Huntsville gazette., 1894-10-13
WILSON'S WELCOME.

Enthusiastic Reception of the Great Tariff
Reformer by the Citizens of Chariestown
The Inspfriting Strains of "Dixie" Al
most Drowned Out by the Shouts of tho
Populace-The Statesman's Feeling Ac-
acknowledgements.
CHARLEsTowN, W. Va, Oct. 9.-Wil-
liam L. Wilson was welcomed to West
Virginia with an enthusiasm un-
bounded in the memory of the oldest
citizen of this quaint old town. A
committee of $50 citizens, accompanied
by the Charlestown cornet brass band,
met the train conveying Mr.. Wilson
and the Washington party at Harper's
Ferry. AS the train drew into Charles
town, two additional bands hailed Mr..
Wilson's arrival with Dixie" the
strains of which were almost drowned
by the shouts of 1000 people. Hats
were thrown in the air and ladies
waved their handkerchiefs.
Proceeding up the principal streets
TO the courthouse, cheers followed the
procession and crowd surrounded
Mr.. Wilson's carriage. Flags were
displayed from numerous windows.
The entire route of the procession was
one constant ovation.
The little courthouse could not hold
one-half of the people who endeavored
to crowd into it.
In the audience were many ladies of
Charlestown. A sprinkling of black
faces looked down from the galleries
and followed Mr.. Wilson's remarks
with interest.
Placed above the speakers stand was
a large picture of President Cleveland,
tianked on either side by pictures of
Mr.. Wilson. American flags were dis
tributed about the room.
As Mr. Wilson entered the audience
cheered for several minutes. He was
introduced by r. P. Chew in a brief
speech as the first citizen of the COM
monwealth." This was the signal for
the bands to again play Home Again" :"
and after order was restored Mr.. Will
son, with much feeling, made acknowl-
edgment of the warmth of his recep-
tion.
Referring to the criticisms made on
his London speech, he said it was gar
bled. He did not, however. feel afraid
to tell the people of London what he
had told before to the people of West
Virginia, and that was that we were
engaged in tearing down the tariff
wall, and soon we would compete
with Great Britain for the sea-carrying
trade of the world.
Mr.. Wilson did not hold that the
present tariff law measured up to the
full idea of tariff reform, but, man
gled as it was, it was much better than
the old tariff law. There was not, he
said, single reform that the people
could turn to the repu blicans in the
hope that they would accomplish it.
Prosperity was returning, not with q
rush but substantially; true prosperity,
and gradually and permanently.
He referred to President Cleveland
as having the rudder of tariff reform
in hand when the clouds were lower
ing and when depression in business,
brought on by republican mismanage-
ment, was greatest and bringing re-
lief, even if partial, to the people.
Cleveland's name was the signal for
repeated cheers.
Other speeches were made by Repre-
sentative Myer, of Pennsylvania; Col.
Kyd Douglas, of Hagerstown, Md, and
Internal Revenue Collector McGraw.
The speakers at last nights meeting
were Hon. r. T. Barton, Winchester,
Va; Hon. Fred j. Nelson, Frederick
City, Md, and Hon. Mortimer Kilgore,
Louden county. Va.