The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-16
CLOSE UP THE RANKS.

CLOSE UP THE RANKS.
We desire to impress upon the minds
OF our readers in this and every other
county in the State the duty OF sup
porting the regularly nominated candi-
dates of the Democratic party for the
Constitutional Convention. After avery
severe struggle, the Convention has been
called. A number Of reforms are neeo-
ed in the organic law OF the State, but
the party opposed progress and welded
to the errors OF the instrument under
which they were able 10 Cypress the
people, now demand that no change
shall be made. They are marshalIlng
their forces in every county in the State
with the avowed purpose OF sending
men to the Convention who Will leave
the present Constitution with all its
imperfections and all its facilities for
wrong unchanged. They are deter
mined, if possible, to defeat the will OF
the people as expressed at the recent
election and fasten upon us for many
wears to come the Identical instrument
which has been held to legalize all
their acts of outrage and oppression in
the past. They hope to adjourn the
Convention without considering or
adopting any amendments to our presen'
system and thus leave the friends o.
Constitutional reform completely baf'
fled.
For the accomplishment OF this pro-
gramme they rely upon Democratic
discord and division. Against the uni
ted Democratic party they have no hope
or possibility of success. The vote
upon the call of the Convention shows
that the friends OF that measure cannot
be prevented from having a large ma
jority in the body-provided they stand
together and vote for their regular NOM
inees. tits only in division and apathy
on the part OF the Democracy that any
danger of de'cat is found. five would
avert the calamity that would befal'
the State in the restoration OF the Rad
ical party to power and the retention OF
the present dangerous Constitution, we
must all lay aside our individual quar-
rels and labor unitedly and earnestly
for the election of the candidates who
have been put forward as representa-
tives of our political faith. And it will
not do for us in any county In
the State, no matter how great
our numerical majority may seem
to be, to sit down quietly with
folded hands until the election day and
then simply deposit our ballots. There
is work to do. A thorough orsaniza'
ton Of the Democratic voters must be
had and maintained; every voter must
be brought to the polls; the full
strength of the party must be put forth
and the regular nominees must be
elected in every county and district
where there is a majority OF Demo
cratic citizens. There is too much at
stake in this contest to justify or excuse
any holding back or neglect on the part
of the friends OF Constitutional reform.
The offices to be filled at the election
this fall are not desirable for the pecu-
mary emoluments they afford. They
are not fat places for enriching our per-
sonal favorites or friends. Their inn
portance is purely political, and they
involve the success or defeat Of certain
measures of reform in the Constitution
of the State. The contest is between
the friends of amendment and the par
tsans of the present organic law; be-
tween the advocates of change and the
adherents to the errors of the Constitu.
ton. In such struggle certainly no
Democrat can refuse to give his earnest
support to the candidates who so to the
convention solemnly pledged to make
those Constitutional changes which ex-
perience has shown to be needed and
which the voice of the people demand.