The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-11-02

plause had subslded, "And 1 accent
It not as personal to myself, but as mn
expression OF your confidence In ana I
great devotion to the President OF the
United States, tapplauso) in whose
cabinet have the honor to be a mem.
Der. (Renewed applause.) I know the
warmth Of your greeting; I learned Il
two years ago, 1t Is one OF the n,oat
pleasing memories Of my life that Il
came to Wheeling two years ago, juet
about the present stage OF the cam.
paisn, few evenings before the cleo
ton. remember we had a love feast
that night, and hope we are going. to
repeat 1t tonight (Applause.)
Glad Tidings. II 8
II come here the last week Of the
campaign to bring you glad tldlngs OF
assured victory. It has been my priyi.
lege to visit many OF the states during
this momentous canvass, and every
where have found profound sense Of
the tremendous issues at stake and oh
unmfstakable trend OF public opinion
which clearly points to thr overwheirri.
ing reelection Of President Mckinley.
Two weeks ago It was my privilege to
speak at Lincoln, Nebraska. During
the afternoon my friends gave me. tho
opportunity Of seeing somewhat ceie.
brated farm in its immediate vicinity.
The proprietor was absent on an east.
ern tour in what he once called the
enemy's country. but there was never
theless an interesting reminder Of the
absent proprietor. for the most con-
splcuous object on that farm, more I'M
presslve than the somewhat dimlnutive
farmhouse. more imposing than tho
barn, was stately, lncessant md un-
firing windmill. daughter and cheers.)
-Four years ago We had the greatest
educational campaign which this co,ih-
try has ever witnessed. We met in
public halls to discuss the great issues
then at stake, we debated them In the
columns OF the newspapers, we especial-
ly debated them on the curbstont-wo
hadn't much else to do In those days
daughter and applause)-and after the
most searching and thorough discussion
the American people decided that they
could not afford to elect Mr.. Bryan
President Of the United States because
his election would involve a great ma !.
tional disaster 1t would have assailed
the sanctity and the independence OF
our judiciary; 1t would have Under i
mined the very foundations Of our freei'
institutions, which rest for their se-f
curity on the majesty OF the law and on I.
It's just judicial Interpretation. II
would especially have plunged the
country to the silver basis, with all the
financial ruin involved in that great
change. The contemplation Of such a
possible catastrophe united patriotic
men Of all parties to avert It.. But great
as would have been the shock OF Mr..
Bryan's election four years ago. his
election this year would bring a far
greater national calamity. tApplause.)
More to Lose.
"If there was reason for apprehension,
then there is double reason for alarm
now. Why? Because we have so much
more to lose, because we have go much
farther to fall, because Mr.. Bryan's
election this year would plunge US to
the same depths from far higher alh-
tude. II you fall from q second story
window you are In danger Of q broken
neck; II you fall from the top OF o
modern "skyscraper' you are sure Of Il;
That Is the difference between 1896 and
1900. Four'years Of hard times and gen.
eral depression and widespread bank.
ruptcy had Frustrated our industries
and paralyzed our trade. The ea-
changes OF our banks and cltating-
houses. which measure the vnlume Of
trade, had declined more than one
quarter. Over 100000 worNlhgihnn
were out of employment and tioso who
had employment were working at short
wages during short hours. The de.
poslts in our savings banks were largely
reduced, showing that depositors wefe
drawing upon their savings to mako up
the loss OF weekly and monthly and
yearly income. The consumption OF
wheat actually went down more than
two bushels per head per year, showing
that empty pocketbooks were followed
by empty stomachs. Moro than one.
quarter of our railroads were In the
hands Of receivers The whole loss dur
Ing that period was more than the en-
tire cost of the civil war.
1896 and Now.
That is where YOU were in 1895. Yon
were in the slough OF despond. You
elected williom Mckinley to get you
out of the slough; and didn't he do TT
(Applause and cries OF "yes.) II you
had elected Mr.. Bryan YOU would In
deed have gone still deeper in, but you
were already in. II you had fallen then
you would have fallen from d low level,
but IL you fall now you fall from tho
higher level OF an unprecedented PROS
perity, and the loss and calamity VIII
be SO much the greater. The exchanges
OF our clearing houses, which declined
during the dark days Of the hard times.
have Increased under this administra-
ton until to-day they are double what
they were in 1896. They reach the stu-
pendous and almost inconceivable fig.
ures OF 500, 900, 100000. The deposits in
our savings banks have Increased moro
than $500, ,oOo, 900. Mortgages have been