The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-07-29
The Assault un Mr.. H.tfctI, II the
VI. Il c-ister.

HNsAohSAs
III. Lewis Baker, Of West Virginia. said
the Democrats OF his State were not divided,
as re ports Of the proceedings Of tie Stale
Convention might imply. The Convention
did ui.c. The man propoEed Tor Chslrman
by n rommittee, but It WIS the result oil per.
sopsl rather than faction feeling. He Closed
by saving that the state would give Clav'.
lard a substantial m. oriiy. Ntw York
World. RI
alr. Bake. has been misguided by tho
World. He understands the situation and
would not place Mr.. Moflett in a false atti-
tude. In truth the disg.sceicl hurricane
which geizad tho Convention at the sug'
gest;on Il MIR. Moffst,'s name, cannot be
construed as personal opposition 10 him.
It wes the direct outcome Of q tactionsl
feeling which then and there degenerated
into a isctional fight OF phenomenal bitter.
ness. The personal feature was a mere
pretext.
My. Nc fIett was seizsd upon as q repre-
sentative CT the Register, which had shown
the boldness to criticize the State admins.
tration. The Stste administrators impa-
tience Of newspaper criticism was cut in
granite letters by the Supreme Court
when that peculiar tribunal ae.aulted the
ISTELLlGEScER and the liberties Of oil
WIS. Vnginlsrs. No Democratic news.
paper had been arraigned at any bar for
daring TO state facts or express opinions,
and now cane the opportunity to arraign
a Democratic newspaper which had made
itself particularly cdious to wing Of the
party.
The Registers friends, unwiaely, as We
must think, threw down the gauge, and
the administration took It up with f.rocious
slacrity. Anybody can see now that it would
have been infinitely better for the party
welfare to have allowed MIR. Moifstt tohave
been stated without controversy. Nothing
thathe could have done as chairman Of the
convention could have hurt the party so
so5ely as the tempest that ragged while
pAliy grievances were being aired. 1t is
not to be assumed that Mr.. Morrtt would
heve been unfair; for he is an honorable
man. respecting himaelf. lit be true that
Tie .,sj ,rity OF the convention was against
him, the report OF the committee might
have been voted down without bringing on
q violent collision which has wrenched the
party.
Mr.. MolTett aud the Register are able to
take care OF thems ,lves; but what has hap.
pened took place in public. concerning
public men and public measures, and 1t is
r proper thing to talk about. Whether it
was good policy or bad for a State Conven.
ton to rsbuks the leading and only con-
siderable newspaper Of its party in West
Virginia, is a matter which concerns mem.
bers OF that party. But every man who
likes fair play and decent procedure will
admit that the method Of rebuke was wan.
tonly and inexcussbly brutal. =.
Mr.. Moflett did not deserve that treat.
IcAts ~ VIC afH1 nd5 ~ 1nJul6 Hill h0Q
the Register the scheme was abortive, for
newspapers and newspaper mon are not
made and unmade By political conven-
tiens. 1t is a plain proposition that tie
greatest harm has been to the Democratic
party, in whcse nsme the efItont was given.
Ia this light Republicans will not regret
the episode. In the broader view Of de-
cency and fair play Republicans ought to
be foremost in condemnation Of any Effort
to throttle free speech. A patty newspaper
may no. always be right; it may not
always please all Of It's fellow par,isans
but it may well be doubted whether a party
strengthens ita hold on a %newapape. by
routing 1t in a convention. It is too much
to expect that a newspaper will submit
tame!y to % a'erant an indignity.
n AS FILL expect lie without air. an health