The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-10-17
a CHANGE OF BASE.
rHE WORLD PAVING THE WAY.
Ron, MeN. z World or 7nursday.

1I0M me ~. 4. World Of IbuTSddu.
Democrats may justly cherish an
honorable pride in the vlgor, courage,
sleaalness, loyalty to principle and
patriotism OF the great party which has
MADE SO gallant a fight in the October
elections. Considering that two or three
years ago the Democratic party was
proclaimed dead by its opponents; that
every Republican newspaper predicted
lor II the fate OF the old Federal party
after the last war with England; con-
sldefing that Congress and all the State
governments were controlled by its bit
ter foes; that it was overborne by calum-
MES; that Its statesmen were buried in
the obscurtty OF private life, and that
iour-htths OF the most widely circulated
Journals have daily labored to bring 1t
into disrepute and odium; considering
all these adverse and depressing cir
cumstances, 1t is a signal proof Of en-
during vitality that the party has been
able, in the late elections to contest
every inch of ground against its oppo.
nents, and in spite OF their most stIen-
uous efforts to come within few votes
of beating them in an enormous poll OF
many hundred Thousand.
Inquiring why. having come so near
success in these elections, we haYeju
missed 1t, two reasons appear, in the
absence of either of which our triumph
sons are such as to show that a majori-
ty of the people are really on our side
and have been repelled from our sup
port by things having no proper con-
nection with the merits of the canvass.
II the military prestige OF. Gen. Grant
had been out of the scale, we should
have succeeded, or that remaining, ifthe
provisions of Gen. Blair's position had
been out OF the scale, We should have
succeeded. 1twould be paying poor
to Gen. Grant or to the
judgement of the party that nominated
him to say his popularity has not been
worth to the Republicans of PennByl-
vaniR half ofthe meager majority by
which they have carried the State.
other side, and the two parties would
be equal. Ifthat small number ofvotes
are due to the popularity of Gen. Grant
and i'll would be ridiculous to suppose
the contrary, the election, had 1t been
decided on the issues, would have been
In favor ofthe Democratic party. The
same remark will apply to the other
States. On the Democratic principles,
pure and simple, we should have sue.
ceeded. We have been beaten by rea-
sons quite e1traneous TO the questions
in issue. Wecould easily have over
come the popularity of General Grant
II fanother point had not been raised TO
divert attention from the Issue. The
position of General Blair and some of
ed and misrepresented, and the impress
sion induced that the Democratic party
is actually pledged to overthrow the
new State Governments by force. This
SANDER has repelled more than enough
votes to have turned the balance in
our favor. F-
The narrow escape of the Republicans
from a great defeat Is not due to their
principles, but the military prestRge of
Grant, and the aspersions cast on Blair.
In a simple contest of principle we
should have succeeded, and We may
succeed yet If we can remove or neu-
tralize these adverse Influence, which
have really nothing to do with the
question. Can this be done? It's a
grave question, fraught with momen-
tious consequences. We commend 1t
to the attention, to the most earnest re-.
Election of the recognized leaders OF the
party. We have still nearly three
weeks for action, and where so slight
counterpoise would suffice to turn
the scale, prompt action, If it be judi
oious as well as prompt, will accomplish
wonderss
hin a review Of the whole situation
1t shall be concluded that mistakes have
been made, it Is better that they should
be corrected now than that the country
D6 uTHKReu lnLOuBh AOuA hhOAO "CuAS
years OF strife, to be redeemed then by
measures of the same kind that might,
by a magnificent exercise of pluck, he
as easily adopted now. Whatever by
sagacious forecast may be perceived 10
be the proper course for the Democrat
ic party four years hence, IL 1t should
be beaten now, had better be pursued at
once. The time has come, the hour has
struck, when we must turn our forces
resolutely to the future. Ours is a
rough country with great career be-
fore it, which no Imagination can grasp.
a majority of our voters are young,
the country being in the dawn OF a new
era, when all minds are filled with ex-
pectatlon and excitement, that party
has the best chance of great future
which is most in sympathy with the
youthful, inexpressible energy of the