The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-09-29
Ghe Gttellfqen1er
DEE srATE orrnE copNrRY.
A Vigorous Prstntation OF the Presen
"a Political situation.

A Vigorous Presentation OF the Presen
Political situation.
ciucinpaii Commercial.
Some business men, to whom the dan
ger Of putting the Democratic party ii
power is strongly represented, comfor
themselves with the reflection that the
Democracy intrusted with all Department.
ofthe Government would not dare mig
behave, fearing popular dlsapprobation.
They do not know the party or compre.
bend the situation Of the country.
In the first place, the leaders OF the
Democratic party always were bold men
in the use Of their official opportunities,
and have been so intently suppressing
themselves for years that they may have a
reputation for discretion that they do
not deserve. The degree OF moderation
they have attained in Congress Is an utter
afectatien. Give them the President and
Congress and they will develop their true
character and policy. Let US contemplate
the outlines OF that policy.
Assume the election of Hancock and q
Democratic House, and as the party has
not had power Tor twenty-years, an extra
session OF Congress would be indispeusa-
BILE. The clamor for 1t would overwhelm
forty Major Generals. The measure first
made OF urgency would be the carving out
OF Southern territory oil seven States
the admission OF New Mexico and Utah,
and the Indian territory, and four new
States made out OF Texas. Tie Confeder.
nNa 10, ka Nh.,a
ceivs 4 reinforcement OF fourteen mem.
bers, giving the South the Senate beyond
all possibility OF dispute for many years,
The next thing would be the passage OF
Mississippi Manning's bill, recognizing
the Supreme Court OF the United States,
the appointment OF twelve new Justices,
packing the court for generation for
Confederate purposes. In one short extra
session, therefore, long before this time
next year, the Solid South would seize the
Senate and Supreme Court with such a
grip that II would take q revolution 10
disturb them. Public opinion would be
powerless, our enlightenment au empty
boast, inapplicable, incapable.
The next thing, there would not be
Radical postmaster In the Northern or in
deed In aly OF the States. Nearly one
third OF them are now Democrats. There
are notably hundreds OF Democratic post
masters in Indiana. The Democrats would
never tolerate civil service like that. They
would gobble and use for political pur-
poses every Office worth ten dollars per
annum.
The U. S. Marshals would be the fercest
OF the subordinates OF the Solid South, and
they would have such swarms OF Deputy
Marsbals on election days as never march
ed in Judge Tait's dreams.
The internal revenue offices would be
headquarters for the Solid Southern army.
The gaugers and letter carriers would be
regular soldiers, maintained by the In
ternai Revenue and Postal Departments,
enlisted for the everlasting purposes OF the
party.
Take the State OF Indiana with thou
sand Postmastersin places OF Republicans,
and all the carriers and agents Of the Pos |
tai Department, and the United States
Marshal and his deputies all used for pc.
litical effect, with complete indifference
TO the public interest," and the collectors
with as many deputies as could be ap.
pointed, and what sort ofarguments would |
be required 10 carry the country for the
Take New York city, and put the custom
house into the hands Of the shrewdest of
Tammsny politicians, and bestow the
postoflice upon another OF the same sort,
and multiply the patronage OF those two
great political citadels, and let the official
machinery OF the custom house be applied
so rs to exact from the importers half
million dollars for any important cam.
paign, and what sort OF persuasion could
be employed to reduce the Democratic
msjority-no matter what the party had
New York city and BROOKLYN,
below one hundred thousand?
As for the use OF Government offices and
patronage, and the formati N OF corrupt
rings under the excuse that campaign
funds were needed, the boldest thing the
most stalwart Republican ever did would
become insignificant in comparison with
the magnificent scope OF the clutch OF the
Democracy upon the spoils prepared
through the wonderful growth OF this
country within the last twenty years, for
men with the advantages OF Office and the
courage OF their rapacity
Beating the Democracy might not be an |
easy task even II they made the worst
record that can be conjectured. They |
would have the South with seven new
States, the solid Senate and the solid Su-
preme Court, and they would use. the
Treasury reserve in settling Southern
claims as freely as If 1t were a campaign
fund, making peace costly, like war, and
when the pileo gold in the Treasury was
scooped, they would. adopt the Confeder-
ate system Of "stomping" more money.
Take the strength OF the Democracy as
they stand, aud add to 1t the standing
army OF employees Of the Federal Govern:
ment, nearly one hundred thousand
strong, and the unrestrained use OF the
enormous national revenues, and It would
take good deal Of moral grandeur to
make an impression upon them. The
truth Is exactly this, tho success OF the
Democratic party would signify the sub;
mission OF the nation to the leaders and
principles Of the rebellion, and degree oil
disgrace and degradation which all Amer
lean citizens should shudder to contem.
plate; and the country once In the iron
hand OF the Solid South, the purse and
sword turned against those who saved the
Nation from slavery extension and rebel
domination, IL would be the work OF
generation to Te.establish the freedom and
honor and prosperity that We now enjoy.
The plain question Is now palpably be-
fore us whether we will iasten upon our:
telves the yoke Of q despolism that would
be as grasping, relentless aud atrocious as
any that ever ruled and ruined country.