Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-15
POLITICAL TALK.
WHAT HON. c. ]. FAULKNER THINKS
Of Democratic Prospects in this State and
in the Country at large-ls Not
Candidate for Governor,
But will Accept.


A reporter OF the REGISTER dropping
in upon Mr.. FAULKNER, at tine Mcclure
House, Saturday evening, Tor social
chat, picked up the following points for
publication;
R.-What 10 you think, Mr.. Faulkner,
of the present condition Of the Demo
cratic party?
Well, it is not in as healthy condition
rs would like to see it. Our party has
become largely demoralized since the
Presidential campaign OF 1876. Many
causes might be assigned for this; but
in my opinion the principal cause is
that after electing cur President by a
decided vote of the American people,
We were deprived Of our victory
by fraud. This at first produced
a proper Indignation in the public
mind, but il has since been followed by
apathy, cOldnesS and diSOrganizatiOn.
The masses have become discouraged
and paralyzed by such a fact, and while
il ought to have reused every Democrat
TO redOubled energy and activity, 1t has
impaired confidence in our leaders and
produced Indifference to victories that
can be 50 shameiully snatched from our
grasp. There is another cause now
operating powerfully against our party,
l mean SectiOnally IN the North.
The Northern Democracy is begin
ming 10 quail aud cover under the
intense and excited sectional feel
ing which has been awakened there
byS the cry Of a "sOlid South" So po-
tent is this influence that OF the twenty
four Northern and Western States we
have but two LETT, Indiana and New
York, upon which we can place any re-
lance. These, il is true, will be suth-
eient 10 elect our President if We can re-
tain them, and that We can do so have
no doubt. The campaign Of 1880 IN
some of the States will be the most
fiercely contested in the annals OF the
Republic. Our party has lost much OF
its noble prestige i'm the last few years
by its disposition 10 cOnCiliate the crude
and IN digested theories of dlsatected
factions, instead Of standing firmly by
their great principles, which in times
past have illustrated its glorious and
heroic history.
Do YOU think the Democratic party
can recover the ground which it has lost
within the last few years?
Why, as matters now stand, treating
New York and Indiana as Democratic
States, we can elect our President. We
are not without hope rs TO Connecticut,
New jersey and Oregon, although l am
not without apprehension as % the et-
feet of .hIs sectional cry OF a "sOlid
South" upon these last named
States. l think we have every
thing To encourage ia 20 make
n gallant fight. We are sure of three
Southern States of whose votes we were
deprived in 1876. JudiciOus selections
OF candidates can assuredly give us In
diana ahd New York, and i'm that event
our victory is beyond a dOTbt. Let our
Southern friends be more discreet in their
utterances and proposed measures. Let
us place our party upon those great and
cardinal doctrines which are our r hit
ful inheritance from the DemOci attic
Fathers of the Republic, and avoid all
entangiiug alliances with dIsatiected
factions. Above all, let Us commence
the work OF organization and arouse the
dormant energies Of a party that is
never so true tO itself as when
true to the Constitution. This
country il naturally Democratic;
ours are the true principles of this
government, and the people will stand
by and sustain them properly brought
10 their attention.
R-WhO would be the most available
candidates OF the Democratic party I'M
the coming contest
/ have no individual favorites. no AK
10 grind in the election of any psrticu-
lar person. should have preferred tOsee
the tight of 1876 renewed under the ilag
of Tilden and Hendricks, and the frauds
which deprived them of the fruits OF
their victory rcbuked by the indignant
verdict of the American people. But
Hendricks has unfortunately rendered
that ticket impossible. | think he has
greatly erred. Thurman has fallen a
victim 10 circumstances. Baylrd, from
what | learn, cannot get the support OF
/, 1iana. Hancock and Randall are
fr,,, a State that gives fifty thousand
PsnrL Tcan majority. Seymour, In my
oDiuiOu "A puid lt't hV q 81 't'- '''i'''''''''f
fIr ub;Isou acknowledge his great worth
AMI iormer popularity; yet he Is so
weighed down by lnnrmites that he
would only be re-. 'arded a. a hgure head
upon the ticket. a. nj you can I get the
people % sanction th PoUcy oi eie''iS
one man with a view 10. transfer 'he du-
ties of the office 10 auoth, " We are not
very fortunate in our Pre- Nue'l,'"l '''l'-
bers at this time. / belle We liaI We
shall be- compelled at last to Lil udcA
upon Tlden as our most availa OiT '1l-
didate, unless some new name i".'us
up before the convention which Is n ~ 81
present prominent in the public eye.
Now, Mr.. Faulkner, tell us what you
think Of the Democracy IN West Nlr- A.,
Sinia.
am very confident that the eight
east Of the Allegheny Mountains
will give their old Democratic majority
of 300. / think the majOrities IN the
Democratic counties west Of the Ale
yhanise. i'm the Second District, will be
You are well acquainted
with the condition OF affairs in the
First District as Z am. l see no
reason % doubt that il viii give
its usual majority Of 800. The condi-
ton Of the Third district il something
of a puzzle. I can't exactly cDmpre-
hend the state Of affairs there. Its over
whelming Democratic aScendenCy, as IL
not unnatural I'm such eases, Is disSolv-
ing from It's own oveTgrOwu weight, and
from the want OF any sufficient Repub-
lican opposition. The consequence Is.
that il has given birth to all sorts OF
personal. local and political factions.
The Knights of Labor, composed
originally of the operatives in the
mines andupon thepublic Improvements,
and numbering some four or five thou
sand persons. have been seized upon as
a nucleus upon which personal and
political factions have engraited them
selves. All this, with their sacred, oath
bound lodges and brOtherhoOds. make
the condition of things in that district
somewhat uncertain. Still / have an
unshrinking confidence that when the
issues of 1880 are fairly placed before the
people Of that District and they are
compelled 10 choose between Demo-
cratic ami a Republican candidate for
the Presidency, as they will be, they
will return % the bu~om of their old