Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-09-28
THE OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN

The Republican who may have heard the
address Of Hon. james NJ. Beck at the court
house on Thursday night must have WINGED
at the indictments brought against the party
in power, and must have acknowledged, In
honesty. that the evidence adduced against
that party was not only incontrOyertible
but overwhelming. Mr.. Beck, who is
Young man. Of slight frame aud intellectual
face. speaks logically, forcibly and clearly,
without rhetorical display, but with deli
cate play Of sarcastic wit and at times con-
siderable warmth, with ease Ofmanner and
almost perfect distinctness Of enunciation.
After complimentary reference to the two
West Virginiaus With whom he was person
ally acquainted, Senator Faulkner and Hon.
VIM. L. Wilson, and a strong appeal to the
Democrats of the district to see to 1t that no
chance or skill should bring about Mr.. Will
sons defeat, he turned his attention to Mr.
Harrison's letter of acceptance, noting par
ticularly certain matters of importance
passed by with marked care in that dOcu-
ment-the empty treasury; the Force BILL
The proposition of the President to submit
the matter of elections to a nOn-partisan
commission was declined on behalf of the
people: the eight-tO-seyen 'non-partisan
commission" Of 1876 was recalled with its
partisan rulings and its preparation Of a
great fraud; also the unsatisfactory result
of the tariff commission of 1888 the people
would settle the matter without the inter-
yention of another commission. The alleg-
ed reciprocity of the Mckinley act was
then taken up and shown to be in violation
Of the presidents of tree government IN con-
ferring upon the president the power to
impose taxes, and therefore unacceptable to
the Democrats who approved and desired
real reciprocity as advocated by Mr.. Blaine.
A large part of the speech was devoted to
the tariff which was treated with a clear
ness. vigor and fairness that we have not
heard surpassed. the discussion enlivened
and illumiued with plentiful humor and no
little eloquence The change of front of
the tariff advocates as to the effect of pro-
,ection-formerly admitted to increase
prices. now claimed to reduce them-was
admirably shown. Perhaps the speaker
was at his best in lashing the author Har-
rison) of the dictum that cheap coat
makes cheap manipulating with splen-
did effect the lines Of the Ploughboy of Ayr
What though on namely fare We dine,
Wear holden gray and n that;
Gle fools their silks and knaves their wine,
A man O man for q that.
Mr.. Becks strength as a speaker and his
genial manner delighted all his hearers
His address was Of that convincing quality
that must have won votes wholesale, had
not his large audience been almost entirely
composed of Democrats, and should bear
abundant fruit in rousiug the Democrats OF
the county % enthusiasm and action.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Becks speech
Hon. B. D. Gibson presented in felicitous
terms, on behalf the club, handsome bou-
quet to the distinguished visitor.
Hon. Stuart W. Walker excused himself
from extended remarks on account Of illness
aud want of preparation, and promised to
come again. His short speech left favor
able impression Of his ability and earnest
ness in behalf of the success of the party
upon the minds of his future constituents.
Hon. W L. Wilson was called for and
responded with brief, practical tariff talk.
Before the election he will deliver here one
Of the superb speeches that have thrilled
audiences throughout the country and con-
tributed so much to the extension of DEM
ocratic ideas
Forrest w Brown, Esq, presided, woke
up the audience at the very beginning, and
appropriately introduced the speakers. The
Coruet Band made music President and
State Committeeman Holmes was at the
wheel, so to speak, and County Chairman
Daniel was actively interested in the sue
cessful carrying out Of the program. After
the meeting a little surplus enthusiasm
went mp in rockets and Roman candles
The Opening" was every way success and
foreshowed victory in November.