Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-07-08
VITAL ooNrRAsN


The Republicans msy seek to evade
this vital issue. rs they have In their
platform, but the Democracy will force
il Ia the front, because il is one that the
people should July understand aud
which Is second in importance TO no
other issue of the campaign.
The platform adopted by the Cincin-
natl Convention states the position OF
the party in unequiyocal terms upon
this issue.
Fith-The right to n tree ballot is the
right prsseryatlve 1T all rights, aud must
aud shall he maintained IN every one al
the tnlted States.
Sixth-The existing administration Is
the representative at a conspiracy only,
and i,s claim oi right 10 surround the
ballot boxes with troops sni deputy
marshals, to mlimilate aud ohsttuct
elections, aua the unprecedented use ct
the veto to maintain its Corrupt AMI
despo,ic power, insults the people aud
impeTils their institutions.
Unfortunately this plank oi the platform
and the nominee oi the Convention
we're not mismsted. There IL no po'nt
upon which ten. llANCoCH is more IN
harmony with his party than this. In
,S67 he issued the following order No.
.. which explains hIs position
Ts PREyENr MI,rrAR, lsrEW, EHENCs
In
ence with elections, "unlrSs It shat he
necessary tn Keep the peaces the polls,
IL prohibited by law, aud 10 soldiers
will he allowed to appear at any polling
place unless as citizens of the state they
are registered IA voters, AMI then only
Tor the purpose at voting hut the cum'
manlers ot posts will he prepared u act
PROMPTLY II the CIyii authorities tail To-
preserve peace.
WI~rIElp :. ilANCHN.
Ryc,whfr Is, lS61.
ia the other hand, the Chicago Con
yentiou sought Ia eyade the issue, aud
indirectly Justify its advocacy at troops
at the polls Nv its old cry ri terrorism
aud fraud at the polls in the "sol'j
South" The following is the claptap
style i'm which II treats this issue.
We charge upon the Democratic party
the hahllual sacIliirc ut patriotism AMI
Justice tn u supreme aud unsuitable lust
ut office aud patronage; that 1" obtain
possesSian at the national and State
governments aud the control at place
and position they have obSIructsd all
ctiaTts tn promote the purity and cnu-
serve tho ircs,lom al suffrage,
The "salid' South must bc divided nv
tho peaceful agencies at the ballot, and
all Opinions must there iini Tree eN'
preston, aud to this end the honest
voter must he protected against terror
ism, violence aud fraud.
Hut there Is not the same accord and
fitness between this plank ot the Ropuh
lican platform aud the nominee of that
party Tor the Presidency. The plank
was framed tor GR,Nr AMI u bloody
shirt campaign. GNGTtEIpS uuto'ua
ton was AN act at sudden haste, anl the
inCungruiiy between the platform and
tho candidate was thus made rVdiru
lous.
GARFIAlp was the real author IT the
bill amending the election laws, which
the democrats passed aud against which
HAVE, Illuminated his little veto, The
Republican party, from ia representa-
tive in tho White House down To the
humhlest SINISTER On the stump, has
Committed itself uuopuivocally to- man
tanning the laws tor military mi parti,
san supervision at the polls. Rdi
their candidate lor President has
candidly ADMITTED HAT these laws
should H. amended ar repealed,
aud tho platform upon which hc Is run
ming. condrmusa measure at which hc Is
the real author, The consequence Is
that the Democrats will he able ~ quote
the authority vi tho Republican ,andi.
date Tor the presidency ~ support at
their own side at this vital question, and
against the platform aud position -, the
Republican party.
Hut the incouGTuous ani non-CommIt,
tai style ot the Republican, platform docs
not appear alone IN It's delivcrancc upon
the subject oi the election machinery
aud its uominee. IL u n very evaSlvc
snd u caniuglcss document throughout.
In very able article contrasting the
PLATFORMS oi the two parties, the New
York irrIti says;
The Democratic platform il 10y ~
means iaulIlcsS; WI mean To- take Il In
pircrs another isy. Hut 1t has at least
the very great merit that IL looks ahead.
ID promises the country samcthluG; the
promise nothing, except
1T a high protective tSrla.
The Democratic platform speaks at liv-
,ng questions; u proposes Tree shtpsand
an extension ot American commerce ~
American bottoms; u proposes n reform
oi the revenue laws So that they shall
Weld revenue aud not mainly cmhsrrsSs
commerce AMI faster mnnopoiles, 1t
prnposes IN spend the money at the
taxpayers Tor public purposes acme aud
reserve the public lands tor the pep
,Ir who will settle ou them M doubt
The Democrats are a terrible set OF tc'-
lows; nothing could he more disaSrees'
bile tn the Republican chiefs than the
appsrition Ut an opposition party making
A rial h,d Tor popular favor, letting the
lead past bury itself, aud looking Tor
ward to living questions IN which the
happiness aud prosperity ut the people
lrp Couceruct.
The Republican platform REPRESENTS
very accurately the spirit at the party
IesAcrs. They have been twenty years
in power, rs the platform takes care to
ren,ini the voters; aud they would like
In have another twenty years at u On
The strength ut past services, They ~
Iuse u look forward, they promise
nothing IL the country, At Ito at ses-
sicn Oi Congress ihoy played the part oi
snd nothing else Every
reform which WAS brought forward re-
revived only their obstinate opposition.
The election laws ~ clearly needed
tina, all the candid Repuhh'
ran Journals spoke out In favor ut pro-
pos,,, changes, hut the party leaders or
pnscd every change. The civil scrvice
Mas seen To need better regulation.