The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-10-06
| word VIM Honest Democrats.
t is apparent that the Democratic

t is apparent that the Democratic
ders in this State, as in all the
ates, despair of electing the next
esident. The advice they get from
adquarters is to make their fight for
members Of Congress. They have
faint hope of increasing their mem
srs in the House ofRepresentatives 30
to control it, and by this means 10.
eep their party alive four years longer.
his speech here a fortnight ago, Mr..
arlIle reminded his conservative
riends that, even If they could elect
Ir. Seymour, 1t was barren victory
Mess they meant revolution-thatM Mr..
eymour would be as powerless as
Andrew johnson now is, and his adj
nIuIstratIon would be but continue
ion Of Mr.. Johnson's struggle with
congress, as to which should shape the
reconstruction policy of the Govern
nent; and that the Senate being newt
ably Republican during the next four
years, all Mr.. Seymour's efforts to con-
troI the policy OF the Government in
reference to the Southern States, must
be futile. Now that the defeat
of Mr.. Seymour Is conceded-as it is
lby every intelligent Democrat
what could the Democracy promise
the country, even It it were pos
sibIe for them to get control of the
lower House of ConEress7 Both the
administration and the Senate would
be against them. They conld effect
nothing positive, and negatively could
only embarrass an administration they
could not defeat. With a msjority in
the House they could hinder further
legislation, but that would not prevent
the reconstruction OF the South accord
Ing to the policy of the Republican
Congress, for no further legislation is
necessary. It is only needed that the
administration shall enforce existing
laws TO speedily consummate the work;
and the very day that an administra-
ton comes into power pledged to do
that, the work is virtually done and the
struggle practically ended.
Now we ask rejecting, intelligent,
honest Democrats, who really desire
nothing but the prosperity of the coun-
try at large, who understand that what
ever affects the well-being of the whole
nation Intimately affects their own per-
sonal welfare. to ask themselves what
1t is they are hoping and labOring for
in working for the success of the New
York ticket-or, concediug as their
leaders do, that that is hopeless, in try
Ing to elect Congress upon platform
that pledges every man elected on 1t to
maintain the rightfulness OF the rebel
lion and the wrongf1lness of all the
means used in overcoming it2 Does he
In his heart believe what this platform
declares7 II so, then no argument
based on the assumption that the rebel
lion was unJustitiable and wrong could
reach him, and we attempt none. But
II he believes that it is better for the
United States as u whole, and certainly
better for our own community as a part
OF 1t, that the unity of the country and
the supremacy OF the Government
should be maintained, what practical
benefit does the party with which he
acts promise in the event of its success,
partial or entIre2 It's entire success,
as its platform and the character aud
record its leaders but too we'll assure
US, could end in.nothing but what the re-
belIIon would have ended In had 1t been
successful. Its partial success can
only prolong struggle every month of
which does the country in all Its inter-
esis incalculable harm. Certainly the
IN
the past half dozen years must satisfy
any intelligent man that the march of
great events, (Which, II, they be not the
DEGREES of Providence, are the results of
inexoTable processes in human expe-
rience) " bich has carried us SO far in SO
short time, cannot now be stayed by
those who valnly tried to stay it when
they were much more powerful than
now. There are some revolutions which
cannot go backward, and We have pass
ed through such an one. Why should
any man who believes in a government
by the people, where every man who is
honest is the peer of every other, de-
sire to undo the results of the war !?
The only element of real danger TO the
permanenoy OF the Union and 10 the
welfare of Its people has been elimina-
ted; and despite all the losses which
this process cost, our prosperity as
nation is to-day more broadly and firm
Iy founded than ever before.
What madness is II that leads the
Southern rebels in their utter poverty
and powerlessness to presume that the
masses OF the American people will
recall their verdict on the great issue
arbitrated by the sword, and yield now
without reason and without conslaera-
ton the victory that cost them so dear?
They are deluded by their Northern
allies, with promises which they can no
more fulfill now than they could fulfill
similar promises eight years ago. No
rational man can doubt, after the sacri-
6ces through which the masses of the
North planted their resolution that this
country shall be one and that in all its
broad domain no man shall be COM
pslled to call another master, that their
resolution will be maintained. The
people of the loyal. States who hold the
power OF the nation, and who ought
to and will hold it till the status of
the rebel States is finally and inexora-
bly, settled, may differ about minor
matters, but upon this one point that
there shall be one government and one
law for all alike, they are fully and
finally agreed, and no political knavery
ON battle THAT purpose for any length
OF time.