The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-31
r.r pnnoCRAIIc' STATE CoNVEN.
TON.
Some General Notes aud Observations !"
Regard TO It's Character.
MARrISsDuRG, July 90.

MARTlNsDuRG, July ~.
Ht Editorial Correspondenee')
The Democratic State Convention has
come and gone, and its results are before
YOUR readers by telegraph. ! propose
now 10 write out a few notes and observa'
tons in regard to its make up and It's wofk.
In the first place, 1t was large Gonven-
ton and, in the second it was altogether
the most respectable body Of men inperson-
al appearance that ever remember 10
have seen in Democratic Convention on
West Virginia soil. At the Grafton he.
publican State Convention on the 3oth Of
June, as also at Wheeling on the 18th oil
NAV previous, the expression was ire
ouently heard that the Republicans had
gathered together. assemblages OF intelli-
gent, respectable and substantial look
inr men. think as rule intelligent OBJ
servers will concede that a Convention oil
West Virginia Republicans generally
appears TO advantage as compared win a
Democratic Convention. My explanation
of this is simply the general explanation
that as a political party the Republican
organization is made up OF the most IN
teiligent portion Of our West Virginia
people. "a mans knowledge maketh
Ills face 10 shine" said Solomon, the Wise,
and this is the fact that explains the diff
erence in the general appearance OF the
two kinds Of Conventions alluded to.
AS to this Martinsburg Democratic Con.
yention, will say for it that it looked
well from the Reporters platform. took
n good deal Of interest in surveying its
personnel, and discovered many bright
and intelligent faces, especially among the
Young men, OF whom there was almost a
predominant element present. Most oil the
Chairmen OF delegations were young men,
and nearly all the nominating speeches
were delivered by young men. This TACT
shows that tho common schools oil West
Virginia, instituted by the Republican
party, have already borne fruit in the di.
rection Of infusing greater intelligence
and a much improved personal appear
ance into Democratic sssemblages'
The reader may ask why these young
men are Democrats. seeing that they
have been to the schools Of the State. l
answer, that most men get their politics
from their family surroundings, as they do
all sorts Of opinions and prejudices, aud 1t
ia the iewest OF men, even after they have
seen good deal OF the world, who rise
wholly above the surroundings OF their
youth. Besides this fact, many OF these
Young men are aspiring and ambitious, and
they see no way to rise politically 10 the
counties where they live save by espousing
the political principles of the majority.
They do not realize that many men in
this country and in England have made
great regulations and ultimately achieved
great success by educating and leading the
minority sentiment Of the people. Men
who stand by principle, who are not
afraid Of being in the minority, when
their principles are really in the minority,
are much more apt to achieve an enviable
and lasting success than the time servers
who rare for ever trimming their sails andyet
only now and then catching a breeze. l
wish this historic fact could impress itself
ON the many young men Of West Virginia
who are coming to the front in public
matters. The prejudices that are now
dominant in their minds, and that con-
troll their affiliations, grew out OF the era
of slavery and secession. They have i'm
bibed them from fathers who hated Adolf.
tionists and Black Republicans before and
during the war. They too hate Republi.
cans because they have been taught that
the war grew out oil the ascendency OF Re-
publican principles, and because they be.
lieye that the negro ought not 10 have
been set free and ought not now to vote;
that the Republicans are henatural allies
OF nigsers and that Democracy means an
ti.nikeer in every shape and form; that
Republicans are expressing the South for
the benefit Of bondholders at the North;
that il Democracy could only come into
power there would be a way found to sub
ordinate the negro and the bondholder,
and to make the South q predominant
power once more in the Union.
One cannot talk with these young men
any length Of time without detecting un-
der the vail Of all they say, deep down
in their minds, this prejudice which !
have attempted to outline. i recognize
the uaturalness OF their feelings, and real
lie that patience and the spread Of correct
political information are the agencies that J