Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-10-21
To the People of the United States.


results Of the October State elections We re-
ie;ce in the victory which the peoples ballots
have bestowed upon the friends OF reform, I'D
the valley of the Ohio where the Repubiican
hosts had an overwhelming ascendency IN
every Presidential election since 1856. We
rejoice in the assurance these elections convey
that your ballots will bestow decisive maJori-
ties TO the allied forces of Democracy and he
form ia the November elections throughout the
Uuion But We rejoice not as partisans we
rejoice with yon as fellow-cilizeus.
And when the decision of this week OF one
million voters along the valley OF the Ohio
shall be ratifel next month, by the fat Of
eight million Voters Throughout the whole Re-
pnhhc, NE shall Still rej1ce, chiefly for the
reason thatnot one of its citizens can miss OF
an equal share with us who are Democrats, in
the political peace and good will which will
then and there be established among all Sec
tions. races, classes and conditions of men, aud
in the prosperity of which political peace
| basel on equal rights and fraternal good will,
is the first condition
! Upon the three States Of West Virginia,
/ Ohio and Indiana, were concentrated all the
! influence Of the Administration, all their ei-
| forts, and all the vast sums of money forced
/ from the one hundred thousand office holders
/ of the party in power.
These were fearful odds, not again to be con-
tended against so concentrated; for in the
! November elections the contest will be in every
| one of thrty-eight States upon the same day.
Nevertheless. against these odds the Demo-
Gratis aud Relurmers Of West Virginia In
diana have been victorious, and in Ohio they
] L.. .ln al
| hopeless, and have created an assurance OF VIC
/ tory in November.
If Il falls to our lot rs a National Demo-
cratic Committee to congratulate the people of
the Union upon this victory ia the fret battle
of the reform campaign, it is only because
| Democrats have been honored to be the leaders
# the people III the work of national regenera-
ton.
The victory won, the victory still 10 be WOO,
will be deycrance as much to Republicans
As to Democrats.
The patriotic masses Of The Republican par
fy may he thankful that the mjsdecls of their
unworthy leaders have been rebuked and are
to be arrested. The suffering whites Of the
South may liit up their heads 30 greet the
dawn Of better day for them ns well as the
nation at large Tie crlnrcd citizen may
share the general joy that he will soon cease to
be the stock in trade Of corrupt politicians, but
shall enjoy his rghtlu liberties and his equali-
" before the law amid universal COED will
As for the Reform Democracy 10 whose
standards victory has been tied. with all her
garIauds on, il ouly remains for them t. wei
come every ally, every friend, elise up the
ranks and press on shoulder 10 shoulder, nn-
der the banter aud with the one watchword.
REFORM.
Felow-ct:zous Peace between all sections
Prosperity in all our homes Of these You have
been for years deprived by the mistaken solicit
iudcs Of patriotic Republicans, played upon by
selfish aud corrupt leaders, who ave kept
tanning the dying embers OF civil strife IN or
der to escape inspection Of the trusts which
they have betrayed.
For eleven years you have had the name Of
peace no time have YOU had the sub
stance of peace IL lieu thereof you have had
the grinding taxation and wasteful expeDd l.
lures of war. lust before elections every year
you have had the preaching of new crusade
against section utterly defeated in war, aud
anxious only TO be completely reconcled in
peace.
For eleven YEARS The power Of the men who
have seized away the control Of their party
from the hands of its statesmen and founders
has been supreme in almost every department.
Of the Federal Government.
Describing the hope Of prolonging their
domination by beneticent public measures
they have created aud tratlicked upon public
calmiieS. The policy they adopted has been
worked out It's failure has been absolute.
In place Of past performances these same
corrupt and selfish leaders now proifer promises
already broken rs their titles To further trust.
Having Frustrated our manifold industries
by the vast aggregates aud the worst methods
If federal taxation, they now again solici,
your confidence as the instruments Of retIeDch-
ment and reform.
Having debauched tie public service, and
having Just now, in the face Of open day,
assessed their army of hundred thousand
ollice- holicrs-the peoples seFvants-paid by
the peoples taxcs--i in order to create immense
corruption funds TO Illustrate the peoples will
they now profess 10 he Tie champions Of civil
service reform. Having imposed upon the
Southern States the Tapacity, fraud aud plum
der of the carpet-bag governments, having
almost ruined the prosperity of the North by
destroying the prosperity Of the South, having
created terror, uncertainty and confusion in
all the productive industries of the South.
which furnish most Of the exports Of our who c
country, keep in motion the comme;ceand mat
ufactorics of the North aud East, and furnish a
market Cor the agricultural products Of the
West, they now purp'S Sc, by renewal OF the
same fatal policy, to prOung their own power
in the hope of concealing their msdpeds, and
for this purpose they do not hesitate to renew
the cry Of intolerance 10 revive the dying
memories of fraternal strife, and to appeal TO
the fears and prcjudiceS Of the timid aud ig-
norant.
Fellow Citizens These men and their meas
ures have been completely tried and have CON-
pletey failed An oppressive taxation, an
exhausted Spnth, and impoverished North. a
Auctuaiing currency. the enterprise Of an in
Gustrious people looking fast into the paralysis
of hard timos-such is the outcome Of their
political policy, such are The achievements of
their long supremacy Your ballots in No
vcmber can alone dictate change Of measures
and change Of men. Shall not the uprising
Of patriotism along the valley Of the Ohio 20 on
TO a complete and beneficial revolution in the
administration Of the government Of the United
States?
! III you not, by the voice Of overwhelm-
ing mdjJrties at the polls, proclaim your in
viucible faith, after all these years of corrup-
ton aud passion, in the high immortal prin-
cpleS Of government by the people for the
/ people. in simple honesty aud strict economy,
] E IL =.