The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-11-24
The Political Situation in the States
Defeated but not Dismayed.
NJ. u 1rt..I.I...


The present general aspect Of politics
in this State would seem TO indicate that
the'republican party has lost too much TO
ever recover, and that their defeat was
too general to leave any hope for o future
successful contest. Judging from the tone
of some Of the republican papers in the
State, the impression seems to have attain
ctl that the republican party, in It's recent
losses, has lost all hope Of ever again
securing control of the State, "unless," (as
was remarked by q Cotemporary) "the
democracy makeia misstepr" in the ad-
ministratinn Of affairs, and thus forfeit
their present position. This is certainly
absurd. We admit the fact that the de-
mocracy have secured an advantage over
US which will continue into the future can
vass in the State; It is equally true that
they will not fOolishly "fritter away the
golden opportunity" afforded them Of
Strengthening and improving that adv0n-
tage. What is more important, therefore,
for republicans now TO consider is q mcansby
which they can command the strength OF
the party, and this is all that is required.
We believe 1t cannot be well ignored that,
with all their boosting, the Republican
party Of tho State was not half organized.
Tie figures, when compared with the
number Of registered voters in many
counties, show difference in many III
stances, Of three and four hundred. Taking
this Us an Indication OF tho condition OF
the purity throughout the State, we find
that an average Of about two hundred re-
publicans in the more important counties,
and something less than this in counties
Of lesser note, rpmninCd away from The
polls on eleCtionduy. Striking the average
ut one hundred and fifty TO the county
throughout the State, land we really re-
gard this rs low estimate-thc republi-
can vote inmany counties scarcely coming
up to GrAnts vote Of 1861 and we have
$500 republican votes which should have
been poiled-more than enough 10 triple
jacobs majority, certificate" votes in
Cludcd. s..- 3'- . .
This is nothing more nor less than q
plain evidence Of lack Of organization
and it also evinces the fact that the re.
publican party can still justly claim the
asccndenCy in the State. despite the taCt
that tho democrats control the offices. In
view OfthIs fact, we ask, why the nCces.
sity Of condoling Nnh deplOring the TACT Of
our defeat, when the proper course is TO
profit by the experience OF the present and
labor for better results in the future! The
republican party is far from occupying the
position 0fthc democracy Of few years
back, and the democracy are equally as
fur from the exalted position get occupied
by the republican party. In vacating the
offices and surrcndering the reins Of gov
Crnmcnt into the hands Of the chiv'
airy, the republicans merel y reap
the fruits of their own negligence,
apathy and Indifference The de-
mocracy do rot come into power as the
majority party. by any means. This iact
Is accompanied by their manifest great
surprise ut Their triumph. They did not
anticipate success. Why? Because they
ERGO they were in tho minority, and knew
there was nothing in their party or plat
form to insure them the requisite gains to
obtain them the majority. But to their
utmost surprise, the Republicans abso-
lutcIy gave them the victory, and in do
ing so have given them an advantage
which will be hard to overcome. Still
we do not and will not admit that it Is |
impossible for the Republicans to retrieve
their losses, although they will find it ne
ccssary to do their something
greatly neglected during the last canvass.
Away with the presumption that the de-
feat Is lasting, that the Republican party
must surrender. When we 'strikG our
colors," it will be to superior numbers"
not TO a minority force.