The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-11-01
The Causes of Democratic Success

Official election returns come in very
slowly indeed, and it will probably be
several weeks before complete and &C
curate figures can be presented showing
the precise vote received by each candi-
date in the late election. The general
result is, however, fully determined,
and We can well afford to wait awhile
for entire accuracy. We have GER
tainlv elected our entire State
ticket; We have a majority in each
branch OF the State legislature; We
have elected DAVIS to Congress in the
first District, and HEREFORD in the
third. Or the result in the second Dis
trict, we cannot speak positively as yet.
Neither can we state the exact MAORI
ties of the successful candidates. 1t is
enough to know that we have succeed
-. "Hnrnpletely as we could desire,
8" "'o'e '''hP''~,- than we had dar-
el to expect.
The causes which have produced
this splendid result are various, but
may be briefly stated. There have been
some conversions from Radicalism in
the State, owing TO the infamous abuses
Of the power OF the Governor under the
registration act, and to the general
mismanagement of State affairs under
Radical rule. Others have left the Rad
ical party on account Of negro suffrage
having been forced upon our people
without their consent and against their
will. We believe, however, that full
returns of the vote cast will show that
the total number of Radical votes in the
State is very little less than that cast in
1865. The negro vote went solidly for
the Radical ticket, but, as was the case
in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, so
here, the party lost almost as many
votes of white men as it gained OF
blacks.
The returns, however, will show that
the Democratic vote has been largely
increased over that two years ago. The
new registration this fall has been main
~ Democratic, and, more than all other
causes contributing to the Democratic
triumph, a fuller rOts Of tie party has
Jee, polIei than egcr before. The lat
ent strength Of the party has been
brought out and the result has justified
the expectation We have often expressed
that if the whole Democratic strength
on the books Of registration could
be polled, we could carry the State,
Many have heretofore stayed away from
the polls under the impression that it
was of no use to vote, that the contest
was hopeless. The stay-at-home vote
has heretofore prevented our electlng
our candidates in many counties. This
year there has been less Of this absen-
teeism than in former years, and the
result is the splendid victory we have
won
The bringing out of this vote is due
to the thorough organization of the
party and the complete canvass that
has been made. The organization has
been effected by much labor and perse-
vCrence and is as complete and effective
as it could possibly be made. 1t has
never before been so extensive nor so
thorough To this cause more than to
any other is due the polling Of full
vote and the consequent election OF
our whole ticket Meetings have been
held in nearly every township in nearly
every county in the State; the political
issues OF the day have been discussed
before the people; Democrats have been
encouraged to believe that there was
0 certainty Of success, and thus fuller
vote of the party has been polled than
ever before.
These are, we believe, the main causes
of the splendid Democratic victory
which has been won The enfran-
chisement of the white men of the
State will enable us to hold for many
years, so long at least as prudent and
wise counsels prevail, the power which
1as been thus attained.