Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-11-02
THE DAY OF BATTLE.

uiCt Wuot VIC TSsuit VI to-uoy e~o
viii be.
We do not know. No man knowh
The man who 10 most positive about the
result Of an election has the least knowl.
edge.
We do not know on which side the
chances preponderate. 1t is Impossible
for any man to 80 absorb the state and
tendency of public sentiment in all the
States OF this great country, as to deter
mine, in advance, what the expression
vii. be to-day.
We say, then, that until the returns
tonight shall begin to show decided
drift Of public expression one way or
the other, in the controlling States, the
result of the voting will be in great
doubt, and it cannot be relieved by the
predictions OF the press or individuals
We have hopes Of HASCocK's cleo
ton and reas ons to fear his defeat. Our
hopes are based in the confidence We
have in the good sense and honesty OF
the masses oi the people.
We know that they know that it
would be better .or the country to elect
HANCOCK. We know that they know
that his election would insure purer,
more democratic, constitutional admin
istrstion OF the Government, than the
election OF the Republican candidate,
GARFIELD. We know, or think we are
justified in making the prediction, that
il will be demonstrated to-day, whether
Gen. HANCOCK is elected President or
not, that he IL the choice OF the masses
of the people, for he will receive ma
jority of the popular vote. These con-
siderations give US cheerful hope that
the summing up tonight will be IN
favor of the Democratic candidates.
Our reasons to fear the success OF the
Republican candidate are based upon
their desperate determination not to
surrender the reins OF government il
they can by any means, however cor
rupt and however dangerous to the Re-
public and subversive OF the principles
of free government, defea. the will oil
the people at the polls.
In other worls, We fear the ability OF
the Republican party, backed by the
money power OF the nation; by the in
fiuences and machinery OF a partisan
administration, and the almost unlimi-
ted means at their command, TO buy
their continuance in office, as they
bought the vote OF Indiana i'll October.
III the Republican party succeeds to-
day it will 20 very far toward conylnc-
ing us that when party has once en-
trenched itself in Office, and is led 10y
leaders who are unscrupulous as to the
means used for continuing. it in power,
it is possible for that party to perpetu'
ate its reign to an indefinite period
until in fact, the people have discovered
that republican form OF government
no longer exists, and they revolt against
the rule Of minority.
1.-THE Republican party succeeds to-
day our system OF civil service and our
system OF partisan supremacy 10y assess
ment OF salaries, will either draw dosn
upon il the universal condemnation
OF the masses Of the people IN
such form that the rottenness Of our
electoral system may be exposed or cor
rected, or otherwise We may take it for
granted that Democratic government
and free institutions have lost their hold
upon the affections OF the people, and
that the Republican party will ultimate
ly and very shortly succeed in estab-
fishing that "strong government which
means the Acknowledgement OF the mass.
es and the concentration Of all political
power in the hands OF few.
But, as We have said, the hope OF the
country AMI the hope which the
Democratic party cherlshes Tor
success to-day, is based upon the good
! sense and patriotism Of the masses OF
the people, who have the power in their
hands, and who will exercise it arigh,
to-day, il not tnwarted by the corrupt
methods OF the party in power
What every Democrat should do to-
day, is to perform his solemn duty to
to his country and to his ieliow.men, 10y
depositing hi, ballot for the candidates
who represent q continuance
of our constitutional govern
men. In that consists our chances OF
success to-day, and if this duty is faith
fully performed throughout the coun-
try we can hardly fail,