Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-08-12

declaring in clear words its policy on the
questions Of the day, by equivocal declara-
tons and unmanlY appeals to prejudice
seeks to secure votes only to perpetuate the
power Of Its managers, and not to advance
the prosperity of the country. ?
'I,s candidate for President Is man
charged with the basest of public crimes
the abuse Of official power for his own pc
cuniary advantage-who Tor eight years
las never dared to demand that full lnyeStl,
CATION Of the charges which his political
associates would gladly have accorded, and
by which alone those charges can be met,
Upon the evidence already produced we be-
Ieve him guilty, and we know that many
of his prominent supporters share our De-
lief their declarations before his nomlna-
ton. their silence or their guarded language
in public addresses since, are conclusive ev-
idence Of this. He is convicted by his own
statements of deliberate falsehood on the
most solemn occasion. The men who IN
the rast have disgraced the Republican par.
" are united in his support, and admitted
TO controlling influence in the conduct OF
his campaign, while Of the honest men who
ale Joined with these, the leaders are large
IL either holders Of or candidates Tor
public Office, who urge their tellow-citlzenS
10 follow them more to preserve the party
than because they approve its chief. In
fine. the Republican party has to-day no
policy which it dares to aTow and leader
who Il cannot defend. At this very mo-
mpnt il forms an alliance in West Virginia
with the advocates of dishonest money; IN
Washington political assessments are at
tempted under disguise
1T is idle to hope that, with such leader
ship. the abuses Of the past can be correct
ed or the party reformed. Under the IN
fluences which now dominate its councils
the tendency must be downward; and there
is no clearer proof that this tendency exists
than the fact that honest men are found
ready to tolerate and excuse ofenses which
a few years ago would have made the Of
fender infamous. We see in increasing
fidelity to party great dangers to our Gov
eminent, and il is an omen of disaster when
this fidelity leads men Of character and po-
sition to throw their influence in favor of
dishonesty and to mislead their fellow citi-
zens by misrepresenting the facts and OBJ
securing the issue. The fascination Of the
name Republican has made men blind OF
offenses which otherwise they would con-
denim. 1t is our imperative duty, therefore
TO disregard the appeals to party spirit
which, in the language of Washington, it is
the interest and duty of a wise people to
discourage and restrain and to consider
how best we can stay the progress of cor
ruption in the Government OF our country.
Leaving TO Congress the great questions
Of policy which mus, be questions of legiS-
latiOn, and reserving the right to vote in
Congressional elections for such men as
represent our opinion on these questions;
intending in the State to vote in the future
as We have in the past, We see in the Pres
Dental contest simple issue. Our plat
form is the single principle that none but
men Of proved integrity should be support
ed for public Office, and that the use Of Of
fetal power for personal ends is breach Of
trust which should disqualify for the public
service those who are guilty Of it. A party
nomination which violates this principle
must not only forfeit our support, but incur
our unsweeping opposition. By the nomin-
alton of James G. Blaine the Republican
party has thrown down the gauntlet for par
tisan government. The Democratic party
answers the challenge Its candidate is
the acknowledged champion of reform and
political honesty. The issue is thus Joined.
The leaders are representative men, the
foremost of their kind, and We cannot for
an instant hesitate in our choice or doubt
what the true interests of our country de-
mand We do not ally ourselves with the
Democratic party, still less sanction or aP-
prove its past, but its present candidate has
proved his fidelity to the principles we avow
and in the coming election he commands
and will receive our support.
Fer these reasons We urge all our fellow
citizens to unite with US in our efforts to Sc
cure the election of Gov Cleveland, and to
organize in their respective neighborhoods
that they OF Massachusetts may be given
in November for an honest government