faded. green with envy.
Yes, the jokes were good and made
one really believe he was a general,
but when he struck the tariff he
stumbled like unto a weary pilgrim
striking snag, and there he stuck.
Republican campaign speeches con
tain too much of the wearisome es-
sence of sameness to be quoted ex-
tensively by well conducted newspa
pers, but a stumble, just single in
stance, deserves remark. He instanc-
ed calico. He said good article
could be bought for s cents a yard.
1t can be manufactured in this coun-
try at profit for cents a yard. He
then told that we should all buy the
American article, and in order to
compel us to do so the tariff on i'm
ported calico had been made cents
a yard, so that it could not be sold
in this country for less than 8 cents,
the combined price of its manufac-
tnre and the tariff thereon. Then be
halted. 1t was but for moment,
but it counted. He discovered the
snag too late and ran right slap bang
against it. By the fact that the for
eign manufacturer could only come
in with his calico at 8 cents yard,
he virtually acknowledged, without
intending to, of course, that for that
reason the American manufacturer
piled cents more per yard on his
calico making his s cents also. 1t
was fine illustration of how the tar
if benefits the manufacturer and robs
the buyer. 'sThe tariff is tax, and
the consumer pays it" was q quota
tion oft used by the theatrical ora
tor, for ridiculous effect, but little
consideration by the masses will
show them that it is very sorry
joke. He didn't dwell at any length
on the tariff after that.