The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-16

AsuEvuLr, N. c., Sept. l5.-At least
$500 people assembled in the farmers
tobacco warehouse at noon to-day to
hea. Hon. A. e. Stevenson. He was
escorted from his hotel by distinguish
ed citizens of North Carolina, in car
riages, and large procession Of mount
ed men from the country adjacent TO
Asheville. General Stevenson was in
troduced by Hon. G. 7. Raves, as dis
tinguished grandson OF North Carolina,
and when he arose to speak there was
loud applause continuing several min
utes.
General Stevenson will leave Ashe-
vile in a special train this afternoon at
$50 for Raleigh, with +. NJ. simmons,
chairman OF tEe state committee and j.
s. Carr, Of Durham.
Mr.. Stevenson, among other things,
said:
FELLow CIrIzENs:-1t would be i'm
possible to over state the Importance
OF the pending political contest, es-
pocially to the people of the southern
states. With them it is not merely a
question as to who shall be elected
President OF the United States, or what
shall be his policy and that OF his party
upon questions OF taxation and OF
economy in public expenditures. The
question is Of deeper import and more
far reaching in its consequences. Shall
they have peace and protection to life
and to property, and the prosperity
,,.h; ~ ra.uits from OtnhIa oovarn nohnf-
government OF the states by their own
people, or shall the evils with which
they are menNced by Republican sue
cess be but a repetition OF those OF the
reconstruction period? The present
contest is between the Republican and
the Democratic parties. One or the
other Of these TWO great organizations
will be successful and viii control the
policy OF the government for the next
four years. Which shall IL be? Toyou
the practical question is, will you have
your state government remain in the
hands OF your own people, or will you
have q return OF carpet-bag domina-
ton and misrule2 Have you so
soon forgotten the sad lesson OF
the past2 l address myself to
men whose former affiliations have
been with the Democratic party,
but who incline now to cast in their
political fortunes with the third party
"a party absolutely without hope OF
success in the pending contest. Either
Mr.. Harrison or Mr.. Cleveland will he
the next. President and it is equally
certain that either the Democratic or
the Republican party will control the
next Congress. OF necessity, then,
your choice must be one or the other
OF the candidates and of the parties l
have mentioned. Your support now
OF third party candidate or the third
party is simply the declaration upon
your part that in this great strug-
gle, involving self and governmental
may be the protection OF property and
OF the hearth stone-you are content to
remain idle spectators Let the issue
be plainly presented. II you desire the
enactment of the force bill with its
train OF evils, cast your vote for the Re-
publican candidate, or by standing with
the third party remain an idle specta-
tor Of the great struggle. II, upon the
contrary, you prefer the peace and hap
piness that comes with good govern
ment, your place is in the ranks OF the
Democratic party.
1t may be we'll to recall some of the
evils from which the southern people
escaped by the overthrow Of carpet-bag
domination. Fully to recount the in
Justice, the wrongs, the outrages SUI
fered by the people of some Of the
southern states during the era Of car
pet-bag misrule, would fill volume.
Mr.. Stevenson then at length review
ed the history of the reconstruction
period in the southern states, and con-
Guiding said:
The force bill is totally destructive of
local self government. It would be diff
cult to find on any page OF our history
more daring attempt to weaken the
power Of the people and centralize all
power in tho federal government No
single officer entrusted with its execu-
ton ia elected by the people. From
the Judge who makes the appointment
OF chief supervisors to the lowest dep
uty marshal entrusted with it's execu-
tion, ali receive their appointment un-
der federal authority The people, the
source Of all political power under our
contribution have no voice in the selec-
ton of those who under the INDUSTRIOUS
provisions of this bill can sport at will
with their dearest rights.
This legislation, my fellow citizens, is
devised in the spirit Of hate. Can it be
possible that the American people will
consent to the enactment OF a law so
hostile to the spirit OF our free institu-
ton. Legislation which sayors only
for vengeance, and the successful opera
ton OF which would involve the ex-
penditure Of millions OF dollars, and
bring in its train untold horrors. Can
it be that tho hands arc now turned
back upon the dial and the evils through
which you have happily passed become
living reality?
Mr.. Stevenson's remarks on the force
bill were followed by discussion on
tho tariff similar in substance to his
previous speeches on that Dubject.
nQ ArEn AT I,AST