The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-08-30
RIIEA AT WISE.
A Large and Enthusiastic
Crowd Greeted Our Next
Congressman.

Congressman VIM. +. Rhea opened the
Democratic campaign in Wise county with
strong and statesmanlike speech AZ
Gladeyille Oh Monday. Judge Rhea's
argument, while touching upon the whole
of the Kansas City platform, was devoted
mainly to the new Republican policy OF
Imperialism. In this he was very fortu-
nate, for about one hundred and fifty of an
audience of five hundred attentive listen
ers were Republicans, to whose honesty,
fairness and patriotism the speaker made
an earnest and telling appeal in his expo
sure of the administration policy Of lead
ing its followers on step by step 10 the
maintenance of an ever increasing stand
ing army, and to the reputation of prin-
ciples and doctrines declared and promul
gated by the party from its very birth, and
the adoption in their stead OF new imper-
ialistic and more pluiOcratic policies,
the only possible result of which will he to
make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
He showed that during the last three
years the taxes levied by the Federal Cow
eminent have been doubled, that more
trusts and large combinations Of capital
TO cut OF competition and control the
prices OF both the articles which the
people supply and those which they con-
sumo, have been formed than IN the whole
history of the Government before 1891,
that these combinations for greed have
forced up the price Of nearly all the
articles consumed by the public from 20
to 100 % without materially increasing
the price Of wages or Of articles supplied
by the public, and that the Republican
party is doing everything in lis power to
foster aud protect these monopolies for
the sake of tLc campaign flnd it derives
therefrom.
Iii, strongest robuke 10 President Me
Kinley, his hypocrisy, and his policies
was by words from he mouth, of Abraham
Lincoln, the founder of the Republican
party, and Thomas b. Reed, il strongest
and brainiest member today
Judge Rhca told of the contest for his
seat brought by his defeated opponent,
and of his fight before the congressional
committee composed of six Republicans
and only three Democrats, aud Of his final
triumph before that committee in getting
report favorable to him by majority OF
to ,, of whom 1 were Republicans, in
GLIDING the chairman and representative
from Mr. Mckinley's own district. lie
showed that this report was = thorough
vindication Of his election, and that, there
fore, the Wise Conventions endorsement
of his opponents contest was absurd aud
silIy, aud that his opponent manilestly
had a very weak case or had very little
influence with the Republicans in Con-
gIess.
His speech throughout was calm, digni-
fed, 'forceful and eloquent. He did not
mention General Walkers name and g-
nored his rabid frothings aud childish
denunciatious. The speech OF about an
hour aud half was received with FREE
quent applause and earnest attention; the
peroration was a model of eloquence, ard
the whole m~.le an excellent impression.
The speaker was introduced by General
Ayers in ringing short speech, scoring
the Republican party for their reputation
of The Constitution and dishonoring Of
the Flag.