The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1872-07-20
Gsbernatoriai Contest.

s"ei"a'oTh COhteet III this State, than
to lay before our readers the following
caustic. and co ,summiie criticism Of The
candidacy OF Gov. Jacob, taken from the
MartiIsturg Ne'c Era 1t is from the
pen lone OF the purest patriots in the
state, and is as true as it is just and fair.
we ask our readers to reflect and nder
upon it.
The political history OF State so re-
Gently constituted as West Virginia. i.
necessarily not written ia many chapters
The first was long aud dark record of
prescription and wrong. 10 recall which
can accomplish no useful purpose. The
second-yet unconcluded-began at that
precise point or time when the pendul nm
reversed lie movement, and the sober, Sc
rious second thought OF the popular mind.
escaping from the decisions which had
controlled temporary opinions, sought and
found ITS unmlstakable utterance through
the ballot
10 this revolution in public sentiment,
ana to 1t only may justly be attributed the
election OF Governor Jacob in 1870. II is
no injustice to him to say that he was then
obscure unknown and undistinyuisbed-
No personal characteristic Of his aroused
popular sympathy or kndle,i popular en-
thuslasm. Every vote-saye perhap, a
few in the narrow circle of his own nc-
quaintance-was given 10 great cause
not TO an unknown man
That Governor Jacob has borne himself
well enough in the routine duty of ni. of
flee, We do not deny. That he has di.tin.
guished himself, or won any especial hon
or, we presume none OF his friends will
claim. That he was indebted to pecul,ar
circumstances for his nomination ia well
understood by all who were at the Char
lesion Convention in the summer of ism
There was then exhibited something nj
magnanimity on the part Of others. which
enured to his advantage. There was some.
thing, too. of self sacrifice which we will
not particularly detail since Governor ia.
cob seems 10 have forgotten it, and those
VINO willingly made the Offering have been
too generous TO recall it. Nor will we
more than remind our readers that the
canvass OF 1870 was, in every sense. i'm
PERSONAL that Governor Jacob was the
mere representative OF II principle, and thar
every expense incurred 10y him was ua,d
by contributions from the party which he
now opposes and seeks To strike down bv
agencies essentially hostile and offensive n
those who have bestowed upon him hi.
distinction
1t Is plain that Governor Jacob had NOT
because Of any anteceieHt circumstances
the shadow OF Il claim to the Nomination
at Parkersburg. Indeed, We doubt whether
of his own motion, he would have prefer
red such pretense. 1t was su.r,,ted Lv
Others who, now and heretofore Lay.
found him iaclle aud ready. though of
ten unconscious, Instrument of personal
ends and the qualification of personal p.
sentiments. His candidacy, now. i die n
their selfish and ugrnion, counsel mi
the Seakness of his own character in vield-
inE TO tie promises OF enemies VINO oncul,.
declare that the basis oil their sumner :.
their hope and purpose to d ..tra,i iii J.s
troy the Democrl ic Conservative or,1,,i
zation in West Virginia. Ifmtent be tb.
test OF crime it would he scarcely fair IN
condemn Governor Jacob withouI. al least
q recommendation To mercy. We are ready
to acqnit him OF having formed an ori,i
nal purpose To disorganize his party or
prove recreani 20 MS faith His i slu,.
g'sh spirit not naturally disposed toward
urea son or plotting. TO have resolved .,
ruin or rule the State would involve moro
81 spirit AMI energy than can bc Justly nj.
tribu',I 10 HIM liut he evidently doe
not possess the .lcngth OF charact.r and
mat seen sense 'f personal honor who.
afford toe suresl safeguard against the
plotting OF 'aise friends Or the intrirue- of
conspiring enemies. Added to this is n
weakness which has led him to fancy that
n mere creature Of a political accident. be. /
cause OF it, aud his own SUCCESS. WAS
thereby INVESTED with right to demand
the repetition ~ n distinction which A.
every BODY knows was not originally in
tended for him
SO iaf as Governor Jacobs action is
we have 40 serious comment To
make at present l. is enough to saw that
he was nj Parkersburs an advocate of
himself that after he dscorered how
greatly he h9d been deceived 10 regard to .
his strength in the Convention. he refused 7.
To permit his name To I've presented A. q
that with his knowledgede and
approval his friends remained in the Con. /
vcutlon and participated in its proceed |
ingS 0 the close. that but one OF them .
Mr. fitzhush, Of kanawla, declined To- 4
take hi- seat--'nd be was coverne by the
that as Il man Of honor
which b d. in every scnse-he woud ne
"a member Doe bound 90 support the nofni- .
ua ions made hy tse Convention
such is the simple story of the Park ers.
burg Convention. as hr a. 10 relate, 10 the
nomination But SINGLE
name was presented andJohnson y Cam.
den WIS nominated 10y the acclamation of
% thousand voices with not one uttered
yyDrl NJ urofrsf or r.,,.... q. tenn. IT,. ii