Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-07-20
A Note Of Warning.

There is no such thing as concealing the
tact that in at least the large Democratic
counties of this State, there is feeling OF
disouiet and uneasiness as 10 the political
outlook, which is anything but encouraging
to the friends of good government. This
arises from no lack of confidence IN Demo
cratic principles and no want OF faith IN the
State and National Administrations. Mr..
Cleveland has more than fulfilled the high
expectations which were based upon his
past record, and there has been nothing in
the general course of the State Administra-
ton to impair the confidence so signally
dh played in the large majority, which, I'M
der so many adverse circumstances, was
secured for the ticket headed BY
Mr.. Wilson. Neither has there
been an amendment in the ways and meth
ode, the policy or the principles Of the Re
publican party to commend that party to
the favor of the people of West Virginia
And yet this disquiet and uneasiness exists,
ard it will not do for the professional poll
ticisn to declare that everything is lovely
when the thinking masses know it to be
otherwise. Neither will it do to say that it
S occasioned only by few disappointed
sspirants for Office, for the ofieeholders
and officeseeksrs besr, in point of numbers,
but sn insignificant ration to the great body
Of the people; and, when we come to seek
them in those counties of the State that have
held the State to the Democratic standard
their number becomes SUI smaller and the
T, o, consequently, far less.
The mass of the voters are not looking to
the offices or the offce-seekers. Men may
come and men may 90, but the great prin-
ciples of the Democratic party go on for
ever, and it is these principles that the party
wishes to conserve and advance and keep
pure from the de6lement of mere personal
aspirations.
But the difficulty Of doing this-the grow
ing tendency in this State TO mere personal
politics, the aggressive attempts to subordi-
nate everything to the ambition or interest
ed purposes of few would.oe bosses, the
tightening grasp With which they are laying
hold of everything that conduces to these
purposes and the success which has 80 often
attended their efforts, are the most fruitful
causes of the disquiet and uneasiness to
which we have referred.
Let but few score of disguised Demo
Gratis in each of these Democratic counties
remain at their homes on the day of an cleo
ton and the State is Republican.
Will this De done, or will another course
be taken? The people are long-suffering,
but when they arise in their might they be-
come irresistible. Even the immediate past
is not without its warnings. Are the NUT
terings of last April TO be disregsrded2 Are
the serious lessons of July to be forgotten2
Is the indignation Of old Hampshire 70 be
ridicuIed as a mere ebultion of passion con.
corning sn insignificant Officer Or are
these things to be taken for what they really
mesnf
We desire to see harmony in the party.
We desire to see all sections and factions, If
tie be any, within the party fold, recognized
sId ckrowledged as component and useful
arts of the same great organization. We
oesne to see those who secure the party tri-
amt bs intrusted with some of the party
hoEt rs We desire to see personal politics
eliminated from the whole scheme of Dem
oerstie supremacy, and we desire that the
pubic Offices may be regarded as public
trusts, to be administered in the interests Of
tie people, and not mere personal gifts, to
he be bestowed only upon those who will
beet advance the personal aims and objects
of the gentlemen who may control the sp-
pointments.
West Virgins, let it be understood, is not
the peterborough of any one two or four
men, but the political domain Of the entire
body of its voters, and they, sooner or later
will manifest their strength and establish
| theK control OF it.