The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-06

should preserve for future reference
Tuesdays paper, which contains full,
truthful and almost verbatim report Of
the memorable closing debate in the
joint assembly Of the Legislature on the
question Of opening the returns for Gov
ernor, FOrthe same reason he should
preserve tO,day's issue and all other
issues containing an account OF the ex-
traordinary proceedings at Charleston,
They comprise the record Of u political
crlme-a rape committed upon the Con,
stltutIon by abody OF men who have by
their actions forfeited the respect Of the
people. The INTELLIGENCERs record,
which ismore complete than any other
published, will be handy for reference
when tho Consplrators come before the
public two years hence with continued
professions Of "honest intentions" ask.
ing for vindication Of their course.
When they come forward with hypo-
critical professions that they did not
violate tho Constitution made by them
selves and the precCdents established
by themselves, tho record will be con.
venient.
When Judge Fleming, the defeated
candidate for Governor, served notice OF
contest ponGcn. Golf, which he had u
right to do II he considered his cause
just, 1t was heralded abroad by the Dem.
ocratlc press and politicians that his
contest would be conducted on legiti-
mate lines, There would be no resort.
ing to questionable tactics, no seeking
for advantage not strictly in accordance
with the Consultation.
Gen. Golf has q majority on tie face
ofthe returns, and by every principle Of
right aud justice Is entitled to be con.
sidered the legally elected Governor OF
West Virginia until proven otherwise.
Not by abstract principles Of right and
Justice alone, is he entitled to this,
but no is guaranteed 1t by the Con.
stitution Of the State. No one
dreamed that this right would be inter.
fered with. No one, except those who
were scheming to outrage the Constitu-
ton, contemplated that It's provisions
would not be held sacred by those who
were sworn to obey it.
But the people were mistaken in the
character oitne men who were managing
Judge Jennings contest, They did not
know to what desperate means they
would resort to accomplish their design
to prevent the result Of the election from
being declared MS directed by the Con-
stitution, even though 1t involved the
establishment OF u most dangerous pre-
Cedent, and the total disregard OF the
very principles upon which the Govern
ment is founded The history Of the
criAe has been written and need not
here be repeated. Every citizen is famil-
lar with ii. Its consequences are yet to
come.
No sooner did the Legislature meet
than the conspirators threw OF the mask
aud pursued the very policy they de-
clared all tho time they would not pur-
Sue, To gain temporary advantage
they resorted to the disgraceiul means
which every one is now familiar with.
In doing so they have written their own
political death warrant, and sealed the
fate of Democratic supremacy in West
Virginia, as they will realize when they
come to betried before the bar Of Public
Opinion. II the people felt outraged at
the theft OF n seat in Congress, and the
attempted theft Of two others, they
. stand amazed at these further efforts to
override their will and scat in the Gov
errors chair man who was never
elected, and 10 prevent even making
public the returns which show another
man to have a majority.
Ifthey were indignant when ballots
were stolen and changed, they are more
than indignant at tho shamelessness OF
the proceedings by their representatives
ut Charleston. 1t has been their proud
boast that West Virginia did not lie I'm.
der the disgrace caused by the political
methods which prevail in certain other
Southern States, and which have been
drawback to their material advance
ment and prosperity. To-day honest
citizens hide their faces in shame at the
proceedings which have dragged the
State, in this respect, down to the level
occupied by those States in the estima.
ton OF the Nation.
Some Democratic partisans, blind to
the principles involved and blind to the
enorlnity Of the crime, will, together
with some Of their party newspapers, ut
tempt to excuse tho actions Of tho Demo.
cratic minority ut Charleston, and mako
light Of what is a serious matter But
the blot on tho fame Of tho State will re.
main until wiped out by an indignant
people.
The Democratic majorityin the Lcgis.
laturo has established dangerous pre-.
Ccdent. According to their doctrine u
Republican Governor might DO elected
every four yeats, but II tho Legislature
happens to have a Democratic majority
hc would never DO allowed to take his
scat, oven pondlnga contest. Nor would
IL matter whether his majority was a
hundred or a thousand, or five thousand,
Ills opponent would only have to SGT up
the allegation that no believed mum.
Der OF illegal votes were pollcd, aud
that would settle II.
Suppose the same proceedings were to
take place in Congress whCnth electoral
votes for President aro opened. Sup.
pose the defeated candidate were 10
q - Il