The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-10-29

1890. -. 20, 43s 1884 1856
II it may be assumed that Mr..
Wilson profited in 1890 by the "tidal
wave'' which swept over the country
after the passage Of the Mckinley
bill, it is clear that in an ordinary
year the natural Democratic major
ity in his district is exceedingly
small. 1t is larger, though, than the
apparent majorities shown in 1886
and 1888, for in those years efforts
were made to defeat Mr.. Wilson sim
liar to that which is making this
year. 1t is no new thing for Mr..
Wilson to be compelled to fight
against almost unlimited doodle"
1t is proverbial in Washington that
since his first election to Congress be
has had to meet not simply the oppo-
sition of the local Republican organi-
cation, but that Of the national par
ty as we'll.
Mr.. Wilson is rated as not simply
an able man, but as one of the ablest
men in the House. In the matter Of
equipment for public service of the
sort in which he is engaged probably
no man of either party is his super
ior. No one has more thoroughly
mastered the questions ofthe day. In
his work in Congress Mr. Wilson has
been at once one of the acknowledged
leaders of his own party and dread
ed foe of the gentlemen of the oppo-
site side of the chamber. His tariff
speeches have been adjudged, all
things considered, the best that have
been delivered in the House; certain
ly they have been lucid, convincing,
and ncontrovertible. AS a debater
Mr. Wilson is regarded by many as
the best man of his party. He show
ed his mettle in his encounters with
Speaker Reed in the Fifty first Con
gress. Other Democrats attacked
Mr.. Reed fiercely and with great ran
cor, but it was Mr. Wilson who went
at him with rapier-like speech and
ran him through and through, him
self all the while quiet and almost
smiling, betraying neither in voice,
gesture, nor infection any conscious
ness of the damage he WAS inflicting
1t was almost matter of course
that Mr.. Wilson should be chosen to-
preside over the great convention NJ
Chicago No one who was present
in the great assembly, the delibera-
tions of which Mr.. Wilson directed,
is likely to forget the impressions
produced by his sCatesmanlike ad-
dress. 1t was wise leaders, admon-
ition to his party to act honestly,
fearlessly, and intelligently in crisis
Of its existence. 1t enunciated the
issues and pointed out the way in
which they should be met
The country and not alone his par
ty needs the services of Mr.. Wilson.
and it would be national misfortune
if through the Vaccinations of Ell
kins his district should vote to keep
him at home. There should be sufi-
cient of State pride TO avert the dis
grace which would come upon the
district when it should be known all
over the country that Mr.. Wilson
had been defeated by the corrupt use
of money. Certainly, no decent per-
son will deny that ignominy must
attach to the district if it allows Mr..
Wilson, who stands before the voters
one of the foremost representatives
of his party, asking support for great
principles to which he is attached
to be beaten through the subsidizine
of venal voters.
/ The history OF the country abounds
with instances of the retirement OF
useful public servants through lack
of local pride. On the other hand
there are many instances that may
be pointed to where men have grown
old in public service because their
constituents have rightly judged that
the lustre of great mans name at
taches while he lives to the people
out of whom he comes and after his
death descends. to their posterity ~
a precious heritage.
I