The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-21
Ir 1.AY Seem 10 some Of onr eitizenl

Il
IT MAY seem 10 some of our citizens
a comparatively unimportant matter
whether the Union party Is successful
or not in the coming Spring elections.
1t may appear TO them that it makes lit
tie difference whether the amendment
to the Constitution is ratified or reject
ed. Perhaps they say to themselves,
there are but few returned rebels here
and they are not bad citizens and they |
may feel unwilling 10 keepup an enmi- |
~ by making distinction politically |
between them and others; many feel,
in short, that whatever others may do.
they are not going TO give themselves
any further trouble about matters of
State politics.
Now this may be a convenient way
to shuttle on responsibility, but the
responsibility cannot be evaded in that
way consistently with duty. In gem
eraI way every person owes something
10 the common welfare. Every man in
vested with the high privilege OF an
elector owes sacred duty to the body
politjc. The institutions of free gov
eminent rest precisely as much on him
as ON any one else; and he is simply
coward and recreant if he fails to re-
gard the obligation or discharge the
duty. No coed citizen can maintain
himself upon the theory which some of
our people appear to adopt. A Princi-
pies rightin itself admits ONO unlimited
extension. But suppose We carry out
the idea that one voter may ignore
elections and stay away from the polls.
suppose it should happen that great
many. or all OF those entertaining the
principles OF the Union party, should
feel as some OF our friends in this city
.npear 10 feel and should entirely neg
lect to go to the election this Spring,
what would be the resnlt3 Our enc
mics don't neglect matters of this kind,
and a radical revolution would have
taken place in the State, and the prin-
eiples which our soldiers carried
through the rebellion ON their baynots,
and which many OF them sealed with
their lives would be overturned in
dny. Any Union man who neglects
his duty as a voter,says by such neglect
twhatever commendable motives he
may credit himself with that so far as
he is concerned he don't care If this is
the result
We are aware that there are many
loyal men in this city who feel very
little sympathy with the rest of the
State. Some OF them believe that this
city and the Panhandle belong natural
lyto Pennsylvania. They regard the
present arrangement as vastly better
than the old connection with Virginia,
butstill not all they could wish to con-
fer the greatest advantage ON Wheeling.
Whether they are right in this or not, we
max these persons to be practical, to ac-
cent things as they are and make
the best of them. Let US remember
that it Is ever much easier TO make
things worse than better. The city OF
Wheeling cannot have a government
of Its own. Our destiny is of necessity
interviewer with that of the State TO
which we belong. The welfare and
prosperity of this city must depend
very greatly on the political complex
ion of the State. Its interests will Ell
ther be promoted or Its advancement in
wealth and prosperity retarded by the
state legislation; and while 1t will have
important interests Independently of
any State laws, etitmust be governed
by those laws which may have pro-
found influence upon its commerce and
manufactures.
1t follows of necessity that this city
has as great stake in the election this
Spring us any community in the State.
Hour citizens feel no sympathy with