The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-31
A Marshall County Democrat on the
Situation.
MARSHALL COUNTY, w. VA, /
March 18th, 1876. !


March 18th, 1876. !
Editors OF the Register:
Inasmgch as during the coming sum-
mer the great battle for political pur-
poses will be fought between the great
political parties 1t may not be amiss IN
those interested in the success OF Demo-
cratic principles to take prospective
view OF the situation. 1t has been said
that we must judge the future by the
psst-that the worlds history is but one
continuous repetition. Let US profit,
then, by the adage and view the future
by the light OF our past experience. Now,
Notifying rs it is TO make the acknowl-
edgement, We are compelled by the light
Of our past history to say that the course
of the Democracy for the past five
years has been marked by one |
continuous series Of blunders, and unless |
we are governed by moro discretion in |
the coming contest we cannot but meet |
with an ignominous defeat. In 1870 the |
young democracy of this State organized |
almost without hope, but upon pure prtn
clDteS Of democracy TO fight the hosts OF |
Governor Stevenson and his Infamous |
board of registration. The result of that |
contest was the first original defeat the
Radical party had received IN the whole
country. 1t struck dismay to the hearts
of their party leaders throughout the
land, as they thought they could see in
that defeat the handwriting on the wall.
The victory was most especially gratify-
ing TO the democracy from the fact that
l 1 =
of one jo. title Of party principle. They
had truckled 20 no measures of policy.
They knew no HeD departure, but had
stakcd their all upon the broad and living
principles OF constitutional liberty. Upon
these principles the Radical party
was routed "horse foot and dragon"
every department OF the State govern
ment had been surrendered into our
hands VIC were in a position to mould the
political policy of the State, The peo-
Pile had most emphatically put the seal
OF their condemnation upon disfranchise
mcnt and prescription, it really looked as
If the sorrow that had endured the night
was to give place TO the joy of the morn
ing. 1t was at this period of our politl-
cal history that principle began to be
developed among the would-be leaders OF
the party that has since proved to be
such stumbling block in the way of
Democratic success. | refer to those
measures of policy; that dishonorable sur
rendering OF first principles for the sake
of party success ard the chances OF divid-
ing the spoils of Office. 1t began in our
own State in the endorsement of the
Flick amendment by our party leaders.
Ii was Immediately followed in Ohio by
Day,,X aiandiNgham and others in the
as the AZ worm, IA tamiliarly known
per outgrowth OF this inaiso4| ne. men as pro-
rifclng of principle upon the Ni. sac
party success, came the nomination OIL 9i
Horace Greeley for President, man
who had gained all he had of reputation
and distinction by his hostility to, and
untiriug efforts to overcome the Demo
cratic party. This man chosen by a
Democratic Convention to become the
leader OF Democratic hostS-the expo
nent Of Democratic principles! This was
most ridiculous combination of absurdi-
ties. 1t was no wonder the rank and
file turned with Disgust from this nause-
ating feast.
And now, again, almost as a torlorn hope
they again organize upon first principles
I they again give battle upon the real
issue of the day, liberty and right against
! oppression and wrong. The result OF
that contest WAS the gaining OF the Lower
House Of Congress as well as more than
| half of the State Governments through
out the Union to the Democrats.
But here again the serpent creeps into
the Eden of success and tempt the leaders
from the broad and we'll defined land
marks of our fathers and in the preimi-
nary skirmiSh that WAS to have deter
mined the result of the Presidential cam.
paign we see al attempt made to COM
pIetely ignore one Of the long cherished
/ principles OF the Democracy by commit
ms the party TO Il paper currency and
thereby insure it defeat. Now while
it was the duty Of the Democracy to
oppose the suicidal policy of forced re-
sumption Of specie payments, as proposed
by "A Radical Congress, 1t does not follow
as necessary sequence that they are 10
become the especial patrons Of rag cur
rency. The Democratic party has ever
been opposed to AL systems of National
banking, and TO any kind OF circulating
medium for which they were forced to
pay tribute. They have ever held that
gold and silver was the only true and
honest currency of the country, and to
resume the circulation of which was AL
event to be devoutly wished for. Tho
legal tender act was passed in the teeth
of an earnest and solemn protest bv our
Senators and Representatives in Con
gress. We are in no wise resposible for
its creation or It's existence. The
"rag baby is the especial pro-
tege of the Republican party.
more from this brief review of our past
history We find that any deviation from
the well beaten track of Democracy by
the party leaders is always attended with
disastrous results that they will certainly |