The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-12
THECOMING CAMPAIGN.
The Prospects for Repu blIean
success In West Virginia this

will take the trouble TO examine the re-
turns Of past elections with due regard
for the present circumstances, can readi.
" determine. l undertakeIo say, here and
now, that instead Of the Democratic par
ty being so largely in the ascendency, as
Is claimed by the organs Of that party,
the Republicans arein avery respectable
and will SO. assert themselves
at the coming election. By reference to
the vote given at past elections of several
successive years, we have the follow
ing showing-preiaced by the fact
that the full voting strength OF the
State is about $1,000. In 1868 the Re-
publican majority in an aggregate Of 40
32l votes was 8,719. In 1870, on the gu
bernatorial vote, the result was Demo-
cratic majority of2,123, in an aggregate
OF 55,6O7 votes. 1t was in this canvass
that the outcry against what was termed
"Radical prescription" first took sub.
stantial form. It was made the slogan"
Of the "outs"-a base and groundless ap.
peal 10 prejudice, whereby It was thought
10 GUST the Republicans, the "ins" upon
the theory that a continuation Of that
party In power would serve to petpetu-
ate the proscriptive policy. All this in
the very face OF the fact that by the pro-
visions Of the "Flick amendment" adopt,
ed by the Republican party, and opposed
by the Democrats, the Constitution
was already shorn Of It's, to them,
Objectionable features, and the obnoxious
test.oaths were already repealed BY the
Republican Legislature. By skilltul
muneuyer the Democracy were elevated
to power; by unskillful maneuyer they
have betrayed themselves to ultimate
de,hronement. In 1871 the vote on the
call for Constitutional Convention,
championed by the Democracy, stood :
For convention, 1920; against, q ,6SS;
majority for convention. 1854, in total
OF 57,S5S. Now, 1t will be remembered
with what haste the call for this conven-
ton was propulgated-closeiy following
the Democratic victory Of October, 1870.
The leaders could scarcely await neces-
sary preliminaries, SO impatient were
they 10 increase The number Of Offices and
inaugurate the good old county
court system" and generally rehabil-
itate the State with the. cast-of gar
menh Of Democracy. They were
crazed with success, and knew no
rest, neither day nor night, until en-.
abled 10 demonstrate ID the boasted su-
periority Of Democratic government. Ev-
ery one knows the effect success exerts on
the fortunes Of party-how attractive
il is to certain class OF voters found in
all communities be always on the win
ming side. And it is Of course true that
a considerable number OF voters changed
their allegiance when 1t became reasona-
bly certain that the Democracy were once
more invested with authority; and yet,
with all this influence in their favor,
they, in the height Of their glory, with
the flush of victory yet crimsoning their
brows, and with the aid Of a superabund-
ance Of new material dexterously thrown
into the canvass, were able to obtain
only the bare majority Of $500 for the
Convention in the then largest aggregate
vote Of the State.
1t may be here remarked that from
the date Of this @victory," ut even this
early stage OF their public career, the
Democrats may date the commencement
of their decline. The incompatible fraud
practiced upon the people by that Con-
yention-the Constitution they framed,
and the way in which it was thrust upon
the people, together with the useless ex-
pense the move entailed upon the tax
payers, and the subsequent rascalities OF
that party through It's leaders, have 30
disguised the people that they are resoly-
cd 10 test whether the majority which
previously endorsed them cannot be
proiitably turned in another direction.
With reference to the subsequent cleo
tions, it may be stated that since the vote
on the Convention call, in 1871, there has
been no party canvass in the State. The
next important election TO tina: named
was upon the adoption Of the "Lawyers'
Constitution" and the selection OF State
and county officers under it, in August,
1872. It may be stated, also, that had 1t
not been for THE skillful and arbitrary
commingling OF the Constitution issue
with the personal aspirations Of every
county officer whose election depended
upon the adoption Of the instrument, the
Constitution would have been defeated by
a larger majority than was recorded
against the ring candidate for Governor
the only candidate on that ticket who
was regularly opposed. by aid Of the
personal influence OF the county candi-
dates, the Constitution, voted for
on the same day they were voted for,
was carried by small majority,
while Governor Jacob, the independ.
ent candidate against Mr.. Camden,
the recognized leader Of the Bour-
bon interests, was elected Governor by
nearly 5000 majority, in total Of So, 1913
votes 1t is OF course claimed that
through personal popularity and Demo-
cratic proclivities alone, Gov. Jacob was
enabled 10 defeat the Ring. This is 10
some extent true; but he who cannot see
more than. this in the result, must be
blind, indeed. That temporary distrust
OF the Democratic party has become
widespread, and it is now settled CON-
yiction that that party is no longer
worthy Of confidence. i..-
The electionsnot noted in this article,
as is well known, were in-no sense party
contests or ii party contests were not Of
sufficient importance to. elicit q full
vote. The large figures claimed by the
Bourbois are not therefore sustained by
the facts; and IL they do not find they have
built their hopes upon the sand, when
the people come to the polls next fall, j
shal consider that public sentiment has
changed in the interim. ID % syi.t
The Republicans have q majority of
the voters OF this State embraced within
their organization or in sympathy with
them. They must make no mistakes, and
success will undoubtedly be theirsat the
fall election. With a good platform,
freed from the odiumof third termism, as
It surely will be, and with a spirited can.
vass such rs | am quite sure they will
spare no pains to make, the year Of 1875
will date their return 10 power as certain.
ly as the election occurs. PERKINS.