Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1855-01-24


ilsmaaly instinets,n - 10 % fatteringly
styled The Wings, will '.gatler n<v strength
and catch nep Inspiration in cause Of
Dhich EygRY PATRIOT SHOULD IN PRoUD
AND IN WHICH EVERY vmGrErAs sHoULr
NEWER TIRE"
There d upon record short, but rich and
instructive commentary upon the s'in.tincs''
letter Of Dir. Wise, which we would do our
readers serious injustice to withhold from
them. 1t u from the pen Of the able and
veneratad leader and champion of the Viz
GINA Democracy for half century-from
their sGuide Philosopher and Friend = from
him whose name no Democrat may pronounce
but with respect and reverence, and with
deep and melancholy regret that be is not
still here to enlighten them with his conn
sells, TO animate them With his eloquence,
and to re-invigoratc them in their devotion
to the time-honored principles and ADVOCATE
Of their party 1t is from him, who having
spent long and vigorous life 10 defence and
advocacy of that canse ho lsved SO we'll, and
served so faithfully, now sleeps peacefully
beneath the quiet sod at Hollywood Po-
litical opponent as be was, when We reflect
upon his character his genius, his talents,
his patriotism, bis consistent and inflexible
devotion to the cause ever near to his heart
I've, too, may be pardoned for breathing
sigh to the memory and dropping tear upon
the gave fTHoMAs RITcHIE.
Bat what said Father Ritchic-"granny
Mr.. Wise called him-of the dec
laration of the .Accomac orator, that "Wbigs
knew each other by the Instincts of gentle
men and of patriots Here is bis comment
taken from the Richmond Enquirer Of Aug.
18th, 1888:
.'Ali the Decency r'--.Aii the Gentiii,y!
"The Honorable" Mr.. Henry A. Wise is
now vending bis way to the White Sulphur.
lie was in Petersburg on the 3rd inst. when |
he was invited to public dinner BY he
Wings OF the place. Blu ne declined tho
invitation in consequence Of i'll heallh---in q
note, from which the following remarkable
passage taken.
81 arrived here few days since and have
been delayed in passing to the White Sui
phur Springs by the kindness of friends, with
out the least expectation of this manifesto
ton ofregard, a greeting like this, in "a land
of strangers But Whig- know each other
by the instinct of gentlemen ard of patriots
"Whigs kpow each other by the Instinct
Of gentlemen aud of patrifts - Falstaff
knew the true Prince by Instinct The
Wing knew Gen Harrison would be Pres-
dent by similar species of instinct. But
this is the first time that We have ever seen
it boldly claimed for the Wings that they
knew each other by the instinct of gentle
men and patriots" What are there no
other patriots, than Whigss Are all the
,ther ,liticiaus traitors to their country
And ere no others gentlemen forsooth This
S indeed an arrogant assumption-and as
bold and as bad declaratio !, as the saving
# old john Adams about the mobility hole
And are We come to this-That there are no
'ther gentlemen 10 this land, than the Er.
lusiue Whig? Are they to constitute the
nobility hols-the aristocra ~ of Virginia
And must all others be ostracised from good
'ociety, except the self-styled Wbigsa'
There is Father Ritchie's language, italics
Ind all. "This is the first time,' he says,
'that we have ever seen it boldly claimed
for the Wings that they knew each other by
the instinct of gentlemen and patriots. ~
Verify, the sold line" Democrats Of Virginia
gulp down the bitterest of all pills, when
they swallow Mr. Wise. Will they do it
Is all pride, all self-respcct, all independence
gone out Of them Arc they slaves and
spaniels, all : Is thy servant dog that he
shousd do this thing
We viii not believe it. We will not im-
pute to them such severity of spirit, such
base toadyism OF soul. They will reject the
proffered cup--they will spurn the thought
OF such humiliati'n-they will spit upon the
petty managers that seek to rule them, and
TO make slaves and to, Is of them. They will
be Freemen-an with freeman's might and
frceman's voice, they will proclaim in thun-
der tones, at the polls, that Mr.. Wise's nom
nation was fraud which neither threats
nor Establishments can ever induce them to
ratify,
STORM.