Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-03-16
Fhe Presidential Ont-Lo0k.


The Presidential Outlook.
An observers agree that the approaching
Presidential Campaign will be a desperate con-
test I, is hardly possible to exaggerate the
consequences involved for all time to come
For three administrations the destiuies Of the
country have been ruled by @ great sectional
party,-whose aims aud eaerts have been, not
the welfare Of the entire country but the az
erandisement Of one section by the degradation
and spoliatiou Of the other The yawning
cbasm which divides The present from the i'm
mediate pasta chaSm in whose depths are
buried so many Of The cherished heirlooms Of
our fathers, is melancholy proof Of the energy
aud madness Of their rule, and no citizen, to
whom constitutional government Is boon to
be guarded and not an empty, meaningless
wa,chword Of party, can contemplate the future
without terror and missiyipg. No tyranny is
so brutal and blind as the tyranny Of q mob (;
no rule so sure to end in anarchy and anarchys
inevitable sequence dsspotism, as the absolute
sway Of a party untrammelei by law. We
need not now make up the awful indictment
against The Republican party its policy may
be summed up in a wori-the complete pros
tration Of all local. state, authority, Of every
constitutional barrier, and the Capitalization Of
all power 10 the governing faction; its fruits
everywhere visible are fraud and corruption.
The government bulletin is scarcely more than
daily record ofdeialcation aud embezzlement;
by tie military aud civil power it has protect
cd and encouraged the most stupendous pillage
Of history, the building up, in twelve sovereign
states already STEPPED in dismal poverty, Of a
debt whose aggregate is hundreds Of millions;
and yet it shows no signs Of change-no dispo-
sition to halt or retrace its career. Drunk with
success and welding all the power which COM
plc,e possession Of the government gives, it is
confidently arrayiDs itself for the coming cam
paign, confidently expecting q new lease Of
power.
Can it be beaten? CAN'T DC driven from the
helm Of state before the wreck comes? These
are the questions to be considered, and to Ie
considered in a spirit Of patriotic sacrifice, aud
freedom from party trammels. We are full Of
hope. We believe it can be, and will be, IL
prudence and patriotism direct the opposition.
Already the puTest and ablest Of It's own lead
ers-Trumbull and Schugz aud Cox and Davis
have renowned its fortunes, and their ex-
amples cannot fail to produce discussion
The sknlful and harmonious combination of an
the elements Of opposition viii produce an az
ray that is irresistible, aud this is the eud 10
which all efforts should now be directed
The great Democratic party has taken no
step towards campaign Gifts owu,-iti is wise
ly waiting the action Of these disafected fac
uons. Already one Of their uauber-the La
Dor Reform party-has met and placed il.
candidates In the feld-Justice DAVIS, Of Hi
nois, aud Gov PAEEER, Of New Jersey; and
their nomination has been favoratly received
throughout the whole country. But the chief
significance VIII attach 10 the action Of the
Liberal Republicans in their Convention at
Cincinnati il May; should they concur in this
nomination, as seems altogether probable, We
have little doubt. tho Democratic party will
then confirm il, AID McSsrs Davis and Parker
bo carried into power by one Of the gyandest
popular revolutions we have ever witnessed
Should the Liberal Republicans, however Sc
lect other leaders equally as good. then. we
have no doubt, Msssrs Davis aud Parker will
withdraw from the field. and the same euthu-
siastic coalition be attempted. Ugder any cir
cumstances we deem it fortunate that the La
Dor Reform party has given US ticket to
which no one, who is ready % meet the crisis
with the spirit it demands, can reasonably OBJ
ject Il is above the level Of modern caudi-
dates, represents the best element Of American
citizenship, and brings with it the guaranty Of
personal iutelli geuce and integrity. upon which.
IN these times Of violated laws aud outraged
constitutions, 50 much depends iu the admin
istrati0n Of government. These gentlemen.
although they have accepted the nominations
rendered them, can as yet be regarded but as
candidates presented to the other Conventions
Meanwhile, as there is abundance Of time be-
fore the Cincinnati Convention, let there be @
full and frank interchange ofopiuion. l,fgom
tina, interchange Davis and Parker are found
10 be the men upon whom an parties in tie
opposition can unite, let them be endorsed aud
then taken up by tie Democrats. Ifothcr-
wise leo the Liberals give Us a ticket equally
as good, and the Democratic leaders viii fail
TO represent tie feelings Of the party if they
refuse 10 rally to It's support
On their Legs Again.