The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-21
McoRKLE And pLANoHARD
Speak at Grafton-The Democratic cGn'
didato's Calamity BOwi-Mr. BlanehardS
Crazy-ouilt speech.

sneak at Grafton-The Democratic Can.
didato,s Calamity Howi--Mr. BIanchhrd'S
CraEy-QuiIt speech.
Ssee!a; Dispz:i. % q; Ia.slistae-r.
GRAFTON, W. VA, Sept 2O.-Last night
was the fatal time named by the DEM
ocrats for an invasion upon the strong
hold OF Taylor's invincible Republican
ism. The occasion was to be that OF
Democratic mass meeting at which can
didate MacCorkle and Tammany Halls
great stump speaker, Thomas +. Grady,
OF New York, were to pose as the oracles
of the Democratic brethren. Grady did
not appear, and Mr.. Blanchard, OF Mich
ican. was summoned to take his place.
The meeting had been extensively ad-
vertised and great were the expecta-
tons for an unterrified Democratic car
niyal. But alas for the realizations OF
such fond hopes-hopes that created
not ripple in the political waters OF
Taylor.
The meeting was held in the opera
house. which was well filled, there be-
ing many ladies present and also a
great number OF Republicans who were
curious to get look at the Democratic
candidate Tor governor. Then, too, Re-
publicans like to attend Democratic
meetings and hear Democratic har-
argues OF calamity, ETC., which only
strengthen their Republicanism. The
meeting in question was presided over
by Hon. B. +. Martin, who made brief
address and introduced MIR. MacCorkle
as the speaker who was to sound the
prelude TO the Democratic music OF the
evening. Then the tall kanawhan
arose, and as he faced his audience he
was received with applause. He spoke
about forty minutes, and during the
course OF his remarks he was inter-
rupted with applause just three times
by actual count. His speech was mild,
harmless and apologize. he com
planned OF being unwell and said ne
could not let himself loose there at that
time as he was accustomed to do down
in Kanawha. He made no attempt at
an argumentative dissertation on the
political issues Of the campaign, but
simply confined himself to the por-
trayal of dark picture OF woe and
sorrow throughout the United states
and then pointed to Republican pro-
lection as the cause of it all. Gloom
and despair everywhere among the
laboring classes, with the Republican
party and protection as the carollaries
10 his propositions, made up the SUBJ
stances OF his remarks. Then he
tlagrently defined himself as no free
trader and said the Democratic party
would give the workingman all the pro.
lection he needed, and was in favor OF
protection for the laborer. But what
kind Of protection he meant he failed
to specify. Then, with brief denial
OF Democratic extravaganza in the ad-.
minissration OF state affairs, he brought
his address to conclusion.
Mr.. Blanchard then took his turn and
puzzled hia audience little with his
preliminary remarks as to his political
identity. he began by saying he was
once a Wing, afterwards. Democrat,
then Greenbacker, and now, thank
God, he belonged to no party, but was
an Independent American citizen.
The audience thinned somewhat when
Mr.. Blanchard arose to speak, and to
hold the crowd he interposed his re-
marks with frequent references to the
Scriptures, blended with funny stories.
He declared there could be no tariff un-
der the constitution except for revenue
only, and he said any man who walked
into the halls of the national Congress
and voted for protection was a perjured
scoundrel, because he violated his oath
to support the constitution in so doing:
MIR. Blanchard's mixture of humor and
religion with his violent attacks on pro-
lection provoked great laughter among
the audience and saved the meeting
from ending tediously and monotonous-
ly. It's political significance was OF no
moment.