The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-11

suasion which our Republican party
leaders have thought the proper remedy
for that disease. Ishall not be offended
if you say that am not considering this
problem on the line ofideal, which is TO
say visionary, politics. On the contrary
l am considering it as practical prob
lem in American politics.
"Now, what is the practical inference
from all have said, assuming the con-
ditions to be as have statedP You must
grant the Southern people the right
wrong as it may be, and as Ibelieve Ito
be in this Case-to settle the negro ques-
ton with the negroes-eXcept as lar as
kindly help in the matter OF education
may go-and try to divide them on ques-
tons having no relation to the negro.
In the matter OF education ! think We
ought to do all we can, even over the
protest OF their own leaders, to make
lighter the crushing weight OF ignor-
ance that rests over the entire Southern
section. Now, the views which | have
expressed, may strike Northern Repub-
leans TO be so blunt as to be brutal, and
as having in them not enough OF the
spirit OF our constitution. 1t may be
also that some Southern Republicans for
reasons which at this time do not care
to 90 into, may assail my statement OF
facts, and SO show that my conclusions
are at least without value. have dealt
at your request with one OF the most In
tricate and disagreeable topics in Ameri-
can politics, and l have endeavored to
suggest a remedy. In all the years
since the war, have not heard the sug-
gestion OF better one, though We have
applied the most heroic OF remedies,
and with absolute failure. The Solid
South can be split. It remains to be
seen whether the Republican party has
the wisdom to do it.
"You will permit me 10 add that in
West Virginia We have no negro ques-
ton. Our colored population is com
paratively small. 1t votes the Republic
can ticket, and its vote is counted. Our
State is, you know, very close. We are
hoping to carry it this time, and II we
do, we shall get it. For l amglad to say
that in West Virginia elections are as
fair as anywhere else in the Union.
More than that, we do not carry our
politics into our social and business re-
lations. Every man says in public and
in private what he wants to say, aud we
all get along comfortably Us good
friends"
"What effect upon the success OF the
Republican party in your State, do meas
ures like Mr.. Chandler's bill to super
wise Southern elections, and the waving
OF the bloody shirt in the North have?"
''They hurt. Why? Is something OF
this kind needed to fire the Republican
heart? No, every Republican in West
Virginia will work Just as hard, though
we never heard anything more Of meas
ures OF this character. Will they draw
from the other side? This question an
swers itself, We are making inroads on
the Democracy Of West Virginia, most
OF all on the tariff issues, And the
farther we can getaway from those issues
which Southern men regardas
WAR ISSUES,
the more rapid and the greater the I'M
roads we shall make into the Democratic
forces. There is never Republican
convention, great or small, in West Vir-
ginia in these days, in which we do not
have as delegates men who have not yet
polled their first Republican vote. Some
OF these are men who have long been
voters, Others young men OF Democratic
families who are about to vote on age.
In all these cases they haYe experienced
a change OF heart, They are taken ut
their word, put in the effective fighting
force, and, if l may change the figure a
little, given front seats in the synagogue.
Necessarily these occasions represent to
q large degree the ex-Confederate ele.
ment, either directly, as in the case OF
an ex-C Confederate soldier, or by one de-
gree removed, as in the case of his son.
/ need not say more to give you TO I'M
derstand that a convention so composed,
would look with little favor on what we
have spoken Of Us the
PLANTING OF THE BLOODY Shirt
and VIC don't flaunt it. Not long since
we held in my city Of Wheeling con-
vention of Republican clubs, falling in
line with the Republican League move
ment Of the country. That convention
contained good many men recently
converted from Democracy, and was
presided oyer by IN ex-Coniederate Col
onel, than whom We have not in the
whole State Of West Virginia q more ar
dent Republican"
"You are about to vote on constitu-
tional prohibitOEy amendment in West
Virginia, are you notT
"Yes,"
allow does 1t affect the political con-
dition OF the State2"
"Well, the Democrats say that the agi-
tation of the question hurts them more
than il does us. We think that II does
MS tile greatest damage. The agitation
Of the general question has created a
third party, which has determined 70
put ticket in the field. ! have no DOUBT
that the Republicans will lose by this
movement much more than the Demo-
cratic party. Our prohibition leaders
are earnest and strongmen, some OF them
stump speakers far above the average.
And thew have already created q diver
sion there large enough to command re-
spect and cause o good deal Of appre-
hension. Moreover, it is no secret that
the third party assault is directed against
the Republican party. II this 9uesu9n
were ont OF the way, should almost be
tempted to prophesy Republican VIC
tory in West Virginia next November.
Al, il 10, ! refer you to the facts that in
the last congressional election the Demo-
cratic majority vas 900, that the aggre.
gate vote increased, that we gained and
the Democrats lost, and that the Repub-
lican party in West Virginia is stepping
up to the scratch this. time with very
smiling countenanGe, The steady drift
is our way"
THE SOUTH PENN REVIVAL.
Tho Road to BIO Built sure-rhe Company
Is Organized.