The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-21
pIEEInrlT hair1ONr GrareS. /.

From the New York Post. ~
WHAT'S the use OF the Democratic pol
iticisns thinking oHthe next Presidential
eiecumi Do they imagine that the
American people VIII put Into power a
party which has been an unmiigated
nuisance, a breeder Of disorder, q corrupter
Of public virtue, the debaucher Of politics,
the friend Of every wrong and oppression,
the fomenter Of violence and rebellion, for
more than u dozen years-do they believe
thatthe people will put such party in
power, unless It first shows, by unmiStak-
able evidence, that ithaSa frmer purpose
than Falstaf had, to purge and live
Clearly"
The Democratic party supported slav-
ery-and was beaten. Il countenanced
rebellion--and was beaten. It setup a
peace'atmy.price platfornl----and was
beaten. Il advocated repudiation-and
was beaten. i opposed equal laws and
general sutrage-and was beaten, And
now It Is marching on % the next Presl
dental election at the head Of numerous
bands Of Ku.Klux, Northern and South
.ern- gangs who set both law and decen.
cy at defiance; who rob where they do
not Kill; who cheat where they cannot
rob; men whose acts threaten the whole
land with anarchy; and they have amongst
them scarcely single leader with brains
or conscience enough 10 rebuke violence
and lawleasness, or condemn public plum
der. '..'.'
Those Democratic leaders who hope to
carry the next Presidential election, and
imagine themselves fit to rule the country,
do not even comprehend the duty OF a
minority. They seem 10 BIO nero par
tisans, not politicians in any higher sense
than that in which suffer might call
himself q defender Of his country. It Is
the duty Of a minority, which hopes to
become the majority, to show an example
OF obedience 10 the laws, and respect for
the rights Of others; to make manifest,
wherever It has the opportunity, that 1t
possesses Statesmanlike ideas; that II com.
prehends the principles Of free govern
,ment; that 1t knows how to rule, and how
to keep in subordiDation its bummers.
II this country Is now threatened with
unconstitutional and dangerous legisla.
ton, this Is the fault Of tho Democratic
leaders. Il they chose they could in two
weeks restore order all over tho South.
II they chose, they could put their party in
all The States into decent hands.
II they chose, they could put
stop 10 unprincIpled and scandalous legis.
lation at Albany, where, with the Demo.
crats In power In every department Of the
State government, and in both branches
Of the legislature, the whole session has
passed without q single abuse reformed,
without single wholesome or necessary
law enacted; with not even a pretence Of
regard for the welfare OF tho people Of
the State or city.
The Republican leaders, who have cour.
age and shrewlness, trade largely upon
the folly Of the Democrats. We do not
think them prudent in this but 1t must
be admitted that their temptation Is great.
The democratic folly, corruption, lawless.
ness and incapacity 10 learn seem 10 be
constant quantities; they may be safely
made an element in every political calcl.
lation and thus the country Is made 10
suffer, not only directly, but indirectly
and Secondarily, by the bad course Of tue
Democrats, The Republicans neglect
sound and necessary legislation because
the Democratic folly makes their victory
too certain, M