The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-02-27
NUMBER |
From the New Lexington t0.j Herald.I
PR0GHESSsVE DEMOCRACY.
The Marietta Register E-eaycs a
SPrDeu('s Trail, -

SespeuFs fafi,
The Marietta Register, the Rerubli-
can organ of Washington county. in Q
recent iSsdc. in referring TO the vote on
bill nroviling that the Clerks Of
Courts. shall determine the number of
] ,rors 70 which each township is en1i-
tied from the number of male-the old
law reul white male-eitizeils Of the
age of twenty one years" takes the oc.
casion, under a pretense of compliment,
to beslime Mr.. WAY, the Democratic
Representative from Washington coun;
ty, with view Of faislfying him shefore
the Democracy who may chance to read
the Register. The compliment to
Mr. WAY is. as follows:
! A. PROGRESSIVE DEsrocRAT.-W illiam
G. Way, Representative in. the Ohio
Legislature from Washington county,
voted with the Republicans for the. bill
to strike ont the word white" where
| it occurs III the law relating to thezim-
panneling of jurors. Nobody here will
throw doubt ON Mr.. Ways 'Democra7.
cy; but this is step in. advance of the ,
sentiments of his party in this countsyi
Mr.. Way is young man, and be will
outlKe any opposition his vote may in
fcur from his party friends here. We
gladly welcome him to the ranks Of
those who concede their rights to an
oppressed race, IA
The Bill does not relate to the sim
panneling of juries," and had the Reg
lister been less disposed to inflict q po,
Iitical injury on Mr.. WAY. and more
anxious to enlighten its readers, q clo-
ser regard to the facts would have been
observed. The marked personal popu-
larity of Mr.. WAY carried him through
the canvass with handsome Democrat
ic majority III 4 county heretofore re,
garded as reliably Republican, and with
cunning born of the serpent the Reg
lister hopes to place him in q false posi-
ton before the veteran Democracy of
Washington, with the ultimate hope of
restoring the county to the RepublieanE.
The position of Mr.. WAY On this, as
on all other questions, with that of the
party to-day, is consistent with the ext
gencies o. the times-not only in con-
formity with the Constitution, but po.
sition promising the most hope for the
Gest interests of the. party, The action
of the Democratic party relative to the
citizenship of colored men was an hon.
est, honorable opposition; but the dues
tions involved in those issues are fixed
and settled as much beyond revocation
as the Judgment of a people can make
them, and the colored men all oyer the
country are citizens under the constitu-
tion, and will hold their rights until "a
revolution changes the form and sub.
verts the principles of this government.
The Democracy is not revolutionary,
neither does it propose to be buried with
principles slowed and lost" To main
tain principles, and oppose unwise meas,
ures with all the force aw.abiding men,
can control is glorious, and has ever
characterized the policy of the Democ-
racy, but when principles become. parts
Of the constitution opposition should
cease, because such action is not only
revolutionary but ridiculous and absurd.
The vote. of Mr.WAY is said to be "a
step in advance of the sentiments of
tie Democracy of Washington county"
We don't believe it. We do not be-
ieve that the Democracy of Washing-
ton, any more than tie live, active, in
telligent, working Democrats of Ohio
generally, are tied to Dead Past, when
in the issues and Exigencies of the
Living Present there are so many vital
questions presenting themselves 70 be
dealt with in order to avert tue alarm.
ing dangers of a near Future.
The war worn veterans of many a
disastrous field, as we'll as the new re.
cruits, full of courage and in readiness
for the great conflict of the next cam
paign, do not propose turning from the
golden opportunities OF today, to wall
unheard laments over wrongs that IA
naticism perpetlated and patriotism
could not prevent, nor indulge in futile
and unmanly grief over hopes that are
dead and buried, when new life claims
so earnestly our essry thought and at,
tention. In this connection, having op-
portunities of knowing whereof We
speak,it affords us pleasure to, state that
Mr.. WAY, the Young member from Ma
rietta, ranks among the most useful and
influential members of the present Leg
Eislatnr6. Upon the two most ilnpor-
tant committees-Judilcsiary and Finance
he holds a promitent place, and not
only as Legislator, looking TO the
wants of the public. as Representa-
tive watchful and efficient in promoting
the especial interests of his locality, out
also as Democrat, faithful to the prin;
ciplcs of his party, he stands high
lamonr the most nrominent Young Dem
focrats OF the State With marked per-
sonal popularity At home, standing high
among the members, ana with the re-
cord he is making in the Legislature,
Mr.. WAY is young enough to outlive
all such 'contemptible' opposition as
the Register offers in its unmanly efforts
to place him in a false position before
The Democracy of Washington county.
a,rl a.