Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-07

The most remarkable political meet
ing Of the year no doubt was that which
took place at Sutton, when Hon. John
II. Holt returned to the scenes OF his
youth to discuss with the friends of his
childhood the questions of mighty po-
Htfcai moment that are now engaging
i the hest thoughts and highest patriot
ism Of the entire country. Not only
was the meeting remarkable in point OF
attendance, being the largest assembly
OF people ever seen in the county on
any occasion, but it was remarkable
also for the personnel. The Oldest cit
liens OF the county who are yet able
ID travel, came into town from all sides
TO hear the eloquent orator and pro-
found thinker who left Braxton in the
early seventies a slender red haired
hoy. but with the fair promise OF
growing into the man he now is. They
had known his father, his mother was
a native Of their county, and the older
ones remembered when his maternal
grand parents lived at old Bulltown. on
the Little Kanawha, owning and oper-
ating the salt works there. For two
whole days Judge Hollis rooms at the
hotel were flied with those who could
not be satisfied with merely hearing
the favorie son of old Braxton, but
VINO called to shake his hand
And Bid Him God Speed
in the great work which he has under
taken for the redemption of his State
and the rehabilitation of the people in
the garments of democratic govern
ment It was high tribute to the
character and force of the candidate,
the esteem manifested by these sturdy
citizens, and Judge Holt plainly showed
his appreciation in the manner in
which he greeted ALL and the marked
attention he showed to the older men
Who fiocked about him from morning
till night
When the hour for the speaking ar
rived it was found impossible for any
thing like a fair proportion of those
present to get into the court house, and
SO platform was erected in the yard,
and around it gathered the immense
concourse of people, covering oGe en-
tire side of the court house square, and
there standing, a perspiring, swelter-
ing, attentive multitude for more than
an hour and half, while the gallant
-E@spg Democratic leNder spoke 10 them
OF the issues fraught with so much in
terest to those who have care for the
welfare of the free institutions of the
country and the liberty and posterity.
Judge Holt began his address by a
touching reference to the days of his
BoyhOod in Old Braxton.
1t gives me pleasure" said he. "to
meet and mingle to-day with the COM
panions of my early childhood. 1t was
mere that | received my first and most
lasting impressions Of life, of its leals
and standards, and wherein have fall
on short of their accomplishment it has
not been the fault of my early ell, ir-
onment, but in consequence of my OWE
inherent weakness; for the lessons
taught here were like the trusty sign
board, always pointing the way Of
truth and right.
1t was here that the old man took
me by the hand and with a touching
sympathy and his greater strength and
experience helped me to combat and
overcome the trials of youth, and with
broad charity forgive its offeEses;
and In the years that have followed,
when the real trials of life have press
ed upon me sore and hard, have
turned with a longing heart and a
prayer for those who led me then. In
looking about me to-day l see some of
them still standing in the multitude of
their years like the sturdy oak that has
defied the flight Of time, but search in
vain for others that we all knew once
and will know no more; for they have
Joined the un-numbered host that has
passed beyond, and there is nothing left
to us but sweet memories and a long
ing for
The touch of vanished hand
And the sound of a voice that is still.'
There is not hill or stream or some
Or tree that does not
Recall Some Pathetic Scene,
y Joyous youthful hope and the whole
ar between the earth and sky of this
aid place 10 floating full of memories
~ the past.
THE old mill-dam yonder, whose
roar was our lullaby in the days that are
gone by, dams back the same stream that
1t did then, and the waters rush now
in the sunshine just as they did when
We fretted then with canoe and gig in
the truant days of long ago.
With these memories pressing upon
me 1t is hard to discuss the economics
Of the hour, but. If you will kindly
bear with me a short while, will I'M
dertake to remind you OF the political