Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-05-18
Removal of Disabilities.

The Wheeling Latetbgencer, eonfessedly
the ablest radical journal in West Virginia,
has broken ground against the present policy
of the Republican party in the State, and in
favor of enfranchising the large number of
citizens who are now deprived of any voice
in the control of public affairs. Its article is
an able and discreet one, but its length pre-
vents us from publishing it entire. We there
fore conten ourselves with the following
closing extracts
No one ever contemplated!that the disfran-
chisemeut of our rebels was to be perpetual.
But the question about which Republicans
may and do honestly differ is, What is to be
done How long shall we maintain this dis
franchisement? Shall we not ask ourselves,
How long can we? When it was enacted we
lost the cooperation of good many moderate
Republicans. The figures show that we have
been gradually losing since. The election
returns of the past four years show that our
majorities have been steadily reduced a little
rising 1000 year.
The objection to ''let-up" is that it would
give the State to the Democrats 1t would,
assuming that all those enfranchised would
vote with that party. But how long can we
MAINTAIN hepuDIlcuu hSCOHuduCy IL VIC ~ OH
under the present policy? Every one must
understand that there is nothing to make the
Republican organization throughout the coun-
try stronger than it has been. 1t never can
be so compact and strong again on the day
Grant was inaugurated. The tendency is
toward disintegration. How fast that will go
on, or how far it will co. cannot be foreseen.
But it is certain that new questions are to take
the place of old ones, whether there is an
entire recast of party lines not. We here
cannot escape the operation of these general
movements Up to the election of Grant there
were powerful motives for keeping the Re-
publican column Grm and compact. The chief
mission of the party has now been accomplish
ed and we are told so by such papers the
Pittsburgh Gazette The motive for party
discipline having ceased in great degree, it
is inevitable that the organization here as we'll
as elsewhere will grow weaker rather than
stronger. Every one must see the probability
that tie disntegration will go on much more
rapidly than heretofore and that while we
have lost four thousand OF our majority in the
last four years, we may lose that much more
in the next two, if we fight it out on the
present line. A loOsenirg of party lines is
going on everywhere The philosophy of it
need not be explained. We need only recog-
nZe the fact
To ma ptain Republican ascendancy here,
we humbly conceive, our leaders must widen
their vision so as to look beyond mere partisan
ends. We cannot 90 it by keeping up the
old feuds and the old issues growing out of
the rebellion These issues are dead Let
us bury them. If We insist on holding on to
them it is reasonably certain that defeat
awaits us at not very distant day, and then
with such provncatinn to retaliate, Demo-
cratic triumph would be real calamity. If
the Republicans of the State have the mag
nanirnity and courage to deal literally with
their present foes, aud the wisdom to direct
public attention to living questions of do
nestle and practical character, we may bring
enough OF them to US to maintain uscen-
dancy. We may at least so far divide and
disarm them rs to render that party harmless.
We write at present not with view of
suggesting practical measures, but rather to
excite attention to this question. 1t is one
that must be met before long. Let discuss
it from an elevated plane, without prejudice
or feeling, as question involving important
principles and serious consequences. We
speak plain truths which mere partisan pur-
pose would conceal. It becomes us to look
the situation fairly in the face The Repub-
lican party, purified and properly directed, to-
day embodies the best principles, and COM
mands the support of the best men of the
times But we can no more keep itjust where
it is, than we can stop the progression of the
of the universe. The opinions, the wishes,
the purposes Of men Sa4ls:see, parties are made
up Of men and no leaders can guiGs PIblic
opinion, party mould public policy, whose
action is based on disregard of the fact.