The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-11-16
RoldIera.na Demoern1io Connlhnten.

LIN ~ LUG4 NIX 70 elYsliE nUuQfeo mi r
lions Of dollars, that he advocated the
speedy building of the Pacific Railroad.
Soldiers as Democratic Candidates.
There is one class OF men We must
pity. Those soldiers Of the Union army
who have permitted themselves to be
seduced by cOppe rhead Establishments
into the folly Of lending their names to
give weight and chhraSfeF to the tickets
of their political enemies during the
war, have certainly been seYefely pun
tshedf Without an exception they have
been defeated and rejected by the peo-
pie whose support they seemed to exc
pect as a part of the admiration they
felt themselves entitled to as a reward
New York, Benton OF Iowa, Morgan of
Ohio and Runyan OF New Jersey, all
entered the Held as Democrat eandt-
dates, relying upon their military fame
to carry them safely through the cam
vRss. They all did good serYice in the
war, aud returned toltheIf homes hons
ored and popular men. They were not,
however, out of danger. They were
met by an enemy more insidious and
potent than the one they had helped
vanquish on the fields OF the South.
The Democratic party approached them
with promises of honor and lofflee
and wealth; IL they would only
they had been doing battle. Unfortu-
nately in every sense, as the result has
shown, they were not proof against the
temptsr. They fell into the snare. They
| gave their names, their influence and
the weight ofitheir characters to help
along have crushed them, II it had been
able TO do 80. One thing, however, they
have learned as the result of this mis-
step, viz: that Il made all the difference
in the world upon which side they did
their fighting. Every one OF them has
been badly beaten. Their. victories In
the field proved Of no avail when the
contest was transferred TO the polls.
The same principles which they had be-
| fore helped to establish remained vic
toriOus, Notwithstanding their defec-
ton; and, instead OF returning q second
time us cohquefofs, the end Of the sec
Ond struggle found them in the dust,
''Served them right" will be the verdict
of history. and 1t Is to be hoped their
experience with the democracy will
leave them wiser and better, as 1t GER
tainly has made them Sadder men.
While We cannot but regret the hu-
initiation and bitter modification to
which the parties alluded to have been
subjected, we rejoice at the events
which have produced them, regarding
| them as among the most suggestive and
encouraging signs of the times. The
fate of SIocHm, Benton & Co., will teach
military men a lesson which they will
not be likely soonto forget. We would
not be surprised IL such men. for DEM
ocratic candidates, were found hereafter
TO be rather scarce. But the great fact
established = ithat the country has not
been demoralized by its long contact
with military life and influences, con-
trnFy TO the fears OF many of our sound
est patriots and the predictions of the
whole of the disloynl opposition
The people. have shown that they. did
not permit themselves to be dazzled
by military glory, when they came to
/ perform the solemn and responsible
duties of citizens. They have not lost
sight of principle for a moment, but
have kept steadily on to the attainment
of the end for which they have strug-
And herein is the highest evidence they
could have furnished or their capacity
for SelE-government.