Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-10-11
[From the Wheeling Register, Democratic. ]
BOURBON RULE.
TO WEST VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS.


the purpose of putting a State ticket
in the field and for organizing the
party for the campaign. 1t will
doubtless be large aud representa-
tive gathering of the Democracy OF
West Virginia, and we hope that
they will come together with unset
fish and patriotic motives actuated
by the sole purpose to study the
welfare of the party and to promote
its success. We hope to see fayorit-
ism, prejudice, faction and indvidu-
al ambition all laid on one common
altar a willing sacrifice to the
Party's good.
This is a supreme crisis for the
Democracy of West Virginia and it
is best that our people should rea-
lie it. We had better come togeth.
er with a full and perfect under
standing of the situation in order
that we may act wisely and discreet
", than that we should assemble
under the inspiration of enthusiasm
that has spread from Chicago and
without correct knowledge of facts
and details as they relate to the con-
dition of political affairs within our
own State, in a moment of blinded
folly make nominations and endorse
or inaugurate policies that would
prove fatal in the election.
The principal hope of reliance for
Republican success in this State
rests upon the blunders of our pres
ent State administration. There is
not an honest Democrat with a dis
corning mind who is not willing to
confess That but for the tough tim
bers of which our Democratic YES
sci was constructed it would have
long ago been wrecked By the per.
sistent efforts of Democratic captains
to run it aground on the rocks of
stupidity and lnexcusable bull-head
ed folly. First of all, from moral
cowardice, successive legislatures
permitted the expenses of the State
Government to exceed the revenue
receipts by not fixing the rate of
taxation high enough to pay the
deficits OF preceding years as the
constitution requires. In this way
the creation OF debt to the school
fund was necessitated.
In the next place, in order, as
alleged, to meet the emergencies
that rapidly arose from the pursuit
of such a stupid financial policy the
Executive department resorted to
the famous Supplemental assess
ment expediency.n This was perhaps
the climax Of all follies, and the one
from which so many other troubles
1t would be useless con-
of time and newspaper
space to enter into a full discussion
Of this assessment order, especially
as in view OF the fact that arguments
bearing upon its legal aud constitu-
tional features have been submitted
to the Supreme Court of the State
without having received from that
tribunal a determination of the cues
ton. But we do feel at liberty to
say something about it as q move
ment of political expediency and
give common sense application OF
it's workings and results. That it
created intense dissatisfaction among
all classes of people in the State is
not to be denied. That the govern
or and Auditor exceeded their pow
ers under the constitution and are
looked upon as guilty of usurpation
By a great many people must also be
The people generally are
more sensitive upon the matter Of
taxation than any other feature Of
government, and that they are jeal-
Gus Of any attempt to take the tax
ing powers from their hands, is like
wise true.
Then close upon the heels of this
and really incidentally connected
with the same proceeding comes the
order of the court in the Intelligencer
case decision which is
likely to give the court more notori-
ETY. than Observation-Disclosures the
freedom of the press and restraining
the individual right of the citizen in
the utterance of free speech.
There is another rock which lies
deeper under the waters, but the
dread of its presence has caused
throughout the State.
1t is the creation Of what is known
as the Debt Commission by the last
and suspicion that in
some mysterious way it bears some
relation to the expected attempt of
the certificate holding syndicate to
create liability against West Vir-
g:nia for share OF the old State
debt. While the press has been
silent in the discussion Of
this natter the Democratic press
not desiring to precipitate it and
the Republican press evidently
holding it back for effective ammn-
milton after the campaign opens
still there has been heard in the
mutter of loud whisperings all over
the State, that there is a job in the
Of the debt commission,
aud that what is known as the
Z State House Ring is in league
with the syndicate to manipulate
from this State payment of the de-
ferred certificates of Virginia and
arbitrarily as signed to this State
for payment.
With this statement of blunders
of the present administration and
for which the opposition will seek to
hold the Democratic party response
BILE, Democrats may well ask them
selves, What are we going to do
about iti Can we afford to attempt
a vindication of these folIiesf Wis
dom gives reply. Can we afford
to be thrown on the defensive in
tedious attempts at explanation 7