The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-11

Young men about to vote. for the first
time ought to make very sure that they do
not begin wrong. A mans party connec'
ton is a matter OF moment TO him, and In
this as in other things Of importance he
owes 1t to himself to get a good start.
Before he joins q party he ought to in.
quire whether it has any principles, and II
80, what they are. He should ascertain
its methods, to know whether they are
such as an honest young man can ap-
prove. He should look into its
history, to know whether it has
been helpfulto the country, progressive or
obstructive. He should concern himself
about the men whom the party trusts with
places Of honor and profit, to know what
its personal standards are. And he should
know whether the party is marshalled by
leaders of its own choosing or manipulated
and driven by men whom it has not the
courage to shake of.
Atthis time a very instructive illustration
OF these points will be found in the Demo
cratic party, which is almost all that a
great political organization ougbtnot to be.
1t has a history, but no Democrat can re-
call it with pride. In the hour OF the
country's peril it either went to the front
on the wrong side, or hung back and shot
in the rear. 1t has opposed all the great
and all the small reforms Of Its time.
Itstood by slavery and opposed emanci-
patton. At a critical moment, and for sn
evil purpose, it declared the war for the
Union q failure. IN time Of war it was
against the greenbacks, which were neees-
sary to the prosecution Of the war. In
time Of peace it was against the resump-
ton OF specie payments, which was neces-
sary to the stability Of trade and the main
tenance OF the public faith and credit 1t
is against a tariff for the protection ofhome
industries against the destructive competi.
ton Of other lands. 1t is against national
aid for free schools, though there are States
which are weighted with illiteracy, for
which the Democratic party is responsible.
In this day it admits that the war was
not a failure; that emancipation was right;
that greenbacks were necessary in time OF
war; that resumption was necessary in
time Of peace. 1t will admit more as it
grows older. The Democracy ID the camp
follower OF our politics. But it originates
nothing that ia Tor the welfare and glory Of
the country. ,.,t
Just now the interested attention Of men
Of all parties is drawn to Ohio, and New
York. See what a mess they have Of 1t in
Ohio! In the two most populous counties,
far apart, the Democratic party cannot
hold a convention without disgusting the
honest men OF the party. Mclean, be-
ginning in Hamilton county, is laying his
lines to boss the State in the interest Of the
mere money power Of the party. The
same thing on a less pretentious scale Is
seen in Cuyahoga county.
In the great State Of New York, so i'm
portant in a Presidential campaign, John
Kelly, a vulgar, arrogant, c~onscienceless
fellow, has his party by the throat and it
cannot bulge without his leave. The great
Tilden must bend or break before him, for
Kelly is brandishing with savage ferocity
the club Of Tammany, which has before
Been used with deadly effect on the party.
The young man who is asked to join
such a party ought to think twice before
he votes, and having thought he ought to
vote against that party In politics it Is
well for a young man, no less than for an
old man to pick his company.