The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-04-28
THE WEST Virginia MUTATION,
The J Justification Of Popular Rule In til
k%epubltcnN Party.

kepubitcHn pArty. .
To The Editor Of The intdtigencer.
SII.-On the eve Of the contest 1t is we'll
enough 10 look about us and sec where our
lines nre set, and what are the issues over
which we are to struggle. Our coming
convention Ut Martinsburg will be tho first
general aesemblago Of the party in this
State since the campaign OF 1850, and dur.
ing the interim many things have trans.
pred that change the detail OF alignment,
but none that nccfs9itatesa change Of front
so far as the enemy is concerned. In
our State Issues the Republican party is
certainly happy. The evilful and ~unjusti.
fable extravaganza OF the Democracy in
State affairs, If standing alone, would be
sufficient In the ninds OF an economizing
and honest people, to assign Il to tho altar
OF political penitence, II not to the GENE.
terry OF mistake, which awaits all delin.
qucnts either of ignorance or fraud.
Upon one or the other OF these grounds
has grown the desperate necessity which
caused the Governor to issue the edie. OF
assessment which has created such q storm
Of indignation from the entire people OF the
state; and it is blu. justice to the Chief Ex-
ecutive to Say that he is tho victim Of the
wrongs OF his party rather than ths author
OF them. Still nc gilded resolution OF q
convention, be it ever 10 large, can atone
for tho outrages that have been committed
upon the industries and honeet toll of a pa.
tieut people. A reckoning with tho spirit
Of the men in power will disclose what it
has done in oil times, that the sclishness Of
the few cannot Withstand the wrath OF the
many.
Concerning our National issues tho Re.
publican party 10 equally happy. The
Nation has witnessed the desperate strug.
gle Of the Democracy to put the blight Of
Tree trade hercsy upon the rising dsyelap.
ment Of West Virginia enterprise. Tbs
true position OF the Safe 10 undoubtedly
tha! OF Il fostering projection. How far our
pUople have come to see their true intercBts
in tn p, the only live issue OF the coming
campaign, is yet to be disclosed. 1t is diff.
cult to lee that they can make any serious
error in this regard. But whilst these mat
ters are go encouraging with reference to
the position OF the Republican party in its
a%ntagonism 10 the Democracy, how is it
with its own internal afIairo? A few plain
suggestions from a iair-minded adherent
cannot BIO huriful though they should be
Undecided. 4.
There ig q genuine feeling OF unrest in
the parry because Of q belief in an effort on
the par OF q few to exercise the p,eroga.
t:ve1 and usurp the privileges that belong
to the whole membership. 'Tais has beou
the bane OF the party in West Virginia
ever since it bscame the minority party in
the State. BY the results OF the elections
during the early part OF the decade, 1870. so.
the party lost all Of the State officers, ex.
e~cutlve, legislative and judicial. There
ives lett nothing but the Federal patronage,
which was esjoyed by q very few, and who
controlled all that was left. This sslf-
styled censorship has been perpetuated to
this time, and has strengthened with puss.
ing years. 1t has led upon its lust OF power
until it has become 80 diGtatorial that none
but those who enjoy its favor IRE regarded
es entitled to any voice in the common af,
fairs Of Republicanism. So ilnperions in
deed, has this affected Leadership become,
that men who have q place in the party by
the birthright OF suffering in its behalf iu
years gone BY, are %summarily crushed by
tho greedy hand OF selfishness. Neither
age nor services ara respected. Talent is
discounted, and patriotism ia unknown
ualess 1t ia evoked for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF the sinner circle"
The unwholesone influence oil this state
OF things has made itself manifest for the
past two Presidential canvssses in Yves,
Virginia. BY q species OF representation
procured by methods within the power OF
this dominating circle, the will OF the peo.
pie has been thwarted and the State has
been put in q false position. Two impo.
tent campaigns, so far Us this influence
could effect it, have been the result,
Whether or not the State has been 30 ma
nipulated that it might remain under Dem.
cratic control or not, by deliberate pur.
pose, is now seriously qneationed. it ia
better to hold on to the anchorage at Wash.
ington, perhaps, than 1t is to trust popular
form at homo.
But the age Of bossism is pas. This has
been clearly demonstrated in several States,
and West Virginia will be found no excep.
ton to the rule. No party can hope to
long maintain its majority, or success in
minority, which will not assert the iudi.
viduality Of its constituent parts, at this
period in the history OF American politics.
10 pursue any other course is TO- extippuish
principle and substitute therefor the lust
OF avarIce and power, the greatest vices OF
all governments.
The remedy for this unhopeiul state of
alAirs is by a thorough change in the
organization OF the party. 1t should no
DO permitted to remain under such
balelul Influences, whether they are the
growth OF individual ambitions or a super.
iiuous, weak and yenal prc.s, tho latter
agency usually springirg from the former,
or is its invariable accompaniment. No
man should DO. permitted, by the use Of
improper means, 10 control the d~estinies Of
q party in any State where men are Repnt.
from principle alone.
With this view, therefore, the conyen.
ion at Martinsburg should make an M.
thorita.ivo declaration Of independence