The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-10-18
Lessons for the Democracy,
tVm the n. y. Sun (1rdeptndnt)

Why have the Democrats 90 sIRnslly
failed In achieving the results they an.
llclpated In these Important eleotlonbT
The answer IL obvious. To quote the
language used by tho Express some
days since, they have been trying 10
race with dead horses, and Of course
they have failed 10 reach the goal,
More than this, they have thrust tie Of
ienBlve remains OF Their dead steeds In
the the faces OF The people, who have
turned away from them with loathinr
and disgust. In b word, and WIthout.a
figure, the Democratic leaders In these
three States made the Fifteenth Almond.
ment one Of the main issues In the re-
cent contests, and they have been 70.
buked by defeats as unexpected as they
are Instructive. H.
These results should Impress upon
The minds Of The honest masses Of the
Democracy q serious lesson. They
should teach them to discard the coun-
sells OF aristocratlo and reactIonary
journals, and blind and cowardly
politicians, and induce them to
restore 10 the creed Of the party the
liberal and progressive principles Of
Jefferson and jackson, and TO select %
their leaders statesmen who have wis.
dom enough to discern the signs Of the
times and courage enough 70 act 40
cordlngly. ~ -,
From Ise Journal u Commerce, tDemomaaa)
TILE PAPER Monty DEMOCRACY,
The theory that paper money ls good
enough for the bloated bondhoiders
was first propounded 10 moment OF
spite by that great Republican leader OF
the House, Hon. Thad. Stevens, OF
Pennsylvania. II was also taken up
and advocated, earnestly for while,
by that distinguished Republican Sena.
tor, Hon. John Sherman, Of Ohio, In
the belief that 1t was likely to become
popular the Democrats at the West, and
especially In the two States we have
named, seized upon tho new doctrine
and incorporated II In their political
creed. We warned them against
such use OF this infamous propo-
Bltion: We showed that 1t In.
wolves oil that Ia demoralizluR and
dishonest in the management Of the
national finances. II repeats, confirms
and extends the greatest errors made
by the Republican party In providing
ways and means for the great struggle.
The Issue OF a promise 10 pay Rs a legal
tender was not only q direct violation
OF the Constitution, but q cruel wrong
to every industrial interest, and the
fruitful parent OF nearly all the wrongs,
shams, corruptiona, defalcatIons and
general weakening OF moral principle
which have become 80 common In con.
nection with financial transactions, We
warned Conservative men everywhere
against committing themselves to this
monstrous dogma. -
The better class Of the Republicans
never followed the lead OF their repre>
sentative men, SGevenaes, Buffers and
Shermans, who cared not for the ma
tional dishonor, and who originated
and advocated this plan of national re.
pudiation. The same Is true OF the
democrats az q party, their best men
insisting that Issuing one promise for
another can never be regarded as an
honest payment OF debt. But some
OF the leaders In Ohio and Penusylya.
MIA thought to profit by the dodge, and
now they may see what has come OF Il,
Instead Of the overwhelming triumph
they expected, they have gathered no
new adherents, and have achieved no
substantial Victory although thegeneral
apathy OF their opponents gave them
all the advantage had they understood
how to avail themselves ofit. III this
State the democracy, while, as we be-
lieve, really holding with their best
men that only actual money could sat-
istY an honest debt, were led 10 trim
ming and evasion In their late platform
lest they might injure the party In 9th.
er States where the paper money scheme
was supposed to be popular. They,
too may learn lesson from the cleo
ton returns now before them. There
Is no real, permanent gain to any per-
son or party In the use or advocacy
Of falsehood. 49, ...
II lB undoubtedly true, also, that The
Democrats In the twog States where
the controversy was sharp displayed
want OF practical common sense In
clingtng TO old watChwords having no
present significance, and in attempting
TO renew as living Issues some OF those
questions which have been definitely
settled by the recent civil conflict. 1t
ID worse than useless, It Is positive
madness, for any political party or fac.
ton TO Ignore the progress Of events,
even though tho facts may upset their
pet theories. The Democrats north
ward have before them lesson In the
action OF the victorious conservative
party at the South, and they must he
blind Il they do not profit by It's teach-
lngs.. Their recent disappointment
simply add emphasis to the lesson,-
The Pendletonlan style OF Democracy
has had It's dry, and everybody who
Gil ngs to u Will soon be buried in the
grave ofthe dead past, beyond oil hope
OF renewed Vitality In our generation.