The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-05-16
Radical Rule in West Virginia.
We presume no candid man will prefer

Radical Rule In West Virginia.
| Weprcsumc no candid man will pretend
to deny that radical legislation in this State
siucc the war has been the most cruel and
shameless ever practicsd upon any people
living uader Government protesting to
be Republican in its form. Aysar after
the war had closed, when cannon should
have been beaten into plow shares and
swords into pruning hooks, radical leg
islatare passed the Registration law, and
SO amended the Constitution as to strip
twenty-five thousand white people Of the
right to vote or ts any voice in the Gov
crnnent, and they even denied to large
classes Of their, fellow citizens-lavyers,
teachers and suitors. the common right to
pursue their professions for the support Of
their families! Greater outrages were
never inflicted on any people and while
the radical party Which pcrpctrnted them,
have been forced BY growing public opin-
ion to modify some Of them to the extent
Of permitting lawyers and teachers to re-
turn to their professions, and suffers to
assert their rights in the courts withou.
subscribing the degrading oaths imposed !;
yet the Registration Law and Constitutional
Amendment still rest in all their crushing
force upon one-third Of tho voting popula-
tion Of the State, while the right Of suffrage
is to bo extended 10 every negro in the
commonwealth, in direct violation Of our
Constitution | gato ;eet iis
But this is not tho worst feature Of this
tyrannical outrage. No candid man will
pretend to deny that the Registrations law
is still kept fastened on tho pssplo Of .hi,
State for the perpetuation Of radical as
tendency and rule, and for no other pur-
pose whatever; and tba. any repeal Of the
constitutional amendment has been per-
sistently refused for the same crucl par,i-
ian purpose. Nor is there a shadow Of
evidence, to believe that the radical party
has the Slightest intention Of correcting
their abuses cfthe Constitution, or Of &C.
Pealing modifying their registration oat-
rage, so long a'.they are allowed to rc.
tain 'hoir hold on legislative power. For
while the Legislature w.sfo last win.
ter to sugar the cup Unpopular dilcouten.
BY giving us thepreposcd Flick amend
nent as q temporary dodgop 1T is perfectly
manifest that il their intentions had boen
good they weuldithen have repealed shs
odious features Of tho Registration Law,
and have given the people better chance
Of voting fairly on the Constitutional
Amendment. Bu. their intention, not
being honest, they still cling to the Reg
istration Law US the sheet auchsr Of their
future hopes as the dominant party Of the
State. This is frankly avowsd by at lens.
ono leading radical organ in .hi. State.
tho Parkcrsburg Journal. Here is il,
emphatic language; s5s,...t. ,.s-
"That the work may be carried forward
to completion we hopo that the repablican
party will continue to oppose any altera-'
tons Of Tho Registration law antil the
Constitutional Amendment to tile State
Constitution i, Put through aud fully rat.
ificd. The registration law and tho dis
ffanehiscincnt Of rebels were war meas
ures. One is the com plementto the other.
and until the latter is repealed the former
should be hold in fuli force and effect"
That is to say, the Registration law is
a worse grip upon tho tliroats Of freemen
than the constitutional antnds,snt, and
that the Que i. the main prop Of the other,
and must be retained at all hr.ards.
Can any respectable portion Of the people
ofthis State, Nhs have common regard
for their fellow citizens, and respect for
justice and good government. longer sus-
t,in party which has pcrpctrated these
wrongs and seek 10 prolong and psrpetu-