The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-03-04
DEMOCRACY AND THE LEGISLATURES.
A RonEh Article on the Membership from
Democratic Paper.


democratic Paper.
harrisburg News.
"Go from the presence Of foolish man, when
thou pereeiVtat not In him tho lips knowledge"
The Legislature now in session ut Wheel
ing is mainly made up Of men who were
elected as independents" men who
styled themselves Greenbackers and half
way Democrats, and all the members of
the classes above enumerated are ready to
bend to any breeze that may blow II they
think tho moving power is popular OPT
MON. The late campaign was IN excel
lent one for such men to come to the front.
The circulating medium OF the country
had been contracted with a view to re-
sumption ofspecic payments, the business
reaction that always follows such active
business periods as prevailed during and
short time after the war, had been upon
us for some time; panics and bankrupt
cies prccipitated in many instances by un-
healthy speculation were numerous, and
consequently times were hard. The peo.
pie had become dissatisfied. The hard
times were charged to Congress with con-
siderable grounds for such chargcs) and 10
the State Legislature. Some went so far
as to lay their misfortunes at the door OF
the County Court, the sChOolla law, the road
law, etc. The campaign was, there
fore, an suspicious time for dema.
gogues. The caldron was boiling and
the scum mounted to the top. The
Democratic party lost its grip in this State
and wavered, The Republican party
didn't have any grip and was too corrupt
to got one. The result is a Legislature that
may well bring the blush to tho cheek OF
all good citizens. Although there are some
good men and Democrats in It, the latter,
1t seems, are not numerous enough to con-
troll the men that once acted with the
party. The demagogue is on top and i'm
AGNES he is backed by the people. Section
Of the State is arrayed against section,
men following one calling against men fol.
lowing another. The so-called reformers
went to Wheeling telling us they knew
what the people wanted. They FILTERED
away the session and did nothing and
have extended 1t twenty days more and
are still doing nothing. The extension OF
the session will cost the State $4,000 at
least, and the laws will be in worse con.
dition when the Legislature ad journs than
they were before the session commenced
this because public men have not had
the nerve to do right regardless OF clamor
and demagogism,
In view Of those facts, the Democratic
party has duty toporiorm. 1t is evident
that all our evils come because Of lack OF
party discipline. When a great political
party is responsible for the actions of a
Legisla ure and can discipline its members
some good is accomplished. When every
member is a law unto himself as in the
present instance chaos follows.
1t Is tho duty Of the Democracy to 70.
4 pudiate this Legislature. AS life long
Democrat we ask the party to do the
things taught by the founders OF the party
regardless OF clamor The individual or
party that goes down in the right, only
falsl temporarily. He or 1t always rises
agRln, stronger because Of the fatI. Tho
man or party that Is oternally trimming
for every popular breeze that blows will
soon find himself, or itself out at sea with.
out rudder or sail to got toshore with.
''The lips Of knowledge" are not visible
as far as this Legislature is concerned, and
the Democracy had better go from its
presence, or rather put the Legislature
out Of its presence on the tip Of It's boot
so to speak. y
II the writer had his way there would
be the grandest Democratic reorganizinC
Convention held IN this State on the All
Of npSt July that was over witnessed The
!, Committee on Resolutions wonltl be in,
structed to report Democratic resolutions
without regard TO consequences, and the
man who wanted to make drug net oi
them 10 catch all sorts OF political weather
cocks, would be promptly kicked ont
while the band played Yankee Doodle
and the kicEers foot should keep time tc
the music.
At least let US be Democrats again. De
, moprGcy means the greatest good for thu
, greatest number and protection for Inc
minority. 1t means the constitution, O
which it is an outgrowth The true Dem
ocratic party is in the majority in Thu
, State. 1t can meet most every issue ant
, reform every real abuse, It u adequate
TO every exigenOy, and II It would win i
: must standiirm to Its principles, II matter
I. not how many Greenbacker (so.calIed)
Independent or mongrel parties mn,
spring up.
This Legislature is neither hot nor cold
! Democratic, Republican or Greenback, /
seems to DO run on the "Little Joker
It will be the duty Of III
!, Democracy In the next campaign 10 cosu
Il 1t ont and reform itsahuseS.
: Since the above was put In type th
}, Democrats In the Legislature have held
y caucus and have determined 10 male