Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-07
THEyIRGINIA CAMPAIG y.


THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN.
"The system, which lays is founda.
| tons in rare and heroic virtues, will be
sure to have its superstructure IN the
basest prchjga"y and corruption ~
this weighty sentence uttered by ED
NUSD BURKE, century ago, is outlined
the history OF the Republican party.
Formed by men whose conscience smart
| ed under the sin OF slavery, and to many
of whom war and disunion seemed less
terrible than continued fellowship with
| that OF "abomination," it was lain 10
boast itself as th- party OF moral ideas.
When slavery disappeared, and only
| questions OF administrative policy re-
manned to divide the parties Of the
country, it became even more Wanting
of its morality and virtue, and even
more offensive in its denunciatlon OF its
opponents. As usual the louder its
professions grew the more corrupt aud
tainted it's practices, the greater the dis.
play OF religion in the shop window the
less there was behind the counter.
For several years its specially was the
pro iuction OF Christian statesmen, but
as these statesmen were always first to
involve themselves in the common
swindles of the day, from the Credit
Mobilier to the Whisky Ring, and were
always calling on the party to save
them from the yswning portals OF the
Penitentiary, it became necessary, in
the language OF General GRANT, 10 "un
load and to put the party upon an
other tack. Its latest cant has been IN
the role OF guardian OF the public faith
and supporter OF the nations credit.
With such adherence did it regard the
least deviation from strict faith. that it
has always leaned perpendicuIarly back
ward against the people, and in favor OF
the public creditor, even where plain
Justice and honor would have permitted
some tightening OF the peoples burdens
So lofty nave been its pref ntions, so
high and sublimated its virtue by pro.
LESSONS that many Learned to regard the
national debt and the public credit and
the general business prosperity OF the
country rs in the exclusive guar
dianship OF the Republican par.
tv, and have given their votes
and poured ont their money
to maintain it's supremacy, under the
dread that its overthrow would briDg
about general ruin and chaos. What
then do We see in Virginia to day" A
large majority OF the white population
of that State, embracing nine tcnths oI
its property, the great bulk OF lis inteiil-
gence and worth, is engaged in an earn
est and honest struggle TO settle the
| State debt on terms, mutually sGtisiac-
tory, with the public creditors. In their
way stands a small faction which
has seized upon the mis-
fortunes Of the State as
means OF further Gishonoring her.
and is seeking to traffic her fair name
for their own selfish elevation. This
faction is so insignificant in its strength.
go motely in its compositions land so dis
reputable in its aims, that lett TO itself it
would soon sink into Con!emnei OBJ
livion,-a dissgrecable episode in the
history OF political demago2uery. But
! Just as it was lettering into its dis
honored grave, this great debt
paying, faitn-kesping party, the SELF
styled party OF the church and school
house hastens to its sucCor, gives !! new
life and new hopes, encourages its lead
ers with rewards and honors, surrendcrs
TO it the whole Republican party OF the
State as so rany dumb cattle, and
places at its command the entire patron.
age OF tue Federal Government, and n!
this to foil people in an honest effort
TO pay their own debts. Il there has
been anything more disgraceiul in Amer
lean politics, we have never heard OF II.
Ii it were possihiet1 feel surprise at any
degradation OF the Republican party Tor
party success, we might express our sur
prise at the coalition. 1t only shows the
cant and hypocrisy CT their loudest pro-
LESSONS, and how ready they are to drop
the mask, where the atfeCtation oil virtue
no longer promises reward. Truly may
We say that their highest pretcntions
have ended lin base proligicy aud
| corrsption.'