The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-07
ghe gatekigelleer
wnEELINo. W, W, Jutf !, l9s0'
rhs campaI.n In we.t yItgInla,

The IETELLlGEScER thinks II reasonable
n suppose that each Of the great political
narties in West Virginia will try TO carry
he state this year. The record shows
that opinion is not SO ole'slded as TO
make the contest hopeless for Rspubli'
cans. Democrats have admitted among
themselves that the peril Of their party Is
prayer thiA year than ever before. 10 be
candid, the ISrRLLIoEScgR thinks that
those who feel this way about 1t have
taken too much counsel Of their fears ana
have overlooked come essential factors
But II Is not the busiuess OF the RePuo'
llcau press to reassure the panic'strIcken
captains Of the opposition. This much
any careful observer ought to know, that
al the Start the odds arc on the Demo-
cratic side. That side commands the ser
vices Of able, yigilant, genial men, who
come very near making business Of poll
tics. No great gain to Republicans is to
bslooked for from the disSensiohs-ubout
which We hear SO much and which doubt
less exist to some extent in the Demo-
cratic party. A party which was able to
unite after the Wheeling Island conVen'
ton, It's almost tragic incidenta and very
peculiar results, Is not going to be split
assunder eaaily-scarcely by a wrangle
over the national patronage, which is the
chief bone Of contention. II Republic
cans succeed It is because public opinion
has changed and seeks that party as the
instrument Of It's will
Something has been said-a little too
much on each slde-about buying the
State. No doubt there have been instances
in which money was used in West Vir'
ginia beyond the flexible limit OF ligiti'
mate campaign expenses. To accuse
either side OF deliberate purpose to buy
the State OF West Virginia at the polls is
TO bring an accusation which wrongs the
electors Of this Commonwealth, among
whom We believe tho standard OF integ-
rity Is certainly not below the average.
Il must be remembered that the bulk
Of the voting population OF West Virginia
IA not massed in great cities, where UNI
happily the corruptionist finds too album
dant raw material for his industry, but is
found in umall towns and rural districts,
where VIGOROUSLY the ballot Is preserved
In its greatest purity.
They who for the mere sake OF raising
q party cry, be they Of one party or an
other, charge that somebody is going
among the voters Of West Virginia as into
an open market, reCkletsly assail peo.
ple which has never been bought assheep
In the shambles. These things ought not
10 20 to the world unless there is proofto
back the allegations.
We are going 10 have campaign IN
which each party will try to succeed, as
both have done hitherto. Generally in
West Virginia we come out Of these con.
tests with few friendships broken and few
personal scars remaining. thought always
TO be possible for grown men to'try an
issue at the polls in spirit Of friendly ri.
yalry, which does not necessarily takeany.
thing from the earnestness Of conviction
or the active display Of partisan zeal. II
we arc going to begin by saying mean
and silly things, which we don't believe
about each other, as some have done, 1t
will not be long before We shall be at It
like Hottentots.