Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-02-25
THE WHO PARTY IN VIRGINIA..

The Richmond Times Of the l7th, contains
we'll timed and ably written article on the subject
Of the Wing Party in Virginia. Whilethe Wings
of Virginia have sometimes done better than in the
recent struggle, "they have much oener." says
the Times, "done worse and as past defeats have
failed to make them embrace the iguomnious al
tentative Of abandoning their organization and mar
ching under the yoke of their adversares, we are
a, lnss to conjecture why they should do so now.
In the Presidential election of 1874 Folks MAORI
ty over Clay in this State was 1898. the whole
number of votes given being aboul $4,000. AT the
late gubernatoral election, the Democratic majuri-
ty Of the popular vote was only about the same as
in the fall Of Al. although the aggregate vote a
mounted 10 10000. Thus il will &c seen that
tho Democratic party have gained nothing, five
compare their relative strength now with what it
was in 1874, but have actually lost ground, the
largely increased aggregate vote being taken into
consideration"
Notwithstanding their defeat in lS44,in the Pres
idential canvass Of ls46, The Wings aroused them
selves from their apathy and shook The boased Cit
adel Of Democracy 10 its foundations, the ocoCoco
majority of the popular vote falling shor, Of 1900
The aggregate popular vote at the late election
was about 10000, and the Democratic majority
G000, which "bears about the same proportion to
100000, that 50 does TO 1000. Now what would
be though, of The Wings Of a single county, poll
ing we wil say, 1000 votes, who should strike
their fng and abandon themselves to despair be-
cause they had been beaten fifty votes? Such an
instance of unmany dependency and faint heart
edness, we are firmly convinced was never wit
messed in any county of this commonwealth. Such
a county would be universally regarded as highly
deba,eabe, and no tnan would be surprised at re-
versal Of its political position. Equally debateable,
we think, should this State now be regarded; more
particularly as we have now system Of unrestrict-
ed suffrage, for it is well known that under such
system the fluctuations in popular sentiment are
much more rapid, and the changes IN the relative
strength OF parties much more frequent, than under
the system which We recently abandoned.1
"But even admitting, for argument sake, that
our opponents nave HSeu anu lFTeVerSaOl6 major
i,y in Virginia. still we conlead, that it is not on
ly the duty Of the Wings, as men struggle for
what they believe 10 be the rightful cause to dis
pute every inch of ground with the opposite party
but that The evils Of democratic domination may
often be paiaod by such course"
The Times then cites facts to illustrate the pow
er of a well organized minority to thwart the will
and check the acliVn Ola majority, and concludes
as follows
"Powerful in numbers intelligence and wealth,
embracing in its ranks host of talented speakers
and writers, the Wing party of Virginia must cv-
er continue 10 present formidable front 10 its OPP
ponenls II may sink temporarily into apathy and
indifference under the depressing influence Of do
feat. 5Gt as surely as the sun breaks through the
cloud or The willow rises when The blast has pass
cd over, its spirit will revive and its energy re,
tu.n whenever an occasion shall arise 10 call them
forth. The principle Of vitality is too strong with
in it to be trampled out, and as long as the prnci
pie Of Good shall war with the principle of Evil,
so long will the principle of Whigism war with
that OF Democracy"