Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-10-03
THE COMING ELECTION.

SSa ASS1SAS aA0 aSAatmtuk JUL el6CtlOQ as
Governor. If they are in earnest, it is GER
tain that they contemplate and are now per,
tecting a wholesale system of fraud. In all
human probability we would have carried the
camPaigu of 1872, had not the people of North
Carolina been over confdant and unsuspect-
ing An honest return of the vote of that State
IN questionably secured it to US, by from 5000
to 10000 majority, but every conceivable
fraudulent cxpedieut was there resorted to, to
defeat the popular will.
Colonization from Virginia, Tennessee and
South Carolina, ofthe shifting negro popula>
ton, was one means-ballot box stufhng
another. Every commissioner of elections who
could be purchased had his pockets stuffed
with Radical money, and Radical votes were
substituted for Conservative votes through
their connivance. The election in North Caro-,
lima was then held on the 18th of September;
she was therefore an important factor in de-
termining the bent Of the popular will, and
exercised a commanding influence on the
States voting in October.
West Virgins, with Ohio and Indiana, bears
the same relation to the contest of 1876 that
North Carolina did to the contest in 1872. 1t
Is the expression of these localities that deter
mine tie battle in November. Ifeither two of
the October States shall declare for Tildcn
and Hendricks, no power or earth could stem
the tide of victory in our favor, but if the op-
posite result should ensue the people would
become disheartened, our forces would be de.
moral;zed, the great interests would make
term with the Radical party to secure their
protection, aud perpetuation of Radical rule,
would be inevitable.
Free institutions and Democratic theories
against another term of Radical Capitalization
and Radical despotism. Their policies for their
own perpetuation will be remorseless and every
great centralized interest will be forced into
their own safety. Assuming that this is true,
how criminal it is for any man, honestly a
Conservative, to be neglectful of the peril that
surrounds US. How foolish to let auy per-
sonal considerations, or any personal feeling
so control him that he endangers the compact
ness of the organization to which he belongs.
There can be no question that a fair popu-
lar expression will exhibit West Virginia in
the Democratic column, by at least 5000 ma
jority. Will our people be v~igiIant, will they
see to it here and here that the country
has the benefit of that expression ? To do
this every man must be brought to the polls
who is entitled to vote, every doubtful vote
must be challenge, all localities liable to
Radical invasion from other States must be
guarded, the ballot-box must be watched
by Conservatives in control of it from daylight
till sun down, commissioners must see to it that
none of the sharp tricks of Radical invention
votes more than one ticket; in short, to be
safe, they must anticipate fraud in every
manner that unscrupulous Radical politicians
can accomplish it.
Committees ought to be appointed by the
Executive Committee for every township in
the county, with special duties assigned them
on election day some to watch the polls.
others to get the vote out. Vehicles ought to
be provided by Democrats of the different
localities to bring the sick, the aged or the
disabled to the polls. No honest means
should be left undone that would contribute
to a successful result in our little State.-
Watchfulness aud energy for one day by all
our people, will return the richest reward of
history ; will disenthral our people, vindicate
and sustain the policy and the judgment of
our fathers, will demonstrate the capacity of
mankind to govern themselves, and porpetu>
ally crush the ambition of the ~despotic classes
who for so many years have subjected all our
people and all our interests to a vice-likc op-
preston.
a letter from HalItown to the Shepherds
town Register contains the following para
graph:
"Politics are running smoothly, here the
Democrats all being satisfied with the nomi-
nees, and the Republicans ~exultant over the
dissatisfaction in other parts of the county"
"RepuJlicans eruHant orer the dissatisfuc.
ton 1" other parts of the county, Dem
ocrats, let your action now, and your votes for
the entire State, Senatorial and County Ticket,
on Tuesday next, put a lasting damper upon
such exultation.
Personal preferences may govern individual
members of a political party to a certain ex-
tent; but patriotism should rise above mere
personal considerations, and enable every true
member of the Democratic Conservative party
to become uumindful of his mere individual
choice in the one grand effort that is being
made to wrest the government of our fathers