The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-11-05
Redemption and DisenthraIIment Of
West Virginia.


The Democratic newspapers in this
State have great deal to say since the
election about West Virginia being now
redeemed and disenthralled" and about
her people being hencefoTth all free, and
much more Of the same sort Of remarks.
Now there + thing or two in this whole
business that should moi be lost sight OF.
West Virginia has been just rs much re-
deemed and diSenthralled, and made just
as free under Republican rule rs ever she
was under Democratic rule. Allthe intel
ligent world knows that fact perfectly
well. Democracy never meant freedom
when 1t was in power in this State. 1t
meant slavery. Only portion Of the
white people had any rights that Demo
cn.ry felt bound to respect. There never
was more proscriptive party in any land
than the one that ruled and cursed
West Virginia throughout long period
Of her existence. The ballot was
not free. Very far from 1t. No citizen
dare to he FREQ and independent man at
the polls. Tie Democratic party struck
him down. 1t Indicted him In the courts,
burned his newspapers and drove him
from The State. The party had but one
leading idea, and that was loyalty to
slavery, and hatred and prescription TO
every man who was suspected of un'
soandness on that issue
The party as party joined the rebel
lion. Il in fact constituted the rebellion
in West Virginia. It's spirit was that Of
MAsoS's letter, when he said that those
who were not for the rebellion should sub
nit or leave the State. That was the party
standard of freedom when it was in power
When twas out Of power and when the
Union people in self defense kept it out,
then we heard q great outCry about free
dom. Somebody eIses OK was gorcd then.
Out u pure selfshnesS arose all its pro.
tests aboutIreedom. There was nothing
in all The professions OF the Democracy
on that subject save simple disappoint'
ment at not being able to drive out or
hold down their loyal fellow citizens, and,
failing in that, to still retain equality with
them in the control of affairs. They
wanted a chance to carry out their views
and sympathics, which meant chance to
put the rebellion in possession Of US either
during the war or in the defeat Of recon
struction after, the war.
The Union people in self defence kept
the Democratic party bay. They knew
and ielt that they dare not trust 1t during
the crisis Of the struggle. And history
will say that the Republican party during
tho few years Of its rule in West Virginia
ddmOre for the people titan The Demo
cracy ever accomplished in the long course
Of It's exclusive reign. If ever people
were redeemed and disenthralled" it has
been the white masses Of this State,
They have been redeemed and dis
enthralled not only from political
prescription that WED with that OF the
Hapsbdrgs Of Austria, but ALSO from an
Ignorance that was so Egyptian in its
darkness that you could almost feel it.
Talk about redemption and disentlrall-
ment, indeed, in a State that has been
brought up out of bondage US West Yir-
ginia hiss under Republican rule, and that
to-day has a school house on almost every
hill top and in every valley Of its limits,
and where State taxes are lower
than, when the Democratic party was in
power. What constitutes redemption and
disenthrallmenG Is ita return to the old
order Of things? Is it to restore the status
QUO as It existed in this State un.
der the Democratic party Or Is it to
keep on and cherish and sustain the re-
: forms that have been established under
it6gdd;plces ofthe Republican party' Will
those Democratic papers that talk ofTe-
dempton and disenthrallment venture to
declare against those reforms and in ia
vor OF restoring things as they used TO be:
Let US hear from them on this point
Not Much TO Congratulate About.
We, don't see that Brother GLASS of;the
Panhandle NtIeA need 20 wild with dele.