The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-21
FRIDAY MORNING, mAT 81.



ing political dtsa bilIticE. We do this
for two reasons: first, the presumed au-
thorshIp of The article entities i: TO q
wider circulation than the Times can
give it; and, saooud, intending that SO
far AS we discuss this subject it shall
be with fairness, We want our readers
to see the best argument that can be
offered on the other side.
The leading idea commended for by the
"good. AVHEL1Us'' is that there is just
the same necessity now for policy OF
Acknowledgement as heretofore. He
argues that Republican policy is bet
ter for the State than Democratic
policy. (wherein We cordially cCncur,)
and that therefore to pe-petuate a Re-
publican policy we must disfranchise
the Democrats whereof we gravely
doubt What constitutes a necessity
that justifes Acknowledgement? The
whole force OF AURELIUs' argument Is
directed TO showing that the con-
tinuaDce of Republican ascendancY
in the State is sufficient need,
Stated in few words his argu-
mcnt is that Republican legislation
is much better for the State than DEM
ocratic; that 1t will produce more intel i.
ligence, more prosperity, moro free.
dom of opinion, moro recognition OF the
patriotic service rendered by tho de-
tenders of the Government in the war
with the rebellion, and, what Is possibly
more important to AURELIUs, keep bet
ito
will suffer if the Democracy get the as
tendency. They will get the ascen-
dency If the eX-rcbels are allowed To
vote. Therefore they must be diafrnn-
cti4ed. This is The fair effect Of the ar
guncnt. There is no preteDcc OF such
public danger as Was thought to Justify
iI" act of disirancHiseIna ant ~Leu first
proposed. The danger here described
seeIns only tu threaten our parry, snd
the necessity urged appears to be only
party necessity.
We cordially agree with all that AU-
RELIUs writes in defence.of Republican
ideas and respecting the very great de-
STABILITY or perpetuatinX them in the
legislation OF the State. But we try
very hard TO have some liberation for
the different views OF others. We are
no: so sure now as we may have been
nt some period Of our life that there can
be no good in anything different from
the particular Y!aws which we have
been accustomed to hold Aa political
orthodoxy, and that every one who sees
things through different glasses ia of
necessity kneve and an enemy of the
Commonwealth. We have come 20 have
rn"re confidence II The average purpose
of people not TO harm themselves, and
their average good serzriu carrying out
the purpose. The present is not the
frat time i'll tbs history o. the coun-
try when on questions OF purely
party policy the zeal Of men ran
so high that they waro persuaded
nothing but the success of their favor
tie measures could save the country
from going to the bow-wows. It used
to be so in tho tariff and United States
Bank times. II has boon so with some
men in every election from the COM
mencement of the Government. 1t al
ways will be so with some while men
let their zeal outrun fair judgment
based on a just federation OF opposing
ideas. It is simply because there is
enough of this liberation to restrain
this party zeal, that we are enabled to
maintain republican form OF govern
ment. Whenever that liberation
ceases that form OF government will
cease. If the party in power, simply
for the purpose Of keeping In
power, DISTINGUISHED the minority,
how long does any one suppose
republican institutions could exist? |
We cannot and dare not attempt to
justify tho present policy in this Stale
on any such ground. Only peril to the |
Government ,fdanger OF its overthrow,
probable or remote, threatened resist |
ance to its authority. can justify the |
purely arbitrary act of denying part !
of our citizens their due voice in its ef- |
fairs. 1.-THE safe. y of the pab!ic would |
be In any wise endangered by their ex-
ercise of the ballot, the justification is |
plain; but we submit AURELIUS does
rot show, does not even claim, any
such thing. He misconceives the case
in saying there is the same necessity as
when the Acknowledgement was IMPOSE
ed. The measure was iuaugurated be-
fore the war had closed, though not |
consummated it is true for a |
year after. Up TO the election OF
Grant, we always felt toe country |
was III some danger from the iiSHHeCted
though beaten element North and
South. The danger would have taken
shape If Seymour had been chosen
President. That was the last hope of
that element. Every body realized then
that Sfour years more OF Republican
control in the Government would put |
the country beyond all peril from this |
quarter. AS the work OF reconstruct
ton approaches completion, as the ha-
trcds OF the war die out, as the old feel
Ing OF unity grows apace, and as the
great North pours her people and mon
ey into the South and binds the two
sections by ligatures of commerce and
trade. of intermarriage and friendship.
with society in the South revolution.
lied and the very foundation of i
the rebellion dug up by the roots, |
the feeling grows and strengthens
that the anticipations of last Summers
measures which were needed aud justi-
fed in securing that victory are need
ed and justifiable no longer. Public
necessities which existed up to that
period do not exist now. Henceforth
political contests in this country will
~.