The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-09
What West Virginia owes 70 the
Republican Party.

The State Journal Of the / Sth inst,
makes a labOrod effort to glorify the
Republican party, and to hold up its
past record as model Of truth, noble.
ness, progress and llbcralily. Alas I!
for its cause; truth comes up, and
lifting the stern, rsproying finger,
points to act after act Of vindictivoness,
malice and trCaChery pcrpetrated under
its domination, which brings to mind
tho dark days Of prescription and ter.
ror which broke down the prosperity Of
the State, which plunged men into
poverty and ruin, which made good
and law. abiding citizens afraid to OK.
press their opinions for fear Of spies
aud iuformOrs; tue days Of registration
aud test oaths, when the most sacred
rights Of freemon were bestowed upon
the negroes and criminals Of the State.
and denied to men whose ancestors had
shed their blood for their country, and
who, themselves, had been in the
ranks Of the Union army; Ofthe days
when, contrary to all law, trampline on
all constitutional rights, laws impairing
and multiplying private contracts were
passed; when 1t was crime for man
to receive bis own son into bis house,
il that son had been 10 tho Southern
army, or had been. for ever so short
time, identified with the so.callsd Con-
fedCracy. This was that glorious Re.
publican party, "magnanimOus even to
q fault" which was hurled from power
at the very first free election after tho
disfranchisOment laws were repealed,
and this is the party that has been
schcming ever since to get its grip
again upon the throat Of our young
State, and which would aI certainly
stranglo II as it accOmplishss It's pur.
pose. The Republican party was con.
ceived in fanaticism aud brought forth
in blood; its advent, and The couss.
quenceS Of It's success, was a bloody
and fratricidal war, and tue throwing
backward for a hundred years tho OF.
ward progress Of tlis glorious Union.
II those things were necessary for the
destruction Of slavery, slavery has been
destroyed and its mission fulfilled, The
time will como when tue truth Of these
positions will be vipdica.ed, and when
the Republican party will be rOmcm.
bercd as among The things that we're
AS for the Democratic party, its
principles are immutablu as those Of
truth. We know that all men and ali
parties are liable to error, bu! whom tho
fou ndatiOns Of party are laid ID the
very principles Of a government, found.
cd on the best interests Of tho governed;
when truth and justice and purity arc
its corner stone whom the rights Of all
men are thereby protected, and tho
government administered solely in the
interests Of the people, then that party
we know will survive tho shocks Of
revolutions, the assaults Of tricksters
and demagOgues, the wickcdness and
corruption Of some who profess It's
aud DO acknowledged for
what II is, tho peoples party.
What progress, woask, was made by |
West Virginia during tho reign Of tho
partyi None; ils pros.
perily commenced with the advent to
power Of Democratic principles, and Il
IT'LL continues, and we have no idea that
be people will DO SO blinded to their
,wn interests as ever again to permit
hesitate 10 pass under tie power Of
be party siimbscility, corruption and
aDatieisnl.
1tis vOty easy for tho political crit.
" to stand by and watch the acts Of
ht party in power, not With tho view