Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-10-09

A Democratic Paper on the Situation
DEMOCRATS, READ AND REFLECT.
Eds. Independent :

Eds. Independent:
I herewith enclose you some eX-
tracts from this weeks SPIRIT OF
Jefferson, the Democratic organ OF
Jefferson county. l have only to
state that they reflect my views, and
the views of hundreds of other DEM
ocrats of jefferson. l appeal to the
fair-minded Democrats Of Berkeley
to do jefferson the simple justice to
condemn by their ballots next Tues
day, the bargain and sale consum-
mated at Berkeley Springs, by
which Jefferson county was deprived
of her choice, and minority candi-
date forced upon her. The Spirit
says:
The Berkeley Springs Convention
certainly violated Democratic usage
when it gave the nomination to
minority candidate from this coun-
tv. and what redress have the ma
i0rity if they tamely submit without
a word of dissent? Will not the
same thing be repeated again and
again, if we sanction it The peo-
pie have already passed Judgment,
which we could not reverse If we
were inclined.
Tho Free Press says the Electoral
Commission was called into being
in a great crisis; nevertheless it was
as Regular a constituted body as
the Berkeley Springs Convention,
and if Samuel J. Tilden was the le-
gally elected President. then that
body was organized to say 80; and If
the county of Jefferson was entitled
to the nomination of Senator, and
DR.. Starry was her choice, then the
Berkeley Springs Convention was Or
ganized to say SO. If we denounce
the first for departure from duty,
to be consistent, We must denounce
the second also.
DEMOCRATS BE ON YOUR GUARD.
fFrom the Spirit of Jefferson.
The Martinsburg Statesman in its
last issue, seems to be terribly aglta-
ted ON the subject Of trading, and
fears the good Democrats of Berke-
lev will sell out their county ticket
for Faulkner and Butler. We would
advise a sharp lookout to be kept on
these fellows, for it is very currently
reported and numerously believed,
that they practiced this nice little
game most successfully on Jefferson
a short time ago, and we are not sur
prised to hear they are trying the
Same game near home. To accom-
plish their purposes, there is no tell
ing what they will not do. So, free
men of Berkeley, awake Your
homes and your fresides are IN dan
ger; the enemy is in your camp.
The Statesman should also caution
his people against trading off Han
cock, Hoge and Jackson, for we
think a President, Congressman and
Governor far preferable to a Judge
and Senator. The Statesman also
fears that we may disrupt the Dem
ocratic party by clinging so closely
to it's platform and denounclng
fraud. If such a course bears heav-
lily on any particular friends OF the
Statesman, they must blame them
selves and take the consequences.
We think, however, that the party
has more to fear from this trading,
of which the Statesmen complains,
than from any other source. we
are sure it will survive the defects
of it's men better than its principles.
In the anguish of despair the
Statesman calls on Jefferson Tor help,
but we can only answer: When we
asked for our rights and the observ-
ance of party precedents, a short
time ago, you turned deaf ear to
our requests. You said then you
could do without us; that our boast
ed majority was not needed, and we
will mock when your fear cometh,
and laugh over your discontinue.
The above extracts, Messrs. Ed
tors, are true index to the feeling
of a very large majority of the De-
mocracy of Jefferson, in regard to
the action of the Berkeley Springs
Convention, and the Martinsburg
Convention. Do the fair-minded
Democrats of Berkeley wonder at
our position after such treatment :?
If they can rise above party and
condemn wrong, they will not vote
to sustain any such transactions.
A JEFFERSON DEMOCRAT.
Charlestown, Oct. s, 80.