The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-12
REPUBLICAN CITY TICKET.
wha, the Governor DIdn't DO

What tie d0NtFhtE D' -So'
II the Governor OF West Virginia had
been sitting as a judge, instead OF standing
before the High Court Of public opinion as
counsel for the accused, he would have
said some things which he omitted to say
in his remarkable, production misnamed
q message.
The Governor is not a dolt. Therefore
we give him credit for knowing oil some
facts which he suppressed. His ferrid ar
raippment Of the Republican party for
what II did not do from twelve to fifteen
years ago was with no other intent than to
give the sanction Of his high office to the
INTERPRETATIONS Of his party designed,
as he designs his defence, to cover up his
party's tracks and divert attention from lts
misdemeanors.
The message Of the Governor at this time
would have differed from the special
pleading OF the partisan advocate in this
that it would have given more attention to
those defects Of legislation and administra-
ton which are recent or present, and which
ought TO be cured now, than to twisting the
record Of the long ago past in the hope to
find plausible precedent for the unbusiness'
like and unlawful acts Of his party which
his remarkable document could not con-
ceal. He gloats over the Republican DELI
ciencies which his party has invented as an
inheritance, and in the same breath is
forced to admit continuing deficiencies for
which his party and it alone is responsible.
For 1881 deficiency Of $4,000, tided
over by borrowing the money from bank
Of this city. For 1882 deficiency Of $ll0,-
600. bridged over in the came way, tax
PAYERS being in for interest. Deduct from
the promise.to.pay oil 1881 $4,000 paid
back, and we base $4,000 with interest as
showing how much We have run behind in
two years. 1t is urged in defense that the
amount is not large. Admit it, and yet
the principle Of running behind every year
getting deeper in-is grossly wrong. The
principal is the same as though the amount
were million. 1t declares policy,
establishes precedent-for which the
Governor and his party display such yearn-
ing iondness.
The Constitution, made by the Demo-
cratic party, provides how Deficiencies shall
be met, and they have not been met at all.
That instrument says in terms that when
ever any deficiency in the revenue shall
exist in any year, it [the Leeislaturel shall,
at the regular session thereof held next
alter the deficiency occurs, levy tax
for the ensuing year, sufficient, with the
other sources Of income, to meet such de-
tlciency, as well as the estimated expenses
OF such year." In defiance Of this wise
and wholesome provisional deficiency in
1881 was allowed to be followed by alarger
one in 1882. q ~ u. - ~ ~
An election was coming on, and the
Democratic Legislature had not the cour-
ageto make aleys. Instead it ordered a
revaluation Of property-made increase
OF galuesop -".watered" the stocks
and the party will try to break It's fall by
a chloroiorm process Of extracting taxes.
Perhaps twill be helped out Of its ditficpI-
tiesby that plea, and perhaps it won't, A
better wayAcertainly the more honest
way-would be to face the music, acknowl-
edge its errors, obey the constitution, and
call in those promissary notes. ~
But the Governor recommends nothing
Of the kind. His was IN effort Of vindica-
ton, not OF recommendation.