Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-12-04
COMMUNICATED.
DIR U. S. SENATOR.

hi will certainly come Ueioio So"S'
,"r;,g the next six years, it is evident,
~ Lection of Senator To represent
,h;s state is the most important duty OF
The next Legislature.
TO devise proper and judicIous legis-
,o,;ou aud to manage successfully the
"'hLc business of q nation like this,
With its fifty millions of people, is, at
al times q task far beyond the reach of
human enterprise. Questions constant.
" arise which battle the most faithful
cyer,ious of our ablest minds; problems
ME presented which the wiSest states.
men DO not know how 20 solve, aitho
their judgment Is enlightened by pro
found knowledge and long experiences ~ ::
the affairs of government, liis'or1 &c
full of examples 10 illustrate tins ruin
Il is q matter of common ooserraI'on
that Congress has frequently ialleu 70
foresee and to provide against an lmpend'
;Ur emergency. Ia such cases, some
dreaJful catastrophe befalls the country
on5 ruin overwhelms the people. Ex-
amples readily occur TO us. We See
now. what We did not see then, that
hioher order of craftsmanship would
have ayerted the terrible war between
the States we see now, what
wo did not see then, that a
bioher order cf craftsmanship would
have averted the crises of 1878, which
locked the wheels of industry for seven
long years.
ii then, in ordinary times, even our
most capable men are unequal to the
duties of a Senator, what shall be said
of that slupcndous folly which would
give this office, at a time like the present,
when the greatest danger is impending,
10 a man totally without experience, to-
tally without information in this depart
ment and who has never given the
slightest indication of an aptitude tor
pablo affairs.
Ii can DO 10 good TO complain that
the recent election does not fairly exhibit
the iudeu,rnt of the American people.
While il is fact, recognized 10y every
thon.htiul man who is informed OF the
undcrcurrcnts which dTjfted public oPln-
iau. that the masses al the north were
hoodwinked and driven III the wrong
direction by combustion between the
corporations, (Banks, Railroads and
Factories.} aud those who welded the
influence OF the Federal government,
vet, this fact does not affect the result,
and it is useless ro speculate why the
election went Us iidiG. The result siarrs
as in the face and We must deal with
,he realities of our situation. .
After the 4th of March, Congress. will
be controlled by men no Stile 10 the pin
cipl,s represented 10y the democratic
party aud to which principles w. VA,
stands committed by The $4,000 maj"ri-
~ W. have given to Hancock, whether
we like il or not, and although there Is
an overwhelming majority opposed to
thr change. our gov,rnm'nt Will move
towards q strong, consolidated Empire.
Nothing can prevent the total subrer-
sion @! Our present political system but
one 81 those npheavals Of the people
which, time aud again, have rescued
the institutions OF country.
But the people Of the North, absorb
Cd in money getting, are asleep and
the masses we're never so ignorant or so
careless about the conduct Of their pub
lie business rs they are 1T present, and
unless the minority in Congress, (v'z
the democratic elcrn,n,,l and especially
that in the S,nate, is composed during
the next few years OF men OF ability,
rxpt ricrce and courage, III other words,
unless that minority acquires the con
iidrnce of the country and is competent
20 meet the demands of the occasion,
our government will drift, silently away
from all our ancient landmarks lohgbe
fore the people are reused H. an appro
citation Ct the change that is being
effected.
We have not the space, nor is 1t ne
cessary TO follow these reflections, IT Is
evident, il the minority II composed OF
men able. cautious and bold; II II be pa
triolic aud aggressive; ii it is composed
of men prepared to act OH their own
Judgment and qualified TO discuss and
TO make the country understand, the
proposed policy Of those who lead the
Republican party; in word, il that mi
uority is equal to the occasion, our con7
stitution may yet be saved aud our gov
eminent, in some measure restored TO
, ha nriucinlps of the fathers
In view of these plain facts. every
thoughtful citizen will recognize the i'll
finite Importance of making our minor
ity as strong as possible aud surely, 1T
is the imperative duty OF our Leg'sla-
ture TO select for the Senate man who
has given some indication that he is
competent to perform his part in that
treat battle which is Il, he fought--it is
q duty our representatives, who have
this selection in charge, owe TO them
selves, to the State and TO the country
at large.
At no time in all cur past history,
was there greater need Ter brains and
elevated craftsmanship. Never before
was the same field open to intellectual
enterprise, never before did our young
State have so favorable an occasion TO
take a commanding position IN the
councils of the nation; never before did
West Virginia stand so much in need
OF the services of her best and abl,st
men, and never was greater opportu-
ni;v offered 10 a man who has prepared
himself to deal intel,igcntly with the
problems of government. Depend up
on it, this is not time to send to
Washington man without experience,