The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-03

ONCE in while, to illustrate point, we
reier TO the mississippi plan" OF silencing
a majority and governing by minority.
We have noted objections to this forcible
illustration, and it has bsen charged that
the bottom facts we're OF that numerous
category known as Radical lies" Well,
in Mississippi Democrats and Republicans
have arranged fusion for county offices,
sort OF "better element" ticket, and to
make the fusion agreeable to the "bstter"
Democrats the Natchez Democrat says
don't fail to read Carefully what it does say:
The mass OF the Republican party is
made up OF persons, who, however honest
they may DO in their choice, are hardly
ana lifted to select competent men ior the
important county offices. To save them
selves irum being at the mercy Of the cor.
rupt or incompetent men VINO court
and too often control the ignorant
masses, one OF three cour5es were lOnnu TO
he necessary for the intelligent and tax
paving portion OF the community TO
nursue. These were either 10 keep tie
ignorant men from the polls, or bulldozs
them: to 10 manipulate the ballot box as TO
prevent the Republicans from eleclug
their men, or in other words to stuff or rob
the ballot box; or TO compromise.
with the most sensible and conservative
porti0n OF the Republicans giving them a
share OF the offices on the | ondition that
they select men OF sufficient character to
enable them to make bond. Bnlldozing,
inclndiu murder and violence OF all
kinda or ballot.box stutfng, which en-
braces crimes Of even meaner class than
hnIldozing. were put in the scale with an
honest compromise by which some OF the
offices were parted with it is true, but those
which are necessary for good local govern
meut were placed in the hands OF compe-
tent persons OF one party or the other upon
whose bond the responsible men OF the
community would be willing place their
names.
la a choice between. these three courses
,vs can scarcely imagine how community
nj rio ut thinking men could hesitate. In
This co, ,'uty, at all events, after the adVan-
tNr,es of tie compromise or fuson plan were
"s1einlly eiqhorated, very little time was
r|orired TO enable the people to decide IN
iSYor Of adopting it, 1t has entirely OBJ
viated all necessity Tor revolutionary
methods, and neither bloodshed nor rob-
bery has been necessary.
As the Democrats then sacrifice no prin-.
ciple, rs they give up only few offices oi
no political significance, and in return gain
40 much in the way Of peace and sell
Tesnect, we cannot but think time will
only be REQUIRED for a more thorough
knovledge OF the benefits flowing from the
Eystsm ior it 10 be universally adopted
throughout the South.
Whatever else may result from the
fusion it Is grstilyingto know that it "hat
entirely OBJ yiated all necessity for reyolu'
tionary methods" and for the present
.neither bloodshed nor robbery" is thought
necessary. Everybody who likes fair play
and abhors the earlier Mississippi plan
,ofearrying an election with Shotguns sup
rplemented with stuffed ballot boxes vii
rejoice in the "honest compromise,
Though by the new way the Demo
cratic party sacrifice no principle"
aud give up few offices OF no politica
sifniticance." 1t may be that this is thi
beginning OF the evolution Of the free bal
lot andthe fair count in Mississippi. Il
NAV be that the day is dawning when 18th,
intelligent and taxpaying portion OF thC
community" to wit, the Democrats, viii
not so much as contemplate the carrying
an election by "bulldozIpg, including
murder and violence Of all kinds, o
ballot box stuiIing, which embraces crime
of even a meaner class than bull-dozing.
A ,eiorm so well begun may in time reacl
N State Offices, seats in Congress and tn
electoral vote, which are Of political signi
e f,nce; when State in which there ar
10000 more blacks than whites will nc
give bull,deged and bqllot.6ox.stutis
nresidential candidate, and send to Cor
rress a solid Democratic delegation. In
great and growing country many thinE
are possible.