The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-12
GhNGntelli9eneer.
democratic Promises,

The history ofth Democratic party Isl
an oft repeated story oibFoken promises,
Promises made to tickle the ears Of the
erc,lulous multitude but never designed
to be kept and often impossible Of full
fllment ii even there had been M honest
intent to keep them. Whcnthc Democrat
ic party asks for new lease Of power, it
comes before the people with high sound
ingplatitudc4 designed to trap the unwa-
ry, Wimcssio instance, the preamble to
theparty platform OF 1872, adopted as
standing ground Tor that eminent patriot,
Mr. Grccly, 10 rii,
at iscssential to just government that
we recognize the equality Of all men be-
fore the law, and hold that it is the duty
OF government in'its dealings with pcO-
plO to mete out equal and exact Justice
to all, OF whatever nativity, race, color, or
persuasion, religious or political"
On the strength Of this sweeping re-
traction Of the principle upon which the
Democratic party inangnratrd the great
rebellion, many people were content to
believe that the Democratic leaders had
really experienced u change Of heart, but
there il now no evidence that 1t was any
thing more than pretcntious display Of
repentance. The leaders Oi the party
did not then believe in the sentiments Of
that preamble, nor do they now.
ItisnOt necessary to remind the people
of our own State that economy in the cx-
penditurc Of State moneys, reduction Of
taxation and publication Of the depart
mcnts, was the Slogan Of the campaign
which made the Democratic party the
ruling power in this State,
Increased expenses, public printing
frauds and rillcd treasury are to-day
the evidences Of the manner in which
Democratic promises have been kept.
The elections Of the fall Of 1874, which
for time have galvanized the dccaying
remains Of the Democratic party into u
show Of political life, have only set forth
more fully the utter impossibility Of the
party's rising into new life or putting
on the clean robes Of righteousness. It
will not require much longer time to
convince the people OF the North how
completely they have been bamboO2led
by the Democratic party in the recent
elections,
The comments OF the Chicago Tribune
on the recent action OF the Indiana Legi.-
laturc in adj djourning without making any
provision for carrying on the State Gov.
ernment, furnishes us with n case exactly
in point.
"The Democrats went into the canvass
last fall, and succeeded in gaining power
by the promise, which they knew they
could not carry out 10 run the State
Government upon u . mill tax. In the
closing week Of the Legislature, the
Ways and Means Committee Of the
Democratic Lower House, acting in ac.
cordance with the promise they had
given, made 5 mill levy; but knowing
that this would be insufficient they in
serted provision authorizing the
Democratic State officers to raise
money by loan at "any rate Of
interest and for any purpose, and add
tho proceeds to the Stale debt. by this
artful provision they would thus avoid Il
levy larger than mills, and at the same
time make some political capital for 1876
The Republican Senate, however, pune
tnrcd this piece Of rascally dcmagogery
by striking ont the provision giving the
State officers power 10 borrow money and
increase the State debt, and thus kept the
Democratic tricksters to their promise
The result will be that in the extra sc'
sion which has been called they will be
compelled to establish levy sufficient Il
run the State government. Do the people
OF Indiana want any more convincing
proof Of the trickcry with which thcy
have been fooled? What has taken place
in Indiana ia an indication Of what may
no expected elsewhere