Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-12
AN ExrRAVAGANr OPTICAL DoCU.
MENF.

In matters of politics Marshal AFKIN-
SON seems to proceed upon the theory
that extravaganza OF statement is per-
fectly legitimate, If not the only effective
ammunition to use against an opponent.
Marshal ATKINSON is the chairman
ofthe Republican State Executive Com
mittee, and is this capacity has Issued a
Illumination in the form of an address to
the faithful, which is designed to utterly
destroy his enemies and encourage his
friends.
That it ought to destroy somebody,
we admit; for monster of eXaggera-
ton and extravaganza we have yet to
strike its equal in political literature.
We feel no timidity. however, in APP
preaching the monstrosity, as q eursory
glance Is ample assurance that it is
harmless 80 long rs you keep in front
like q mule or musket its power OF eH-
ecution is Of the baek-action style, and
no one is in any danger but the Marshal
himself, who has the temerity to stand
behind the "critter." ..
But we want to direct public atten-
ton to an instance or two OF the means
and methods by which the appointed
leader of one of the political parties Of
the State-a party which boasts of its
''high moral ideas" and claims to virtue
seeks to influence public sentiment.
We take an instance about which there
can be no controversy, because it de-
ponds upon figures, which we are told
will not lie, and these figures are drawn
from the public records which have not
been impeaGhed.
Werefer to the matter which constitutes
the burden Of the complaint of Marshal
Atkinson address, to wit: The extrav-
agant and reckless expenditure Of the
public funds" by the present admins
tration, which he advises the people has
been so great that the present rate OF
taxation is insufficient to meet the run
ming expenses Of the Government"
Moreover there has been IAN open rob-
bery of the poor children of the State
whose education depends upon the in
terest of funds which he wants be-
lieved to have been squandered for un-
lawful purposes. There is Also the
Marshal alleges, "a large amount due
the banks of Wheeling which was bor-
rowed in violation of law, &C."
Ordinarily such blank assertions in
political document would be called dem
agogery, but in the face of the facts in
which these are made it is worse than
demagogery. Not one Of these state
ments is supported by proof or refer
ence to proof that justifleS It, ana not
one of them is true.
Let us look little To- the general
charge of extravaganza:
The aggregate expenditures for State
purposes for the years 1867 to 1870, in
elusive, is Sl,SOl, O52.33. Average for
four years is $50, 2T3.OSi. This was
under Republican management.
The aggregate expenditures for State
purposes for the years 1871 to 1880, in
elusive, is -, 26s, 76r.74. Average for
the ten years S426, S76.17 %. This was
under Democratic management.
In other words, when the State was
ten or twelve years younger, and its
public institutions and governmental
machinery much less simple and mex
pensive than now, the Republican party
expended SS3, SS6.9l more per year for
general State purposes than the Demo-
Gratis have ,pent and are now spending.
And rs sample of how the Demo-
Gratis have been "robbing the poor
children of education" the records
show that while the Democrats have
been spending less for State purposes
than the Republicans, they hare appro'
priated $6S, l64 G6 more each gear to the
education of the "pOor robbed children
than the Republicans did.
These are facts that are as accessible to
the leaders of the Republican party as
they are to US and every citizen of West
Virginia.
They are matters of public record.
They are known to the body Ofthe in
telligent, reading people of this State
Presumably they were known-ol
ought to have been known-tothe lead.
er ofthe Republican party of this State
when he published and circulated an
address to the people of the State.
He ought to know, as a public man,
within reach of the public records, and
assuming to be leader in the politics
of the State, that the charge of RECKLESS
extravaganza" with public funds is not
only eontradieted 10y every page OF the
public receris, but that also, if there is
any fault with which the Democratic
party of this State Is and has been just
ly chargeable, and with which his own
party has changed it, it is iu
too close economy, amounting
sometimes to stingisess in appro-
priations Of the revenues; and that the
revenues were not sufficient for the nee-
essary expenses of the Government, is
not in any sense, or by any fair or truth
fhl criticism, due to RECKLESS extrava-
ganee," but solely to an unequal and
insufficient system Of taxation which
is now in process of adjustment.
Marshal Atkinson will learn bye and
lye (Ferhaps?) that in this day of the
world, the newspaper is abroad in the
land; that the people are intelligent
and serutinizing; aud that political
campaigns, or any other kind Of cam
paigus, cannot be carried by blank as
-sertions and deRagogieal appeals that
have not the slightest basis of truth or
consistency.
THE New York Democratic State
Committee have called the State con-
vanfiOn In meet ut Syracuse on the 18th