Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-16
WHAT Is srALwARrIsm.

Under the above caption, the Phila-
delphia Times, introduces to the country
o very striking and life-like pen-pOrtrait
Of the ''eritter' called "Stalwartism.n
IL gives briefres,Bae of the ism up
TO the time il had reached the filllness
Of power under GRANT; had perpetrated
the appalling electoral fraud Of 1876;
had made HAYES President in defiance
of the popular viii and Of an honest
electoral vote; had compelled him to re-
ward Stalwart criminals by scores with
important public trusts; had denounced
HAYES because he refused abject obedi-
ence TO the Stalwart masters; had made
unsuccessful battle for GRANT at Chica-
go; had sulked in the Stalwart tent un-
til il believed il had terms of surrender
from GARFIELD; had made open war
upon GARFIELD because he dared to
recognize other than Stalwarts in his
administration; had attempted revolu-
ton by the resignation of CONKLIN6
and PLATT, and an open declaration of
war upon the independence of the Exec
utiye, and finally it heard the terrible
echo of its teachings as GUITEAU's pis-
tol was fired in the name Of Stalwart-
ism.
Up to this point Stalwartism as pOr-
trayed by the Times is not an attractive
picture to look upon. Neither was it 50
regarded by the press and the country.
The people of all parties shuddered at
the name of Stalwart; party organs,
with almost one accord, denounced
StalwaTtism as pregnant with demorali-
Zation, prOfligacy and death, and united
to accept its overthrow.
But just when the country was settled
in the grateful trust that the spOilsmen
were Overthrown and the spOils system
eliminated from the administration of
the government, the Stalwart murderer
came, fired the fatal shot that plunged
the nation into bereavement, and shrek
ed the horrible words-"I am Stalwart
of the Stalwarts and ARTHUR is now
President"
This chapter from the biography of
the Stalwart, as presented by the Times,
will be accepted as entirely accurate,
however unpalatable in its statemtn mt of
the facts. But the morale of the pic
ture is containcdin the contrast between
the recent past and the present-iu the
swift transformation from defeat to vic
tory, from ObsCurity to fame, from sub
serviency to high place and political
power.
"Stalwartism," continues the Times,
sis now entrenched in every important
department of the Government. PreSi-
dent, Senate and House are now i'll ac-
cord; the flag of Stalwartism flies over
all, and the Cabinet will soon have no
voice in its councils that jars the Stall
waTt programme of power and spOils.
| and with Stalwart supremacy in the
leading States, CONKLING will again
rule New York; boutwell, will be
master of Massachusetts; CAMERON
will reign in Pennsylvania; KEIFER
| will wave the Stalwart banner over the
| grave of GARFIELD in Ohio; LOGAN
| will be OmnipOtent in Illinois; JONES
will command in Nevada, and Ma
HONE will dignity and reward Repudi-
atOrs in Virginia rs the Stalwart lead
| erS.r
The very just conclusion to which the
| Times arrives from this review, is, that
"if the people of the nation would learn
anew what Stalwartism is, let them
! turn to the swift lessons of the last three
months and they will understand what
it means TO public fidelity, to honest
government and to the popular will. 1t
rules by might, not by right; its ambi
ton is power and the spOils Of power,
and only by political revolution can its
despotic and prOfligate hand be stayed"