Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-10-04
TO THE DEMoCRATIC VOTERS OF
THE FIRST DISTRICT.

There Is less than q week remaining
Of the pending campaign.
Whatever the result shall be on next
Tuesday at the bsllot-box, there will be
small occasion, it seems to US, for any
one to mourn the loss of any labor or
time, or effort, that has yet been ex-
pended in this campaign.
The political historian will say that it
was the calmest campaign in the his
tory of this district.
Voters have persistently refused to be
"tOrn up" in mind or spirit over the
issues involved. A marked degree OF
lethargy has possessed even those who
babitually take an active part in poll
But a result will be reached next
Tuesday. 1t matters not whether We
be carried to the polls on wave of en-
thusiasm or drift thither by the inertia
OF common custom, decisive result
will be reached.
Either the Democratic or Republican
ticket will receive a majority of the
votes. Either Mr.. Good or Mr.. Golf
will be chosen to represent this district
in Congress.
II Mr.. Good is not chosen it will be
because the Democratic voters of this
district have either deliberately or
through indifference, thrown away
their opportunity, and their right to a
Democratic repres tentative in Congress.
We do not believe there is any DELHI
crate purpose to permit the defeat Of
the Democratic nominee, nor do we
think that the seeming indifference to
the result grows out of any feeling of
hostility to the Democratic candidate or
preference for the Republican candi-
date; but we do not hesitate to say that
an overweening confidence in the re-
suit seems to have possessed the Demo-
Gratis in this district from the first, aud
this has led to a lack of organization
and effort that if continued to the day
of election, very greatly jeopardizes the
Democratic ticket.
Democrats have fallen into the mis-
take of Understanding their opponents.
To be idle and supinely trust to superior
numbers was just the mood in which
the Republicans have desired to find
their Democratic opponents. They
have been encouraged by it to such an
extent that, while making no noise to
arouse their opponents, they have been
quietly but industriously organizing and
encouraging the rank and file of their
party, and by persistent and well de
rected efforts, backed with an abuHd-
ance of money, may be depended upon
to poll their entire strength on election
day.
\ well organized, active minority will
win, nine times out or ten, against an
unorganized and sluggish majority. 1t
is nine points in a political contest to
get the voters to the polls. 1t is not the
strength of the party in the field, but
the number that come to the polls on
election day, who count in the result.
A majority party wants only an active
campaign. 1t is the policy of the mi
nOrity to work as quietly as possible.
We can say to the Democratic
voters of this district that unless they
want to surrender the district to the
Republicans; unless they want to re-
duce the strength of the National DEM
Ocratie party in the next House Of Rep
resentatives, they will have to bestir
themselves between this and election
day; some little show of organization
and unity of effort will have to be made
if the vote is brought out. 1t is the
easiest thing in the world to allow an
election to go by default. 1t requires
some effort, even by the majority party,
tO elect its ticket