Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-10-24
THE VOICE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

The antIcIpntions OF the Republican leaders,
and the prophecies.of the Republican press
in regard to the October elections, not being
confirmed BY their results, change of the
plan of their campaign was rendered in-
evitabIe. As one of its indications, the proc
lamatiOn of the President against the free
dom of elections in South Carolina is prom
inent. If we do not mistake the desperate
character of its leaders, it is but the beginning
of policy which they intend to extend in
definitely against the South, unless public
opinion shall be SO emphatic in its condemns
tiOu that they dare not tamper with it.
Although the cry of solid South is tho
staple of the average Radical orator of the
North, the class who most rely on its eff,
cheney in exciting Northern passions and
Northern apprehensions, intend to use all the
machinery of the Government, and all they
can Purloin from the treasury and assess
against public officials to frigh,en, purchase
aud defraud the people of the States of Louis
lana, North Carolina and Florida. Nothing
that the experienced and inventive rsscals of
their organization can develope against the
purity and the freedom Of the ballot, will be
left undoue. On the stump in New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut, and the Northwest,
they tell the people that the South is solid.
aud that it eudangers the retention aud
preservation of the principles settled by the
wsr-aud in the South wherever any of these
legions of yillanies, in which these prominent
characters are deeply learned, can be safely
adopted, they are now plying them with an
energy and audacisy that exhibits a despera>
ton and recklessness never before exhibited
in political contest on this continent
Before the election in October the Rad
ical press and the Radical orators wore claim
ing West Virginia as State certain to elect
Gen. GOff, and certain to vote for Hayes and
Wheeler They confessed that, pending a
contest. the most terrible of history, between
the Union and Secession forces. that West
Virginia, as State, stood by the Union and
that although her people we're bound to the
old State by almost every social tie and every
consideration of personal interest, that q ma
jOrity rose above them and subordinated
everything for the love of tho old flag, and
what from their standpoint they considered
public duty. Since October these same
orators and presses are declaring that West
Virginia is startling evidence of a Southern
conspiracy to restore Southern ideas and
secure Southern ascendsncy, whom they know
that in almost all her valleys, and her almost
inaccessible mountains, the Union sentiment
pIeponderAted and controlled that she was a
barrier against Confederate invasion of Ohio
in the West, and Pennsylvania and Maryland
in the North, that was recognised as insur>
mouutAble by Confederate leaders and know
that their right to the claim of loyalty is not
mere lip service, but has been purchased by
the most terrible and trying sacrifices.
West Virginia regulates the Radical party
for the reason that, Instead of union and har-
mony, they have for years been appealing to
the worst passions to sectionalizc the country,
that the peace of Appomattox ought to have
settled forever. Repudiates the Radical party
for the reason that she is Democratic in prin.
ciple, and, therefore, views with alarm the
ceEtrAlizing tendencies and unlicensed exer-
else of authority that is justified and de-
Tended by their leaders. Repudiates Rad
icalism for the reason that the crying neces-
sity of the hour is honesty and economy in
the administration of public affairs, whilo she
has witnessed a whole people daily growing
poorer, and public officials growing in aum-
Der, wealth and power has Witnessed an ad
ministration justly assailed for corruption, and
its highest officials suhjec. to the grosscst sus-
Ficion of completely; has witnessed the per-
petra.ion of carpet>bag power in the South
by the ualawtu! use of the military force of
the country, when no respectable man of any
party was unaware that tho men in authority
we're little better than gang of highway
robbers has witnessed, and be it said in
shame, the immediate friends and confidants
Of the highest official in our country subjected
to the penalties of common malefac.ors, and
knows that his circle of immediate friends is
depleted by the cell of the penitcntiary
West Virginia demands free Government,
she demands our union Of fraternity and law,
she demands that honorable men shall be the
recipients of public favor, and that economy
in the administration of public affairs shall be
enforced in every department, State and Ma
tional. This is the cause of her verdict in
October, and We do NO. doubt that it will be
afirmatively responded to all over this broad
land, North aud south.