The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-09-04
The Kentucky Election-Its Cause ana
Fron, The Cincinnati Ga.eteo Of august II.
Ill.,. L. q ..i.-.. .E 4,-.r

From Tie Cincinnati G0zetLeo of august IL.
Sc There is a reign of terror
in Kentucky. There is precisely such
sentiment there as there is in every
Southern State, and as the Democratic
party would make everywhere IL they
had the power. The right of the people
TO free thought, free discussion and a
free ballot is not recognized. There is
absolute intolerance. No Republican
has any right which Democrat is
bound 10 respect. In business and in
society Union men are ostraciZed, and
on ali hands there is determination to
crush them. They are openly threat
ened with determination in the event
of Seymour's election. In many,places
Union men are not sale in their lives,
and the greatest outrages are often
committed against person and property.
The democracy of brute force rules the
State, and $4,000 majority for Steven:
son means an overwhelming majority
against the Union, against law and or
der, against free ballot, against free
speech, against the rights of person and
property.
we have said that this was n majOri-
ty against the Union, The Kentucky
idea OF Union is n glittering lie. II
means sdespotism-that despotism which
has not the compensatlng advantage of
order, or protection for life or property.
There can be no Union in this country
where the citizen Is not safe In his per-
son and property; where he does not
enjoy the freedom and profession guar
anteed by our Constitution; and where
laws for the punishment of a crime Is
dead letter. There can be no Union
where perjured Judges sit upon the
benches, and Justice is solemn mock
cry. There can be no Union until the
laws are recognized, and until the citl-
zen, SO long as he obeys the laws, shall
hGat tHo101utalU In and
come when and wherever he pleases.
Therefore, as these things cannot be
done in kentucky, there is no Union
there. Anarchy has virtually taken
the place of law, and for MAN, who is
nota Democrat. e. a rebel Democrat
there is no safety.
We have now before us a letter fIOm
native-born citizen OF Kentucky,
whose gray-haired father is also a Citi-
sen of the State-talented, virtuous and
to be respected at that, whose wife and
ancestors are also natives of Kentucky,
and all of whom occupied IL high social
position in the community, but who
are now condemned because they are
not Democrats-from the man thus de-
scribed we have, we say, a letter asking
| for employment north of the Ohioriver.
His business has been destroyed he-
cause of his politics, and for himself,
his wife and his children, he seeks
shelter and work in State where utt-
ference of opinion is tolerated, where
the law is protection, and where per.
sonal rights are guaranteed and insured
to every citizen, whether he be from
the East or West, the North or South.
For these reasons there is lesson in
the Kentucky election. 1t shows the
spirit that animates the rebel Democ-
racy. 1t warns the people that this
spirit must be crushed if it is expected
to have u restored Union, based upon
the principles of the Constitution.
Either this spirit or liberty must perish.
This was the issue OF the war. 1t is the
issue now. The victory of the bullet
was on the side of liberty. We must
see that the victory of the ballot is on
the same side, if we would preserve
| liberty.