Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-06
DEMOCRATIC VITALITY.


Spunk and spirit in adversely has no
better illustration in American history
than the recuperatiye energy OF the
Democratic party in the midst OF defeat.
The virtue OF the principles it maintains
has no more convincing proof than IS
found in the fact that the party lives
and triumphs against such tremendous
odds.
In the campaigns that have succeeded
the close of the war it has had to con-
tend against the most violent passions
and blindest prejudices that ever pos
sessed the American people. 1t has
had to contend againsta Congress made
up OF its most violent and INSCRIPTIONS
opponents, in which il was almost with
out a representative. Ii has had to con-
tend against the legislative measures IN
which partisan Congress hedged itself
about, with a view of perpetuating its
power indefinitely.
The press of the country has been
and is to-day largely controlled by the
Republican party. Take the State OF
Ohio for an example. Isit strange that
they should hold a State in which they
have all the leading journals OF large
circulation, and in which the Democrats
have not one that is accepted as arepre-
sentative journal OF the party?
They not only have the Leading
Journals, but the Press Association,
through whose agency the news OF the
entire press of both parties, is dis
tributed, is under the control and used
to the advantage of the Republican party.
They have now, and have had since
the war, the money power OF the coun-
try enlisted in their service. The bond
holders and the banks have lavished
their means and distributed their pat
ronage where it would do the most good
for the Radical party.
They have had the army, and have
not hesitated to use it to thwart the will
OF the people at the ballot box and then
to terriiy into submission any who
dared complain of the result.
They have always had man in the
White House ready ana eager to do the
bidding OF the party managers, and who
has ever been faithful machine in exc
cutting their behests. In only one in
stance have they been disappointed in
this, and that in the case oil ANDREW
Johnson, whom they promptly im-
peached, and failing to depose, stripped
him Of his authority rs the Executive Of
the Nation by unconstitutional legisla-
ton.
Against these odds. we say, the DEM
ocratic party has succeeded since the
war in electiug majority in both
branches Of Congress, and in the last
Presidential campaign, fairly elected the
President OF the United States-and
that nc was not inaugurated is the most
vivid illustration OF all We have cited ol
the character and purposes OF the enc
my it has hal to fight.
So, too, in the late contest in New
York it went into the campaign amid
the huzzahs Of the Republicans over a
victory in Ohio; and against tine COM
bincd forces of the moncypowcr in the
State; the patronage and personal cf-
forts of the administration at Washing
ton; and divided and distracted by in
ternal dissensiOns, it has come off vie
torious; it has routed the enemy and
saved the great presidential battle
ground from occupation by the enemy.
Under such circumstances as these, in
campaign after campaign, the old Demo
cratic party comes out OF the fight grim
as an army OF veterans, and fights to
the bitter end in the spirit OF the sol
diers Of Russia, of whom it is said, it is
not sufficient to kill them, they must be
Knocked down aiterthey are dead. They
NAV be discounted and disappointed,
but never discouraged. On the next
occasion they will turn out again with
full ranks.