The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-01-07
FaciA.and Figures.

AS this is the beginning of the
new year, we have concluded to state
some facts and figures with reference
to the party under whose banner we
are fighting the battles of the people,
whose principles are destined to win
sooner or later. We know, as a par
ty, we have had much to discourage
us in the past have been cheat.
ed out of our well earned victories,
by theft and fraud. But while we
have had adversely we have also had
prosperity; there has been steady
advance all along the Democratic
line. 1t has stood in all our past
history, from Jefferson to the pres
ent, as the defendant of the people;
other parties have risen, fourished
and fallen, but Democracy continues
to live. Of course, we grant that it
has made some mistakes-what party
has not? but, on the whole, it has al.
ways battled for the right, and the
(. golden age of our Republic was un-
der Democratic rule.
In "a the Democratic party, with
a union soldier at the head of the
ticket, was only able to carry 81
electoral votes, with popular ma
jority against it, Of nearly half a
million votes. In '68 it carried only
II electoral votes out of more than
300, yet an advance of so in a years.
AT this time there were but IL Dem.
ocrats in the U. S. Senate, and 4S in
the House-60 in ala helpless mi
nority. During the years that fol.
lowed up TO '76, it suffered some re-
verses, but agreat deal of prosperity
some Of our fold were discouraged
and ready to abandon the ship, but
the great masses stayed aboard, and
victory perched upon our banner
We supplement this with an extract
from an exchange, which is in point:
We have seen our party steadily
grow in power from a pitiful minor.
ity in both branches of Congress to a
majority in both branches; from car.
rying three States and twenty-one
Electoral votes to carrying a majority
of the States and majority of the
Electoral votes and large majority
of the popular vote ssthis a time
in which a party old ss the century
should be discouraged? The need Of
the Democratic party was neve. so
great as now. The growth of CEN
tralism, which almost approaches the
growth of Imperialism, is become q
perilous thing. Men dwell fondly
over the thought of "strong Gov
ernment," whose delight should be
in making the individLalst strong, not
the Government. The hourfo Dem
ocratic despair, if there was ever one,
was long ago. This is the hour for
Democratic confidence, not for Demo
cratic hopelessness. The party that
has survived several wars, and that
has enlarged our territory and our
glory, and that still clings to the
glory and exaltation of the individu-
al, rather than of q Governmental
power over the individual, is party
still young. We had u large major
ity of the Electoral voteso the States
and large majority of the votes Of
the people in 1876. We believe that
we shall have q still larger majority
Of both in 1880, for we have faith in
the people. The Democratic princi-
pie is the only idea upon which the
Republic can endure. With the
growing dangers the jealousy of the
people will grow. We still believe,
Notwithstanding some adverse local
elections, that the people will, in the
next great National fight, take care
of themselves and their own. 1t is
an hour of hope, not of discourage
ment.