The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-07-11

condemned by those who style themselves
the Democratic party, ahandful OF men
who assume TO dictate to you and
me-that because my Republican
friends generously tender me their sup.
port, trusting In my integrity, iorsooth l
am a Republican on this account? No
Republican has made any such request Of
me. II for the Office Of Governor Of this
State honorable as 1t ID, / were willing to
sacrifice and abandon my principles, I
would be unworthy oi the support OF
either my Democratic or my Republican
fellow citizens. Applause.1
In what condition do we find ourselves
In this Stateg Two years ago the Repub.
lican party was entrenched In power
held the State offices and most OF the
local offices. 1t was the pleasure Of the
Democratic party at that time to nomi.
nate me for the office now hold. You
then knew and so did l that the prospects
Of success were exceedingly doubtful, but
at the instance Of my Democratic friends
| accepted the nomination and to the
surprise oi Democrats, myself and OF Re.
publicans, ! was elected. That indeed
was a triumph, but not triumph Of one
class oil citizens over another, l despise
and abhor such q thought as that. We
do not divide into political parties in this
country to oppress one another. / never
did and never will accept or hold office Il
my duty Is to seize the reins Of power for
the purpose Of expressing and overcoming
my fellow citizens Applause No man
with proper instinct can enter on the dis.
charge Of his office with q desire 10
degrade, or humiliate, or injure in the
slightest degree any class OF his fellow
citizens. Governments are instituted
among men not to furnish offices but for
the sake Of protecting the people, not
expressing them. Therefore in the can.
vass which l made, everywhere pro.
claimed the fact that II 1t should be the
pleasure Of the people TO elect me, l
would endeavor TO be the Governor OF
the whole people Of the State, not Of o
faction or party. l have tried TO keep
that pledge. That Is the sum and sub.
stance Of my offending, presume. Ap-
plsuse. The triumph oftwo years ago,
as said before, was not triumph Of one
class OF citizens over another, but was a
triumph, as l thought then and still think
Of great governmental principles. We
promised to restore the rights Of a certain
class of people OF which they had been
deprived. On that point the canvass was
made. My heart was in that canvass /
believed then and believe now it was
wrong to exclude from the elective fran.
chise any class OF our fellow citizens and
thus divide them out into governing and
governed classes. The result Is known to
you. All those laws have passed away.
We all stand together nova free people,
and l trust, happy people; and / feel
gratified in that fact. An era Of good
feeling followed in consequence. There
were neighborhood jealousies, partisan
jealousies, family feuds, strife, trouble Of
all kinds; and was not 1t mere instinct
OF common humanity of every citizen,
much less an officer, as far as he could
to mitigate this state Of affairs, and that
result has been produced. That was the
triumph Of the Democratic party two
years ago, not my triumph, not yours
my Democratic fellow citizens. say it
was in one sense the triumph Of the whole
people Of the State, Democrats and Re.
publicans, for Republicans were relieved
themselves OF that oppressive system
which they had unfortunately fastened
on the State.
Alter my inauguration in Office, you
know the policy have pursued. Ihaye
endeavored as unostentatiously as possible.
simply to discharge the duties that were
imposed on me; not to interfere in parties
except when necessary. But have / re.
ceived, l submit TO you in all candor, from
the time l entered into office, that cordial
supportwhich was necessary, and which
had right to expect, from the organs
of my party9 Soon after | came in
there ives GOODNESS manifested to.
wards me. Then censure. You know
my fellow citizens Of Wheeling how
that was. What was the reason
of this state of thirgs2 | for the
time being was the representative Of
the Democratic party of the State. 1t
was my bounden duty to sustain Its hon.
or and dignity and promote Its interest.
Every blow struck at me Tor the time
being was indirectly a blow at the Demo.
cratic party. What was the reason of
this thing? Unfortunately, soon after we
were successful class Of men began 10
look about for the offices, to the disposi.
tion to be made Of them. Unfortunately,
men began to combine together for the
sake OF securing these offices. l as your
representative was unwilling then, as I
am unwilling now, to join any such com.
bination as that / could not do so
without violating my pledge to you
and without failing 10 discharge the
duties imposed on me. It was my
sacred duty as representative for the
time being of the Democratic party TO
preserve lis purity and integrity. Zap.
plause. You are aware this sort of cen.
sure was indulged; no cause assigned; per.
sonal attacks made on me; they became
greater and greater; and the motive, am
now inclined to think was the effort TO
dispose of anybody who was unwilling to
Join in any such combinations as these.
Now parties unite together for the pro.
motion of great ends. 1t is the union OF
the people on one side or the other to as.
sert great principles, TO accomplish great
purposes for the State. But "ring" as
1t is ordinarily called-a faction, / don't
care what name you give it, is nota com.
bination to promote public interests or
welfare, but 1t Is a combination Of
a few men for the sake Of the
offices. And that Is the issue in this
canvass. That's the question submitted
by my candidacy 10 the people Of the
State-whether q few men shall be per.
mitted, either in or out ofthe Democratic
party, for all the people Of the State are
interested In that question-whether a few
men shall be permitted TO unite together,
to join their fortunes together for the sake
of promoting their private interests, with.
out regard to the wishes of the people.
That Is the issue in this canvass. Ii Is not
whether ! shall be Governor, or whether
A, B or O shall hold the offices, for that Is
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