Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-08-07
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1880.
MR.. FAULKNER's DEFEAT.


Letters have been pouring into
our city from our adjoining States,
and especially from Virginia and
Maryland, expressing deep regret
and disappointment, felt in common
with our citizens, at the defeat of
Mr.. Faulkner's nomination for Gov
ernor in our recent State Conven-
ton. We are certainly quite proud
Of the interest which our neighbors
take in the fortunes of our distin-
guished fellow-citizen, but we think
his defeat may be explained without
any of those reflections upon thepeo-
pie of West Virginia which accom-
pany these letters from abroad. We
propose under these circumstances,
as something due to historical truth,
to give rapid sketch of what, in our
opinion, produced that result.
LIST. These are not times when a
position like that Of Governor of a
State is likely to be cast upon an in
dividual who himself exhibits indif-
ference to the proposed honor, espe-
cially if the position Is strongly con-
tested by clever competitors. The
eagerness of active aspirants is too
intense, and "ofice," as we KNOW, 40
now like "Heaven" only to be ''taken
by violence" This Is especially the
case In State like our own, which
is everywhere intersected Ivy riiouh=
tains, its population widely scatter
ed, and public sentiment very diff
cult of concentration. Mr.. Faux
ner was not in any proper sense a
candidate for the position. The
movement in his favor sprung from
the people. No prominent politician
presented or openly advocated his
claims until the convention met
here. The press was silent and gave
him no "boom." His position may
be summed up in his own words: 81
do not seek the Office. I would rather
avoid it; yet, if my party imposes
the duty upon me, I will not shrink
from it."
I'd. Up to the middle Of May there
seemed to be no unkind feeling to-
ward Mr.. Faulkner in any portion
of the State, when an ingeniously
contrived lie, originating in Wash
ington city, was propagated through
several professed Democratic papers,
charging a political combination be-
tween Mr.. Faulkner and j. n. Cam
den, II. G.. Davis, &C., for a parti-
ton Of the offices of the State among
themselves. AS absurd, false and
ridiculous as the charge was, it
struck upon the Jealous and sensitive
nerve of the public mind, and was
promptly waited by INSCRIPTIONS
newspapers into every hole and cor
ner of the State. The most complete
exposure of the falsehood was in
vain. The newspapers that con-
cocted the lie, did only in a few in
stances spread the contradiction;
and many who knew it to be false,
had political interest in affecting to
believe it, and in impressing it upon
their neighbors. This falsehood had
an important influence on the result,
and we can point to entire counties
in the interior, which otherwise
friendly, cast their entire vote
against Mr.. F., from the influence
of its fraudulent Misrepresentation
Sd. The call of the Congressional
Convention of this district immedi-
ately preceding the State Conven-
ton; the rejection of Benz. F. Mar
tin from the western end of this
district. and the selection of Judge
Hoge from Martinsburg, was used