The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-20
Rule or RuIn.oIs There NO Balm
In GiIead1

A correspondents Democrat-ior
whose sagacity we have good deal OF
respect, writes us a private note about
ne present condition Of public affairs in
this State, which states the case so truth
fully and sontentlously that we venture to
make this extract:
1.-THE big rebels produce the trouble.
I'VE must strike them. Rule or ruin Is
"thcir discrimination. They want every
thing their own way. Having got the
Legislative and Judicial departments of
government in our State, they expect 10
"lorce the Executive and take possession
"ofthe five seats in Congress. The Union
Democrats and Republicans must act
"in accord in the future. We can beat
them by uniting. The Capital removal
never had any real rabeI support. They
expect the Third District 10 put them
in high places and keep them in power
Tin the future"
From the day the Democratic party
came into power in this State, the present
state Of affairs was plainly iOreseen. There
was an element in that party-the domi-
nsnt element SO soon as the disabling
laws o! the State were repealed-that
would brook no interference with It's
schemes. For the sake oil distinction we
may call 1t the rebel element, though all
the ex.rebels by no means sympathize
with It's purposes. 1t is led by such men
as GIDEON D. CAMDEN and JONATHAN n.
BENNETT, with other men who have more
creditable records as rebels than they,
bat hardly a more consuming ambition
for political power. This element has
ruled the Democratic organization with a
rod Of iron ever since It came into control.
The Union Democrats, like Mr.. LAMB or
Capt. WILSON, orthis city, like JNo. HALL
of Point Pleasant, or WM. G. Brown Of
KingwoOd, or JOHN J. Brown oil Nor
gsntown were well enough when brains
to organize campaigns and votes 10 carry
doubtful elections were needed. Butthe
"big rebels" OF the Southern counties hav.
ing used these gentlemen and the element
they represent to climb into power, and
having SO fortified themselves there by
legislative and constitutional expedients
as 10 feel themselves secure against all
attack, kick down the ladder with the
basest ingratitude and trust to their own
despotic power on the one hand, and 10
the cnwardice Of the other wing Of their
party, on the other, to keep them up.
The deccut and loyal element Of the
Democratic party is as pOwerless
in the Legislature today as the
Republican party. The old rebel
element rules the roost triumphantly in
both ends Of the capitol. And what
rule It Isl The Governor, himself q
Democrat, but an honorable high minded
man, is made the subject Of the mesnest,
the pettiest, the most unworthy and I'M
justiiablC persecution and warfare TO
which such an officer was ever made
subject by legislative body. Proprety,
decency, law, constitution, all are broken
down In the mad attempt to dcspoil him
Of the Just powers with which he has
been clothed. Months OF session, costing
the people nearly six hundred dollars a
day, are lrlttercd away in tho idlest and
most contemplate expedienls devised to
kill time and lengthen the session. What
little legislation is enacted is so bad that
II the Legislature were to do nothing
ut all but deplete the treasury, the
misfortune TO the State would be less
than tits. The same story of idle triiling,
OF drunkenness, ofamusements, Of pollt-
ical scheming, OF unmanly persecution
aimed at the Governor, OF ungeneIOus,
supplementary, outrageous treatment
Of the political minority, Of constituencies
raids on the Treasury, Of white'washing
those who have openly plundered 1t and |
OF defamation those who have sought 10
defend It against robbery, comes up from
all tho letter.writers there and from all
who visit the capital and. come home. !
Read in this paper the story Of one day,
the 18th inst, as told by one Of our cor.
respondents. And day after day, week
after week and month alter month this
trifing at the public expense goes on in
spite ofthe circumstances and warnings
of nearly the whole press of the State of
both parties. If It be true that the gods
make those mad whom they mean 10
destroy, then there must be a profound
abyss waiting to open beneath the feet of
those who are responsible for the conduct
Of the Legislature sitting and disgracing
the State at Charleston.
The Republicans Of the State ore
in no degree responsible for this
shameful posture oil affairs. Real.
king their impotency as sep
srate organization, they cheerIully
and unitedly joined with those Democrats
who resisted this mad crusade as devel-
oped in last Summers campaign. We did
not ask to divide candidates. We sup
ported Democratic tickets pure and sim.
pie because VIC believed that to be the
most effective way to ward of tho very ca.
lamities that have been accommodating all
this winter at the Capital. This union Of
moderate Democrats with Republicans
was successful as to Governor, but 1t failed