The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-09
THE INTELLIGENCER.
WHEELING. MAY o, 1900.
Governor Atkinson's Speech.

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The speech of Governor Atkinson,
who acted as temporary chairman OF
the Republican state convention at
FarImont yesterday. contained many
ringing utterances-utterance that
would have enthused the most confrm-
ed political pesslmIst. Governor AtkIn-
son gave an exhaustive review Of the
Accomplishment of the national and
state administrations. and but reflected
the views Of his hearers and the Repub-
llcan party throughout West Virginia,
when he said that "he had not the
shadow Of a doubt as to satisfactory
result" in November. In giving his
reasons for the faith that was in him
he added: "The Republican party has
made good every one of its promises
which were given to the country four
years ago, and 1t, therefore, enters this
contest consclouso duties falthtullyper-
formed and with the belief. deeply
grounded that 1t is invlncIble, because
1t has at all times dealt fairly with the
people"
There is no galnsaying that state
ment. 1t is more than the Democratic
party has done, and ever will be capa-
BILE OF doing. The Democratic party has
never been thoroughly united,and never
been in a more distracted and disrupted
state than it is at the present day. Be-
sides 1t has fooled the people too often.
They have lost what little confidence
they had in its professions, and they
surely are not in humor this year to be
sand dragged and gold brIckad by Bryan,
whose Cassandra-llke prophesles four
years ago and whose infatuatIon with
gloomy predictions this year have made
him the laughing stock Of the nation.
Governor Atkinson never spoke more
eloquently or convincIngly than when
he said that the Republican party is
party of the living. and not OF the dead,
adding: ITO act, to assume responsible
ties, to, confront emergencies, to so at
every problem to solve and settle it,
this is the genius of the Republican par:
ty. 1t despises evaslon.it detests compro-
misses. 1t rejoices in opportunities. En-
deavor is Its element; opposition Is les
qulckenIng spirit. It is the party for
young men to live in. and for old men
to die In"
This picture. as true as the verlties OF
scripture, is in striking contrast to thu
party of dissent, opposition and OBJ
structlon-the party of Bryan and Alt
geld that would destroy instead of
build up, that delights only in dealing
with the sombre forebodlngs that have
no sanctuary except in their own per-
verted brains: an organization whose
planks Invariably begin with those de-
pressing sentences, I'VE condemn" 1--WE
deplore." I'VE arraiGn," and I'VE look
with alarm" Never u cheerful word or
an elevating thought-aIways among
the tombs of the past, never with ths
living. virile present.
with reference to state affairs Cover
nor Atkinson spoke with more modesty
than was necessary. His administrI-
ton has been a most commendabie one.
1t has conducted the state Institutions
and government with marked business
ability and economy. and has served the
people well and faithfully During this
past three years large sums Of out
standing debts have been collected, aud
the condition of the public treasury
never was healthier The penitentIary
has been so splendldly conducted. that
from n yearly deficit of many thousands
OF dollars, 1t is now producing an income
of more than $4,000 every year, ami
other state institutions have been con-
Quoted with proportionatc SUCCESS. In
dustrially and socially the State has
made marvellous progress, with the
reckoning finger OF Time leading to
greater development and glorious des-
tiny in the slsterhood of ;he states OF a
undivided and indlssoluble union.