The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-23
THE People Against the Tax Enters.

One week from this evening the Republic
casn o. Wheeling hold their primary meet
inys to uomiEate city ticket. The Demo-
cra,s follow Il " rek later. The most impor-
tant selections are those to be made for the
City Council. Partisanship, us viewed in
its national aspect, has properly nothing 10
10 with the filling OF these purely local and
nuu.partisau offices.
\ certain number OF us are gathered to-
gether here in one community having like
general interests. The chief aim Of each is
to gain Ill honest livelihood and to protect
the fruit Of his industry and thriit-to
protect his interests rs well MS against vast
iulexpenditure by public otlicersasagainst
the night prowler who practices on his
house with burglars tools. Certain public
works honestly and economically admins.
tered come also within tho scope Of the
wo,trtion for which every citizen looks
and which he l,as right to demand.
gut how have We been in the habit OF
nltering fle demand? Chiefly iu the forui
Of pos,.mortem growls after the enemy has
done his work and our chance for the year
Is dead. 1t is Gne Of the inexplicable fen.
lures Of our American politics TINT those
most interested in good government, hay.
ing the larscs. substaulial stake in ii, take
the least active part in die naming Of their
rulera And this is 10 say that the men
from whom the bulk ol the taHNtion Is
drawn exert the least influence in shaping
the policy which is to govern them. They
let the primaries 80 against them By de-
fault.
The polls are open TO .he good and the
bad, and the influences which seek selfish
ends before the public welfare control the
result. With honorable exceptions the
nominees are not what they ought 10 be-
ucilher party oilers an acceptable alterna.
tive to the voter, who has the general
welfare at heart; and, party being pilted
agaiusl party, that ticket is carried through
which commands the strongest partisan
support. 1t results in this, therefore, that
the best citizens OF the COMMUNICATIVE
industrious und the saving, who carry the
burden OF governmeut-are not represent
ed By the elaw.masinsa and thelaw.execuling
powers. -
Not man Of abr those who leave the
primaries to tak.sS care Of themselves needs
.>zzsss HAT hin in.lltle,snce Is mn cnsy
and d;s.o,nte way to iri.tor away his sub.
: stance. Every voler In Wheeling knows
nil tha, the INrrLiIGgScEH can tell him.
has known It for years-has realized the
cost Of it-but ii is not enough to know. II
~ necessary to do.
How is action to be brought about ? Not
by one man. by many men Of one mind
-,nen who are willing to make some
prcsen, personal sacrifices for the common
good. Now Is the time to put In the FRO.
lest. The shot well aimed will Iwoep
away all distractions. Let representative
Republicans Of each ward come together
discuss tho situation, select tho best men
and yote for them at the primary meeting
Lat the Democrats DO the same-eaeh part,
offering It's best men.
The result may be triumph Of ON,
n,r,v or the o.her--it Is bound to be a ,ri
,,r,nb p Of the principle which ought to null
tn all representative government, Tlu
Ime 10 begin Is now