The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-04
Eloquent Congressman Discusses the
Issues Of the Day.
DAYTON MAKES SHORT SPEECH.
Richie County Craftsman Makes
Votes by His Eloquent and Logical
Argument-Brings to Mind the
Dark Days Of Grover cleveland's
Reign.
Special Dispatch to tho Intelllgencer.
(By Bill Partlow.)

Republican meeting here yesterday was
one OF the largest and most enthusiastic
gatherings ever held In this place. The
city was fairly ablaze with enthuslasm
and Republlcanism. The opera house
was packed with anxious listeners while
the doctrine OF the Republican party
was expounded. People came from all
sections Of Marion county eager to hear
the principles Of the grand old party.
The meeting In the opera house was
called to order at 2 o'clock. ]. w.
Shraycr was chosen chairman, who, In
few well chosen words Introduced
Congressman A. G. Dayton, Mr.. Day.
ton spoke mostly upon the national
prosperity Of the country and especial
" upon the prosperous conditions of
West Virginia. He also touched upon
the currency and trust questions. His
speech was received with great enthu-.
siasm, at the conclusion of which Judge
Freer was introduced.
at His Best
The Judge was at his best and made
one OF his usual eloquent, logical and
characteristic speeches. 1t was the
principal speech Of the day and many
OF the older inhabitants claim 1t was the
best speech ever made In this city.
Everybody was delighted with the effort
US we'll as the large and enthusiastic
outbursts of applause with which the
speaker was greeted. Judge Freer
touched on all the issues OF the day.
He said in part:
Our country is dedicated to liberty
and equality under the law. We Re-
publIcans always believe. and we be-
lleye It 1t to-day. that this is one nation
one government, one people. with one
flag, one faith. and one destiny. There
is no north. no south.
Believe in Progress.
I'VE are Republicans because we be-
lleve in progress. development and adj
vancement. The Republican party al
ways believes in doing something and
the Republicans are never barred by
the statute of limitations.
Away back fifty years ago we said
this should be;a free nation and free
people. We believe that the first law
OF the, Republican party, is self protec-
tIon. We said the government should
protect Its people and all their interests.
and build up and enlarge the power and
strength Of this nation and we have
done so.
II am told here to-day by the people
that they cannot afford to spend much
time attending political meetings be-
cause they are too busy. It was not so
four years ago. You could get up on a
dry goods box and yell political meet
ing and everybody would go because
they had nothing else to do.
Labor Was Silent.
Labor was silent. mills were closed
down, merchants were failing, farm
products went down, and where, to-day,
the smoke OF prosperity Is curling from
the factories. the birds were then build
Ing their nests in the smoke stacks.
There was nothing going on: thousands
and thousands OF good, honest and in
dus,rious men were tramping about
from day TO day, pleading for wo-l,
and begging for something TO eat.
Great. strong. men had to assume
the role of tramps and eat ut soup
houses. The people could not secure
employment Three thousand strong,
able-bodied men went to Washington
under the direction Of Coxey, knocked
at the doors of Congress and begged fol
labor, but the only consolation they re.
ceived was through the Democrats
sticking their heads out OF the door and
telling them to keep of the grass.
No Trusts Nor Business.
THE Democrats say there were M
trusts in 1895. There was no bushes:
to pay trusts. Trusts are not the result
of legislation, but the result of business
conditions alone. Where there Is plent!
OF business and plenty Of money trusts
will grow. When we find bad trusts l.
Is our. duty to take them by the throa
and throttle them. The Republican
party does not believe In trusts
bu, there Is not n Demo
Graf or Republican In Marior
county that would not go In trust to-
morrow If they thought they could
make $4,000. Trusts are the result o.
business conditions and not politica
conditions. Out of the twenty-five
states that have passed laws to govern
trusts, twenty of them were Republican
and two Democratic, yet the Democrat.
yell trusts.
Number of Soldiers.
1--WE have one soldier to every 14,0Ot
inhabitants. Jackson had one to every
12,200 people. Nobody heard anything
about mllltarism under the Democrat,
party. yet at the present time the;
claim our country is menaccd by o,ii
army. Who composcs that army-youi
sons and my sons compose that army
Are. you willing to trust them? am
thank God We have an army. I thanl
God we have got one In the Philippine!
that we can send across to China an;
pave a way for our Christian civIliza'
ton
I'VE hear our Democratic friends tall
imperialism. What docs 1t mean?
think the Democratic platform come!
as near telling US as anything, which Il
merely nm Issue to criticize our polio,
In the Philippines. We had a war will