West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-11-16


ton of Independence, such persons
would consider it Republican
Document. About year ago we
copied Jefferson's definition of per-
sonal liberty, and the Charleston
Gazette believed we were quoting
Herr Most. We proposed law to
equalize taxation by reaching the
commercial property which now es-
capes; the tax-dodgers' Lobby
raised an cutlery and the Wheeling
Register thought it was a law to
pay the Virginia debt. Did time
and space permit, we would recall a
thousand similar examples OF the
senseless clatter which has fooled
simpletons and disguised all men
who think.
The opposition to us is not among
the body of the people of either par
ty;-the politicians now in front
are afraid Of our views on the free
pass bribery and on the bill to pro-
tect the public against the Wall
Street Bankers who control the
highways of this country. Our
views are the views OF the non
office seeking class, but politicians
are afraid to endorse them. Here
is the whole secret of this incessant
clamor against the DEMOCRAT; and
the sooner the unorganized masses
come to understand this fact, the
better it will be for them. Not
one man in thousand will speak
out boldly for truth and right at a
time when an influential private in
terest fills the air with noise and
clamor. But one such man is
worth his weight in gold.
II well meaning citizens in Jelfer-
son who have read every issue Of
this paper for nearly four ears,
were stamped and joined in the hue
and cry to break down the only pa
per which makes Il fight for their
interests:-what becomes Of the
platitude That the people think for
themselves and cannot be fooled"
Take another platitudc acclaimed
on every stump:
This is representative Govern
ment: legislator must execute
the will of his constituents and
hence the people make what laws
they please.
The successful politicians in both
parties are men who stand silent
while the public is plundered.-
They cringe and truckle to million
aire influence and are either absent
or take sides against the people in
every fight with the money power.
We cannot shut our eyes to the
fact that these are the men who
make our laws and dominate in pol
tiles, while men of recognized abili-
ty who seek Office only because they
Wish to benefit the public, are as
completely excluded as if they were
the peoples worst .enemies. In
other words the successful politi-
clan does not execute the will of his
constituents, but the will of a very
small privileged class who are
shrewd enough to manage politics.
A few illustrations prove what we
say. Our people want law TO pro-
hibit the free pass bribery. Can
they get it passed? The rank and
file are unanimous for the Chew
bill to protect our local shippers
from the railroad discrimination
Can they get it passed? Popular
public speakers will not mention
these subjects Party management
is the work of railroad attorneys in
partnership with the henchmen of
miIlionaires, and the object of party
machinery is to kill off brainy men
of studious habits who refuse to be-
tray the masses to the money pow
err. The truth is, capable men,
earnest men, those who would serve
the people as faithfully as a rail
road attorney serves his corpora
ton, are beat down and driven into
seclusiou, while traitors, sneaks and
sycophants masquerade as states
men and patriots. A railroad lob
byist dictates the committee on
railroads to our speaker of the
House of Delegates, and when the
Chew bill is offered, the committee
rcport,-"It is inexpedient to legis
late on this subject" The DEMO
GRAFT refuses to support a candi
date for the Legislature who re-