The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-12
From the Weston Democrat.l
The Programme OF the Flick Men

Senator johnson, OF Parkersburg, is
To be chosen as the Flick candidate to
be President of the Senate Governor
Jacob, who is not committed to Flick.
ism" or any other ism" is to be elected
by the Flick men, as compensation for
the Governorship, Uuited States Sena-
tor, and his office Of Governor is to be
transmitted to Senator johnson.
This is a comfortable arrangement,
and one to which socially we would not
object, but politically would be pre-
cedent very damaging to the Democratic
party in all future times.
The above is the rumor. We do not
vouch tor its truth, but we give it as a
rumor such as it is. ltcomes from
radical sources, and is not reliable. As
to the men, no one could object; but
against the means to accomplish the
end all sound Democrats must protest.
1t is said that some Of the Flick
men" will not 90 into any legislative
caucus with the great body of the
Democratic party. This cannot be, as
no true Democrat can think Of such
course. He that is not for us, is
against us. 1t will be equivalent
to their separation from the party,
and their cooperation with the rad
ical party now overthrown by our
combined efforts. Do they intend to
leave us? We answer that they 10 not.
It cannot be said that candidates
pledges in canvass for party ends 60
further than a cooperation with the
course of a majority Of that party in
caucus ascertained. This is Democratic
cardinal doctrine. In our recent can
vass enfranchisement was the great and
all absorbing question. The mode Of
enfranchisement had nothing to do with
il, The true end was to be accomplish
ed BY some means, was agreed to by all
shades of Democratic opinion. Those
who had less trust in the people than
we, did not believe that we could carry
both branches of the legislature, and the r
course for the main end was shaped
accordingly, and took in the Flick
amendment" Those who believed we
would, as we did, carry everything, dis
owned the Flick amendment, and left
to its authors all its responsibilities.
The difference between Democrats was
only as to the best policy to he pursued,
and pledge by any Democratic orator
or candidate that he would support any
particular means Of enfranchisement
certainly cannot be held to preclude
him from supporting any other means
OF accomplishing the same end, or bind
him to the support OF any particular
measure to the exclusion Of all others.
Such reasoning it will readily be seen
might operate to defeat the great end Of
enfranchisement, or at least compel the
great majority Of the Democratic party
TO adopt the views and yield to the
wishes Of small majority composed Of a
stnols individual. Take the first result.
Has any Democrat pledged himself TO
course which may lead to continued dis
franchisement? The doctrine Of mid
nority ruling the majority is too absure.
to be tolerated, and we cannot believe
that such an attempt will be made.
Those Of our party opposed to disfran-
chisement have, never separated, and do
not intend TOT separate, in caucus or
otherwise, aid the Radicals who
have fixed up the programme
above will find themselves great
ly mistaken in the temper Of
our party. Its members are not for
sale, nor can they be bought, no matter
how tempting the bribe Those whom
the necessities of the country have
Joined together, no man can causelessly
put asunder The present as well as
the future possesses and entails RESPONSE
bilities which it is not wise to disregard.
A convention is single mode of cur
ring the ills Of our political system.
The "Flick Amendment" when adopted,
leaves untouched all the necessities for
a convention save and except the Flick
Amendment" Let us not do things by
halves