The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-01-20
To West virginia Democrats.

provemcnts respectively.
To West Virginia Democrats.
The Wheeling Register, with some
force of truth, says, there is no State
in the Union where any political
party shows such peculiar condi-
ton as is presented by the Democratic
party of West Virginia. There
seems to be in that party mis- Jurc
of irrcconcilablc material, which
makes harmony in its ranks one of
the hardest things in the world, and
as consequence, the party is con-
stantly in danger of breaking down
of its own accord, and giving over to
its enemies the success which it
should always be able to CONTROL
The reason for this state of affairs are
very plain, What is now West Viz
ginia has long ago, while a portion Of
the State of old Virginia, been large
ly opposed to the Democratic party.
The old Wing element, when that
highly respectable party was in exis-
tcnce, was here largely in the asccn-
dant; and though, since the war; near
ly all of these old Wings have,
through their hatred of RadicaIism,
affiliated with the Democracy, they
still entertain somewhat of Il feeling
of antagonism to its old-fashsoned
and timc-honorcd principles And
it is not the old line Wings alone who
have thus come into our ranks, but,
in fact, all opposed to Radicalism
have done likewise, and, ofcoursc, these
fail to feel that wholc-soulcd regard
for the party, as party, which char
actcrizes those who have been eGuca.
ted from childhood to believe in its
teachings, and in other localities
makes it work together as an unit, !,
Another and second reason for our
want of harmony; is consequent up
on, and arises directly from the first.
Lacking that feeling of disintcrcstcd
regard for its teachings, there are
naturally many men its ranks who
arc governed solely by motives ofpcr-
sohal interest, Hence they lose sight
of one of the first doctrines Of the par
/ tr-principlcs not mcn-and are
ready to bolt the track the very mo-
mcnt that matters do not work to
suit their individual ideas. So while
they hate the Radicals, they dcliCc"
ately play into their hands, by wCak-
ening the forces of their profcSscd
friends, and thus cndangcr their sue,
cess. Hence also is an easy explain
alton as to why independents"
spring up and flourish so naturally
in our midst, and hence so many
things are done which we our.
selves have to condemn. Now we al,
lude to this subject plainly because
it should be seen, appreciated and in
future, rectifcd. We are on the
verge of one Of the most important, if
not the most important Presidential
election ever held in this country
For fifteen years the Democratic par
ty has been in a helpless minority
AS a consequence, the principles cs-
tablishcd by the fathers Of the eoun-
try have been ignored; the Constitu-
ton has been violated; the rights of
American frccmcn have been tramp
led upon; (this has been notably the
the case in this State) the writ of
hdJcdS corpus has been threatened
with suspension; fraud, thievery, OPP
preston and tyranny have run ram
pant; high oflicialpositions have been
prostitutcd for private gain; in short
from a noble heightened people, we
have become to be regarded as the
most corrupt and unprincipled
nation on the face ofthc globe. Now
we have chance to change these
things; to restore the country to its,
pristine condition, and to rcinstate
in power the party under whose aus
pieces it attained all its former grand
eur and honorable fame.
Under these circumstances, can
men calling themselves Democrats
consent to jcopardizo their party's
success in any manner Thocontcst
next Fall will be close, and our five
electoral votes may be called upon TO
decide the matter Radicals are
counting largely upon our internal
discussions, and acolously working to
- =.