Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-26
TWO FROZEN FACTS IN WEST VIR-
GINA POLIrICS.


There are two very grave abuses in
the modern methods Of political parties
and partisans, that are attracting the
serious attention of thoughtful men.
The REGISTER has not hesitated to
criticise the prevalence of these abuses
in the Democratic party, and we are glad
to see that the State press Is beginning
to deal with the matter in the same
spirit.
The first Of the evils referred TO is
the bitter personal rivalries which enter
into contests within the party, and are
allowed 10 absorb every other consider
alton, and render party principles and
party successful say nothing of the
public welfare-secOndary considera-
tons.
There is nothing which now threatens
the disruption and overthrow of the
Democratic party in West Virginia so
much as these personalities in politics.
Governor SEYMOUR recently pointed
out this matter as one of the chief dam
gers to the party in the nation and GER
tainly it is applicable in all its force to
the party in West Virginia. He adj
vised the young men not to take up with
old mems quarrels but to seek to pro-
mote principles rather than men. He
said that when young man, he and
those Of his generation, espOused the
quarrels Of leading men then in politics
and it had taken thirty years for the
party to recover from the effects.
In harmony with these views the
Fayette w. Va Enterprise, very prop.
erly says:
When the Democratic party becomes the
machine TO elevate politicians to office re-
gaTdle>s 10 the welfare OF the people, it is
time for those who have chung to the party
from principle. believing il to be the party
of the people and for the people, to take
more active part in its deliberations, or II
!; is in the hands of designing politicians
who intend To OyeTrulc and disregard the
viii Of the masses, then il becomes their
duty IS good citizens to leave it and form
new psrry or espuu>e the cause OF that
party that can the most speedily admins
ter to these political demagogues a stiugng
rebuke in sn overwhelming defeat that will
learn item that the will Of the people Is
the supreme law OF the land.
The time has arrived for every honest
Democrat to put his seal OF condemnation
upon those who believe that personal agrdn-
dizement can be secured by tramping I'M
der foot all the principles that have made
the party honOred and respected by its en-
eNieS.
Such lack of respect for the will Of the
people, as was manifested by the friends OF
hot md n
ed over lightly by the Democratic press Of
the State They should uphold the time
hOnOred principles Of the party, that the
majority shall rule, and when the voice of
the majority is Stited by the tricks praC-
ticed by designing politicians, who have no
inter - at stake than the r own e'e'aiOn
t. of; &c even IL II BE- upon the ruins OF
their party, ii should be the first to present
their conduct tD the public eXecratlOn, and
warn them of the danger that mcnaCCS the
people, liberties.
This abuse is not confined To the DEM
Ocratic party alone, but it is sufficiently
developed to deserve unqualified re-
buke in all parties. II has come to be
the rule that political ideas have no
place, or only a secondary one, in pOlit-
zeal conventions and campaigns, and
the mere promotion Of q person is the
leading, all-absorbing aim and effort.
The second abuse 10 which we refer is
the machine methods of the nOminat-
ing convention.
The modern day convention is little
elSe but machine. 1t is little less than
u Boss operating in the interest of
person, or, at best, faction of persons.
1t does not represent the public. 1t
does not represent the party.
The Convention gets into the hands
of q few of the more adrOit operators;
they appoint their committees; they
dictate the nominees; and the voting
citizen is then but passive instrument
to register the DEGREES from this bed Of
justice"
This is the modern way, but can it
continue? Will the voting population
submit? How long can it be depended
upon to command the respect and con-
fidence of the people?
That there must be some other and
better plan devised for presenting can
didates than tie machine convention,
is becoming apparent, not in West Nir-
ginia alone, but everywhere. There is
a determined revolt against it in some
localities. In the city o; Baltimore the
matter has been for some time, and con-
tinues to be, the chief topic in political
circles. Professional politicians have
possession of the political machinery of
that city, and are dividing out the
offices according to their sweet will, and
the people are simply the unwilling in
struments in their hands.
Ia discussing the evils OF the nomi-
mating machinery, the Baltimore san
makes some very sensible comments
which We commend to the considera-
ton of our readers rs having fOrcible
application to our home politics. The
Sun says:
1T is well worthy of consideration
whether the councilmen OF every ward
should not be nominated by mass meet.
ing or general convention Of the warl, and
in like manner whether the gentlemen to
be voted for as judges Of theSupreme Bench
and candidates for Congress should not be
put before the people by mass meetings
called to designate or to indorse names of
gentlemen already designated by more or
less formal body of citizens. The present
complicated machinery of parties has
grown up with the later period of the Re-
public Just in proportion as the spoils
system has penetrated and poisoned every
department OF the public service, the
machinery Of party has become
more and more elaborate, and the
force OF individual character and
Qualification less and less inAuen-
tisl in determining the candidacy for public