Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-07-08
STATE. POLITICS.

MAar1xsBUaa, June rs. 1879.
The interviews which have appeared in the
ali quarters, and STIRRING mp some activity in
matters political in the STATE.
HON. D. B. LUCAS,
of Jefferson county. was here day or two since
on professional Uilsin and although his time
was fully occupied, lie kindly allowed me . short
interview. MIR. 1.ncas isa prominent lawyer
and politician, one too well known throughout
the State to need ,fn:ih her introduction.
What is your opiuion. Mr. Lucas, asked.as
tlorF'
II feel the utmost confidence that the State,
organization viii be preserved aud that any d.
version caused by the Greenback party,o or other
ant factor i'll the next general election"
vationf:'
'Most assuredlv. There are individual gran
'aers who are ready to avail themselves of any
thing. in otdcr to promote thor personal ad-
vancement; hut the large mfrioriiy of them, in
this State. are true Democi ats. Such leaders for
instance. rs w. ii. Lewis. and others might
social and industrial socIety to be perverted
into secret political organjzntiOn hostile 10 the
Democratic party, or to the liberties of the Poo
'.rerhaps You, have no obises,on to stating
u ,;s;. whsty0u Snge IL the so=
"WeIl. base IT partly on what actually oc-
CURED IN Wheeling last winter; and partly on
mediatrly rreccie the presidential contest.
West Virginia will be on tile advance skirmish
aster. aed cause panic III the ranks Our lead
ers are sacacious enoughto understand this,and
CRAZE and premeditatod characterization is all
nonsense. and can DO traced IN the main, TO
avowCd or disguised Republicans, WAC uRe il for
the purposrS of distractIon."
DO you think that Captain Modett seriously
contemplated 4 new departurcT
''Wcll. | Su rposo that nobody deUies that he
did contemplate new combination q ono time;
but. from what have heard. 1t seems that he
has abandoned the i lea. A brave and impn Isive
man may frequently he led iuto mistakes
which, upon calm reflection. he has the caudor
to acknowledge and the ge to correct K"
What wonld YOU suagest as the basis Of or
s snn5sr'o' for tho campaign Of 1850 in this
'.T think the char!cston platfHrm of 1876 cor
rectly emhodirs the doctrine of. the subordina-
ton of isSues. prineipla may he OF great i'm
oortance absLractly considered: bnt practically
it may be unlmportart:' or viewed in connection
with more vital issues, vt NAV oink into compare
greater titan existed in 1876. to prevent a thor
Oughly harmonious and consolidated Democracy.
The great aud absorbing issre will be, whether
a FREQ and fair expression of the popular will,
regulated only bv State authority, contem-
plated by the Constitution, shall govern the
presidential elections Of this country, or ~heth-
e. they shall be controlled bv fraud and force.
Tho one theory of government ir European and
the other -4nericau; and yon may depend upon
1t, that there is but one party in this country
that champions the American idea. and that
do you think tie purity in this State has any
particular preference as to the candidate for
'WelI, do not know that th",e is any par
tieular preference, butt think there is vsr,
general desire for Western leader. Elthe!
ionity. No Eastern ,mau that can think Of
bic spirit. but he Al wrong on the financial
=, while Tdes. sonbnsti1% With
dence in his integrity"
81 should like to call your attention to an in
ter4 T e. Mr. CHARLES nayie Is II the Register
this Congressional District; have you read IL"
Yes; my attention was called to it in Mar
the fnct that the correspondent of the Registr
should resort t" one of The slyest, but bitterest
and most ingrained Radicals in the district to
get information as TO Democratic Congressional
camditature Poor Davies, he is a'felow of in
finite jest. and most excellent fancy. but IN for
tunalcv his head is turned about Ave degrees
from the perpendicular, go TINT Whenever he
iamp-post or other obstructinn In this section
where his calibre and p"ltical affiliations are
known, think NAV safely saw that if Judge
HoSe can stand his praise, T certainly can sur
viVc HE censure" -
HON. ". II. TRAvaRs-
of Jefferson county. delivered the address at
the commencement exercises of the public
schools in this place, the evening of the cath.
and durlng his stay sought AID was granted a
:" what is your opinion as to the condition of
tue Democratic party i'll this State and its pros
poets ut the next general election ?'
THE condition of the party in the State is
not, in nv Judgment, as satisfactory as it should
be. This NAV be the result. in part: of conf
dence III It's strength, and the result of careless
ness in its management, both local and general |
The conduct of the affairs of party is much |
more likely to be better where there is some
thing approaching equality in the streneth of
the opposing nlzations than where the ma
Jorltles are usually large and its success certain.
There will he this advantage.\ however. en- |
joyed by the Democratic party in the next gen.
eral elrctlon-it will have the benefit of the or
ganiZation for the Presidential contest. and |
believe that with proper regard for the char
carried"
sis the currency question likely to be n dis
turbinC clement i'll tho party in this State, |
during the next campaign 90
Tho financial question will doubtless be at
tempted to be thrust into the next canvass in |
this State. because in the disturbed condition |
of the monetary affairs of the country in the |
last campaign. certain views developed consid- |
cradle strength, and were the nucleus for the |
has been, in great measure. disposed of by re- |
snltS that have since occurred, and thinkth |
conclusions will he generally accepted that |
t hero is no need of a separate party organiza-
tnn OH the financial question. There are cor