Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-06-27

Gq-eiis of the DIST combines soma excellent
advice with much of unwisdom and little |
pure nonsense. The thought of the article
IS that the old leaders of the democratic
party of West Virginia ought to be sent to
the rear and their places filled by young
men " who should fight the party's battles
and receive its rewards. Why this sugges-
ton should be made to the democracy OF
this State-noted for the young men II
brings to the ffont-we do not clearly see.
Within little more than two years Faux
ner. Fleming and Pendleton-young men
and new men to party leadership-haye
been chosen by the democratic party for the
most responsible positions within the gift
of the people, while many Of those longer IN
the public service, including Senator Ken
ma. Congressman Wilson, Governor Wilson,
Joe Miller, Watts, McGraw, Hogg, Snyder
and Others, have barely reached middle-llie.
But whether it be true or not that the
Young men-under thirty-fve-are much
more in love with principle, much more
Jealous in the discharge of their duty, and
much more ambitious to achieve success for
their efforts than their seniors, they VIII
hardly be encouraged to take an active in
terest in politics by the knowledge that at
LIES prime and before they have fairly gain
ed the experience essential 10 the greatest
usefulness in the service of people or party
they are to be shelyed and their place filled
by Others. And the public interest will not
be subserved by depriviug the State and
country Of the services Of experienced men
I'm the igor Of manhood, and by placing
the entire control either of public affairs or
of party management in the hands of mere
apprentices The injustice as well as alb
surdity of discarding our leaders because
they have passed au arbitrary number Of
wears (which would exclude every veteran
of either side ofthe late war; though 81 the
best period Of their lives, is TOO apparent to
be discussed. Moreover, some of the best
work I'm public legislation or party politics
is and has been done by men of twice the
age fixed bv the Go-stts as the limit of po-
Htical usefulness notice, for example, Glad
stone leading i'm the struggle for home rdle
I'm Ireland. or the services of Thurman and
Banum in our late national campaign. The
value of young life in public affairs cannot
be oyere,timated but it should be mingled
with and restrained by the maturcr wisdom
of the older heads. The king Of a great
nation once brought trouble upon himself
aud lost the greater part Of his kingdom
because he forsook the counsel Of the old
men" and turned to his young associates
for advice-aud it was this very question of
taxation that caused the difficulty. By all
means bring the youngsters into the harness
but keep a tight rein ON EN-.
The Gq-stie's suggestion as to the forma-
ton Of young mems clubs, though not new,
is good enough except as TO the proposition
60 exclude men over the age OF thirty-fye.
The old votes are needed on election day
and help of the old voters ia the campaign,
and it would be bad policy to exclude any
body. Beside, q man doesn't pass the far
,lest limit of youth at thirty-fve. We speak
from personal experience. A good demo-
cratic conscience ought to be a fountain OF
perpetual youth-iu a political sense at
least. We are not disposed to join in find
ing fault with our party leaders in this
State-we see no reason for it. We have
already had occasion to show that our re-
duced major,ties are not due to democratic
losses but TO republican gains. 1t is not to
be questioned that the improper use Of mo-
uey and the Importation of voters as well as
other aud legitimate causes, had their effect
ON last Falls election. This has been pro-
ven by local elections since that time.