San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-21
WASHINGTON SPECIAL.
The West Virginia Campaign--An
Inside View of the Situation.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, 1888.


Inside View of the Situation.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, 1888.
Daily LIGHT:
The republican victory in West Vir-
ginia was a regular bung starter, q
startling rip in the solid south. To
elect the governor and three out of
four congressman, overcoming demo-
cratic majority of nearly 5000, leaving
the narrow margin of one only in the
legislature for the democrats to con-
troll that body with, was as unexpect-
ed to the democracy as it was crafty
ing to the republicans.
McGinis and Smith will receive
their certificates, but G. w. Atkinson,
who ran in General COTS old district,
though Justly elected, will have to get
his seat in the house by contest.
In recent letter from him, after
had congratulated him on his cleo
ton, he replied, 81 am not in yet, nor
am likely to be, except through
contest before the house of represent
tives. The treatment / am receiving
at the hands ola democratic returning
BOARD is blighting, burning shame
upon our civilization. 1 shall contest
every foot of ground from here to
Washington"
The repu blicans of West Virginia,
prior to the election, had some fears
that the peculiar methods used fur
ther south to succeed might be prac-
ticed there on the 9th of November,
they admitted their mistrust was
groundless, for the ballotting and
counting all over the state was eXcep--
Col 10 Ia
mitted after the democrats had re-
covered from the shock Of wholly I'M
looked for defeat, or the recount,
which any candidate i'm that state can
demand, subject to payment of the
costs, should it not change the re-
suit.
Your correspondent was on the
stump for two months in Lewis,
Upshur and Webster counties, and
had good opportunity of judging Of
the causes that let to democratic de-
feat. In neither of those counties did
a single republican desert his
ranks, but the gain from
dyed in the wool democrats, middle
aged, and old men, was surprising.
A large majority of those casting
their first votes swelled the republican
vote.
In Webster county, thickly settled
| by ex-confederate soldiers, seven
years ago there were only six repub-
| lican votes cast, but on the 9th of last
November it increased to 276, a gain
| of GA votes over two years ago. There
are only 925 votes in the county,
which has received but little immi-
grafton for several years. The in
crease has come from the old rebel
element.
L stopped with a Mr.. Elliot in
that county, who moved into it,
was seven years war democrat,
| a brave union soldier, but on election
day there he heard so many shouting
| for Jeff Davis, that he saw it was
necessary to show his loyalty by en-
tering the lists as a pioneer republic
can, and right nobly he supported the
| cause.
At his fireside l met an old confed-
| crate soldier, during the canvass,
who, but few years before, had
| threatened Mr.. Elliot's life because
he was a jealous republican, but at
the last election was as Jealous sup
porter of that party, as he had former
| ly opposed it.
Several causes led to this change of
base by eX-rebs; the democrats had
promised reduction of taxes and had
| increased the state expenses three
fold; free wool and lumber added
greatly to their discomfort, and no
other question inclined them so much
to the republican party, unless it
wore the tariff, as the Blair bill.
They listened to its discussion with
intense interest; looked upon it's oppo-
nents with but little vor, and last,
but not least, they admitted at their
firesides that they had suffered,
starved, frozen, lost limbs, simply to
keep the negro in slavery.
Good humor prevailed among the
voters during the campaigns in those
counties, and generally throughout
the state; democrats and republicans
| helping each other to raise flag
| poles. There was but little joint
| discussion, as democratic speakers
avoided it as far as possible. They
tried to draw the republicans into the
bloody shirt trap, but they wisely
kept out of it.
The republicans of the state fought
| and won the battle comparatively un-
aided, as they did not get dollar of
the national campaign fund. They
had to rely on themselves, except a
limited sum from the congressional
committee.
West Virginia republicans are diff
ferent from the timid, yielding col
ored members of the party in the ex-
treme south; and a brave people, who
have shown il i'm both armies and