The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-09-15
The Next Governor oc West
Virginia.

public interests Of the State, and so
distinguished in his private and pub
lie character and career for progress
siye and aggressive principles and
policy that he will be accepted at
once rs representative man Of our
people.
While we are beginning thus early,
to discuss the availibity Of different
men for this position we may as well
keep these fundamental facts in veiw.
The Democratic party can elect
such a man If they put him at the
head of the ticket, and some other
party will elect him if they don't.
The people of West Virginia are
very much disposed to take a hand
in the next campaign and vote in an
administration that represents some
thing more than machine politics
and party purposes.
In saying this we mean no rehec-
ton upon the present administration.
We are dealing with the future not
the past.
The Democratic party has no rea-
son to apologize for its past record
in this State, but it is we'll to have a
care for what it is tending to.
No man can be elected Governor Of
West Virginia in 's4, simply by vir-
tue Of his party fealty or party ser
vices in the past, or as q reward
so called--for his fidelity and sacri-
fees in behalf of his party, or even
his ability and tact in taking care of
mere party interests and political
favorites in the future. He must
st..ad for something and that some
thing must be more substantial than
the mere skill Of the politician and
party manager.
Let is be understood that the mere
political hack" will come to grief in
the next campaign even though he
be nominated by the majority party.
We want man Of some avoirdu-
poise as a statesman; an enterpris-
ing citizen and an executive officer.
We DO not object specially that
there are half dozen mediocre men,
more or less, now canvassing the
State with view of laying the wires
TO pack convention and secure for
themselves the nomination for the
irst Office in the State.
There will be time enough to kill
off such cattle and relegate them to the
rear before the convention assemblies.
It is better to do this now than have
It TO do later.
The very fact that candidate
inds it necessary to canvass the
State and beat the bushes and rattle
The tom toms to draw attention to
himself is conclusive that he is not
The man the people are looking for.
The man whom the people want will
not need to run after the people. The
people will run after him. The man
whs will prove most unacceptable to
The people, if nominated. is the man
who has done most for himself in
getting the nomination. The man
'or the people will come naturally to
The surface and find a spontaneous
sentiment in his favor. Political
nanipulations, schemes, and the skill
Of the demagogues may keep him in
The background, but the people will
resent it, and it will be cold day
or the Democratic party, if it finds
tself under the necessity Of going
INTO the next campaign with can
1idate to carry instead Of a candi-
late who can lead-with candidate
who will put the party on the defen-
sive instead of leading an aggressive
md sweeping march to victory.
just now, we are more interested
n the man or men we do not want
han in the man we do want. We
nave no disposition to suggest the
after or advocate the merits Of any
me. We have confidence in the
light man coming to the surface if
he personal ambition of unfit men
loes not block the way. If we
we're called upon to name the man
low who appears to measure up to
he situation in all it's phases, we
would say that man is Hon. Henry
}. Davis. He is easily the first man
If his party in the State. He is more
argely and more closely identified
With all the material interests Of our
State, than any other man. He would
10 more than any other man to at
;ract attention to our State and draw