The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-01-26
FIFTH WARD.
The Result.

The result of the city election yes
day is soRewhat disastrous to the
SHANLEY movement. We have no
desire to glorify over the figures. We
prefer to congratulate the people of the
city, irrespective of party, upon their
determination, thus attested, to have
their local affairs administered by capa-
ble, faithful and efficient men. They
have effectua!ly rebuked the dangerous
element which has struggled for the
control of the city, and have tskeE the
right steps for putting an end to the
disorder which has lately prevailed.
Rejoicing over this fact, we doubt not
that all good citizens, no matter how
they may have voted yesterday, will
Gheerfully acquiesce in the result. 1t is
our Leps and belief that they will find
that result the best that could have
beeu brought about for ali the people,
whether rs partisans or as citizens.
A word To the Democracy. Iester-
days election clearly shows that to com
mand success in local matters, the Demo
cratic party OF any other party must
first deserve it The time is past when
any sort of candidate for local office
can be elected, merely because he is the
nominee of the Democratic party. Not
only will bad candidates themse Ives be
defeated. but they will carry down with
them good men who may be associated
with them upon the ticket. This was
the case yesterday. The Democratic
candidate for Mayor, a gentleman OF
large interests in the community, and
who has uudOubted energy, capacity
aud popularity, was defeated, not be-
cause Of his own demerits, but because
of those of the candidate for the next
position to his own in point of autRorl-
". Let the Democrats remember this,
and if they must nominate candidates
for city offices, let them bear in mind
that a single mistake may defeat not
only the uudeserving, but may also
prevent the success of the worthy and
better portions OF ticket.
Although We have witnessed hand
some popular endorsement of the views
We have presented in this little canvass,
We are not disposed to indulge in any
self-congratulation. But we cannot
dismiss the subject without stating,
with view to preventing future mis-,
understanding, the course which this
paper will pursue in all similar cleo
tieus. The REGISTER will continue to
he it, own judge of the candidates it
will support for positions under the city
government Let it be distinctly uu-
derstood that it admits the right of nc
Convention to control its action in such
case. Should proper candidates be
nominated, we are not prepared TO say
that we will oppose them. But
let it be distinctly understood
that the mere fact Of a nomina'
tion, will not have the weight of a
feather in determining US 10 advocate
the election of men who have no mer.
its of their own upon which TO rest their
claims. Believing in the prosperity OF
the Democratic party as means of good
10 the country, we are yet ready to de-
fend the interests of the whole commu-
nifty when the claims of incompetent
Partisans come into conflict Herewith.
"The glorious privilege of being inds-
pendent" is one that we claim the right t
to exercise, being ourselves the Judge
of the occasion. This fact, if deemed
worthy of remembering, will be born in
mind. Thus endeth this lesson.