The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-30

World spoke as follows:
The Presidential battle at last Is fairly
joined. The campaign Of 1879 began IN
deadly earnest with the thunder Of the
cannons aud the shouting in Union square.
It is historic spot. There in April, 1861
Republicans and Democrats forgot their
party tics and their party antipathies at
the sound Of the cannon calling them to
tho defence OF the constitution and the
laws. There in September, 1872, Repub
licanS and Democrats once more forget
their party tics and their party antinathics
ut the report Of something deadlier far
than the cannon to a nations life and a ma
tlon's liberties. Shoulder to shoulder in
April, 1861, the men Of New York moved
out Of Union square TO save the govern
ment Of the United States from the
madness and tho FOLLY Of portion Of tue
people Of the United States. Shoulder to
shoulder again in September 1872, the
men Of New York move out Of Union
square to save tho people Of the United
States from the usnrpatons and the cor.
Iuptions OF the Government Of the United
States. The old enemy meets u.s. though
under new face. As before he shall be
confronted ;as before he shall be crushed.
II this contest oC 1872 had been m ordi.
nary Presidential contest; hit had been
a contest Of political parties and OF political
principles, OF the ins upon the one side and
the outs upon the other side, the prclimi-
nary Skirmislcs which have preluded along
the Atlantic fringe Of tho Union TINT
mighty grapple in the Central States and
in the giant West which Ia to decide the
grand result might have been Of somo real
pith and significance rs foFccosting the
drift Of the conflict. But this is not an Or-
dnary Presidential contest. There arc
arrayed against the administration to-day
as Mr.. KGrnan, in his crisp, earnest, mas
culine speech so clearly put little very
men who did most tC make the adminis'
tratinn. Schurz, Sumner, Trumbull, Banks
atnswOrth-what is there that the
Administration hNs to give which it was
not in the power Of these men TO eommlndl
Whom have they left behind them in its
ranksl What man Of recognized honesty,
what man Of conspicuous ability, what
man oi untarnisllcd name to-day supports
this President who has been detailed to
rule free people for four years longer as
lieutenant might be detailed to convoy
treasure train or to secure astorchOnsc2
This Presidential contest ol 1872 differs
from all preceding contests in our history.
Never before has an American Administra.
ton been assailed by its own creators as n
thing Of shame and Of di7honor. Never
before have the historical founders Of a
party been compelled to denouncc its otli-
cial organization as n refuge OF lies and q
covenant with corruption. This popularity
of the actual contest compels completely
new view Of It's conditions, Of the skir-
miShes preliminary to tue general action,
orits probable course and its probable issue.
-Four State elections have already oc.
CURED, from which in ordinary times
and under conditions Of nn ordinary
Presidential contest something might
have been fairly Inferred Of the chances
and prospects OF tho general election
vet to come. In the election in
West Virginia general issues were, by
the confession OF all parties, set aside.
From that election no one pretends to
draw any parS OF national horoscope.
In Maine aid in Vermont the local ad-
ministrations, limited in their scope and
jealously watched by the popular senti-
ment, have had little or no opportunity
to initiate the corruption OF the Federal
Government at Washington. The local
elections in those States were not affected
by the influences, therefore, which will
nuke themselves felt even in those States
when the general question comes to be
decided in November, "Shall thieves or
honest men, statesmen or sycophants,
govern this people ~ It's not to be cx.
pected, therefore, and no rational poll
ticinn, We presume, did expect that any
important symptoms as to the public
feeling on that general question would
there be developed. With North Caro-
lima it was otherwise. The action OF the
Federal Government, remote from and
almost unperceived il the local life OF
Vermont and OF Maine, made itself
bitterly and cruelty felt in North Caro-
lima. What was the result ? In spite
Of the most tremendous cxCrtions on the
part OF tho whole Administration, Of nm
enormous outlay Of money, Of terrOism
and fraud, the force Of the Administra.
tiOn in North Carolina was broken and
It's hold upon that commonwealth ef1ec
tually shaken loose. The signs Of that
State election, and OF that only, can be
considered by well-informed and candid
politicians worth rational mans atten.
ton in making up his judgment as to
coming events. In Pennsylvania and
Indiana We shall have the great general
issue Of the Presidential campaign pro.
sented to be fought over in the local
conflicts. The candidates OF the Presi.
dental party in Pennsylvania and Indi-
ana stand for corruption, bribery, and
mal.administratiOn. The candidates Of
Democrats and Liberals in Pennsylvania
and Indiana stand for Rtatesmansliip,
the strict responsibility OF pnblic serv-
ants, honesty, and reform. Tho names
OF Hartranf, Cameron and Morton tell
the story on one side. The names Of
Hendricks, BuckRlew and Kerr tell the
story on the other side. The candidate
OF the Democrats and Of the Liberals in
New York-FanciS Kernan-is ct
champion to begin this real grapple Of
tho people with power. And fIly did
no do Ills high devoir In words as
white as his white fame he announced
the truo issues Of November, Secession
was an ugly enemy 10 meet ten years ago.
Corruption IS m enemy as foul and more
dangerous to-day. Nothing could be
more manly, nothing moro frank and
fearless and simple and patriotic, than
the spirit in which the Democratic
stRndard.bearor Of the Empire State as.