The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-07
Frcm the KanSwhA ChroniClc)
Tho EtiflbackIS in the LeglslatuTI

Tho Stifback'S in the Legislature
A portion Of the members Of the Legis
lature deserve special mention by inde
pependent journals, and the hearty com
mendation of their constituents and the
people at large. The latter will be as
sured when the people understand the po
sition OF these gentlemen and tho sur
rounding circumstances. We Of course
allude to the Democrats in both Houses
who have throughout maintained posi-
tlon Of independence and refused 10 obey
the commands Of the wOuld.be leaders In
the party, and vote for every proposition
that was called party measure, because
it was party measure, or because some
OF the leaders desired 1t should be passed.
It has cost these Senators and Delegates
some very unpleasant experiences TO
maintain such position. While We do not
believe that legislators should be praised
for simply dong their duty, we hold that
these men have made sacrifices that entitle
them to moro than mere mention.
1t is very smooth and plain sailing, for
the member who belongs to the majority
to be found always in the same list Of
votes and never stopping 10 enquire
whether it Is right and necessary to follow
certain other members on all propositions
that may come before them. The Repub.
licau minority will look for abuse from
the other side; 1t is expected; and they
are expected to be In opposition TO the
majority on someot the bills, and on some
provisions Of, perhaps, most Of them.
They are none the less respected for it.
In the case Of the independent Demo.
crats 1t IS different They arc denounced
as "traitors to the party" they are called
whiteWashed Democrats and weak. .kneed
Democrats, and other names intended to
be abusive and derisiVe, for the purpose
Of preventing them from voting according
to the dictates Of their judgments, and TO
deter less courageous members from ven.
turing tho same independent course.
They arc TO their faces ridiculed by the
CroWd-the majority-as an independent
schoolboy IS ridiculed by mob Of less
intelligent companions, who suppose what
is Tor the most popular is the right
side,-and who never learn any better
even after they become men. And
then, as they are in constant dan.
ger OF doing, they tread on the sore
toes OF the Courier, and out comes an ava.
lanche of disagreeable epithets and unia.
Vorable inslnuat:ons-enough TO make an
honest man blush, even though ho Is not
in any degree deserving any unkind allu.
sion. We say it requires good deal Of
strength to Withstand allthis. The man
who can do it must be CdnoWed with
commendable qualifications He is hon.
est; he is determined 10 do his duty, and
he Is industrious in his efforts to ascertain |
what Is his duty, and when he has found
the right course to pursue he will con-
tinue in it, whether be gets more curses
than praises or not.I He will not only re.
turn 10 his constituents with an approving
conscience, but the people will sustain
him, and tho press will be compelled, by
the force oil public opinion, to follow also
with late praise. r.
These independents this year have sui.
fered more vituperation than common.
The old Bourbon opposition have looked
upon this as their last chance to obtain
some extra grabs ot offices, and their last
to punish the independent
Democrats who refuse to be lead or ruled
by them. They have been more than
commonly bitter, and have done their
worst. All honor, then, TO the 1ndcpen-
dent Democrats Of tho Legislature Of
l872-3l Their work this winter will not
be soon forgotten.