The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-03
THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.

THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS,
We copy elsewhere from the Charles
ton Courier some remarks in relation
to the course that has been pursued oy
the Democratic newspapers OF the State
with regard to the present legislature.
We are grati6ed to find that the iegls'
lature is beginning to feel that there 10
a public sentiment which cannot De
salty disregarded, and we sngur from
this more industry, wiser economy, and
more satisfactory discharge OF duty In
the future. The Democratic press OF the
State has been compelled. more in sor'
row than in anger" to criticise the fol-
lea and mistakes OF Democratic
representatives at the Capital, and
if it will afford any comfort
to these gentlemen. we may as
sure them that the structures that have
been INDUCED in have but family res
Elected the sentiments OF the party. We
are in receipt of numerous letters from
prominent Democrats in various coun-
ties speaking in terms of condemnation
of the recklessness aud profigacy which
appear to have been rife in Charleston
during at least portion of the past
winter, and from one end of the State
TO the other, has been uttered the same
voice. We are satisfied that the mem
bers OF the Legislature have not until
recently been fully aware Of the intense
feeling of disappointment and dissatls-
faction which the events OF the winter
have occasioned, and they will find that
the Democratic newspapers have not
spoken one moment too soon.
So far as the REGISTER is concerned
and we believe we may say the same for
others, we will be very happy indeed to
receive assurance that all the matters
OF which the people complain IN the
conduct Of the legislature are the cal
umuies of Radical correspondents at
Charleston; that they are mere lies
invented and circulated for political Ell
feet. When we receive evidence that
the charges OF misconduct are untrue,
we will very cheerfully publish the fact
and use our best efforts to defend the
legislature against the aspersions OF Its
foes. 1t isquite possible that there has
been too much detraction and that the
faults of the members have been some
whs, magnified, but we fear that 1t 10
true that per diem was charged for the
legislative recess, that whole days have
been wasted in profitless discussion
upon unimportant topics, and that
several of the laws that have been pass
ed are not the embodiment aud express
sion of "the gathered wisdom OF a thou
sand years."
We desire too, to respectfully suggest
that, in our opinion, it is not an I'M
perative and unavoidable part Of the
duty OF a Democratic ne wspaper to take
up the cudgel in behalf Of the personal
reputation of every individual Demo-
crat who happens to be elected to POI
sition of trust. How long would any
newspaper retain or be worthy OF the
respect and confidence Of its readers if
its columns were daily occupied in as
sorting that Mr.. A. B., did not commit
this or that disreputable act, when 1t
hsdsbeen we'll proven that he did, In
such cases the charity of silence is the
only defense that decent regard for
duty will excuse.
And now, having said our say, we
trust we may have no more occasion
for adverse criticism concerning the
legislative body. During the past few
weeks there has been much better work
done at Charleston than characterized
the earlier part Of the session, and we
expect to find in the completed laws
much to approve. A better public
sentiment will rapidly spring up just as
soon as it finds anything to rest upon
and the present Legislature may yet
pass into history as one that did good
work for the State.