Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-02


people at home, but the Democrats
this year are not minding small matter
like rain and bad weather. Mos
Of them are farmers and working
men-they wanted the rain, to fertiizt
the soil, and were glad OF it, and it did
not deter most OF them from turning out
Had it been raining hail and pitchforks
in torrents it would not have kept them
at home. Rain or shine, it doesn't mat
ter to Democrats this year.
Despite the miserable weather, yes
terday, the two opera houses never
had larger audiences crowded into
them, in the afternoon. In the eve
ming despite the same unfortunate
conditions and the muddy streets a
larger political parade or more mag
nifcent political demonstration was
never held in Wheeling.
The weather prevented the proposed
open air meeting at the Fair Grounds,
but although there was no time to noti-
~ the public Of the change the Opera
House and the Grand Opera House
could not hold the people who wanted
70 hear Gen. STEvENToN and Hon. w.
L. Wilson.
II cheers can crack walls our two
Opera Houses will be dangerous places
to enter hereafter, If the re-
cep.!ons given yesterday to the
tall and dignihed Democratic
candidate for Vice-Presldent and
the eloquent, magnificent and thor
oughlY earnest orator and statesman, of
whom West Virginia is more than
proud, WILLIAM L. WILSON, are to be
taken into the calculation.
Both opened at the two houses at the
same time, and arrangements, fortunate
ly, were made so they could exchange
places and both audiences hear both Of
these distinguished gentlemen. Con-
seQuently each was given two recep-
tions, and four grander receptions were
never given public speakers in Wheel
ing. In the exchange Of speakers from
one house to the other the time was fill
ed by Congressman JOHN D. PENDLEToN
at the Opera House and by Gen. ]. L.
VANCE, of Gallipolis, o., at the Grand
Opera House. The speech of
Gen. VANCE, who commanded
one Of the most gallant corps OF the
Army OF West Virginia at Vicksburg,
devoted his entire attention to the pen
sion question, and In a short but most
eloquent speech, upheld and thanked
Mr.. CLEVELAND in the name Of the
honest veterans for his vetoes Of fraud
ulent pension bills and his endeavor to
make the pension roll a roll of honor.
Gen. VANCE is an old man but be has
lost none OF his fire aud he endorsed the
publicly expressed opinions OF Gen.
SICKLEs, Gen. CoIT OF the Army of the Po-
tOmac, and ex-Commander-in-ch Of the
G.. A. R. JOHN P. REA, with facts and
figures that frequently caused his voice
to be drowned in cheers.
gave from his experience in his canvass
in this district, and his knowledge and
information regarding the situation in
the rest Of the State such an encourag-
ing report that it drought down the
house."
It is useless to say anything OF the
speeches of Gen. STEVENSON and Mr..
Wilson, which were on the general IS
sues of the campaign. They will be
found fully reported in another column.
1t is sufficient to say that they are con-
vincing and unanswerable arguments.
Gen. STEVENSON has made sixty-nine
speeches up TO date and in consequence
he was not urged to make lengthy
speeches here, but his summary of the
situation aud his general argu-
ments delivered as they were in his
plain impressive manner carried con-
vlction to the hearts Of his hearers If
the prolonged applause and cheers that
greeted every pause in his speech go to
show any thing.
Congressman WILLIAM L. WILSON
however, spoke ut considerabl length,
and as only he can speak. There is
nothing Of the political stump-orator
about Mr.. WILSON. Every word he
utters, he means, and his audience
knows it, and therein lies the chief
charm Of his magnificent oratory. BE
does not speak for effect. he is as he
is termed generally, scholar in poll
tics aud not a politician. In other
words he does not speak to "catch the
crowd" and that is why he does catch
"the crowd" every time for usually al
audience can tell when q speaker is IL
earnest and when he is simply "orat
ing"
But great as these two meetings were
they sink into utter insignifcance be
side the great popular demonstration il
the evening.
1t was, in every sense Of the term,
popular Unconstitutional other words
il was a spontaneous demonstration b!
the people and paid for by them
was not body OF men hired to parade
And in view of the fact that, despitt