Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-08
sg.e.sL I,..ranlon ne R.es..r.


CHARLESTON, February If evidence
were needed to establish The indictment
agains, the Republican leaders of West
Virginia it was furnished to-day. The
case is complete. The Legislature hes
b=sn sitting in joint assembly for nearly
one week, trying to perform a solemn duty
under the laws of the land. That duty
wss TO canvass tbe returns Of the election
held Oh November 8, and declare, If posi-
bic, 10 Justice to sll contestants, the men
who were duly elected to their respective
positions.
THEY LEFT THE HALL
After five days or delay, brought about
by unprecedented Republican ihbustering,
this task was abou, to be accomplished.
Teen the Republican members Of the Leg
iIsture arose almost as one man and left
the hall. Their aim was not 10 secure a
particular c0nces sion from the Democrats,
for none could have been granted them.
I, was not to uphold any OF Gen. Goff s
rights ia the gubernatorial contest for
these had been secured fully and fairly.
The only apparent object was 10 break
down the tribunal appointed by the Con
stituhoa 20 canvass the election Ieturna
and nullfy its deliberations. They failed,
bu. of the charge they stand indicted and
no squiyocation viii excuse them.
A PRELIMINARY CONTEST
Tt must be borne in mind that the con-
test in the Joint Assembly has been a pre-
limirary one, preliminary to the final
trial, and adiudicatiye of the issue between
Judge Fleming snd General COT. On the
part of the Democrats, it was a battle ii or
der TO place their contest even. For the form
ofour laws ia such as to make It impossi-
bic to oust g Governor once installed in
his seat. The contest could not be begun
before March 4. 1t was necessary then, II
Ju5ga Flemiag's claim was to have fair
and impartial trial, that General GOff
should TO. assume Office on March 4.
A REASONABLE DEMAND.
For this purpose the Democratic made
the reasonable demand that the result
shown on the face Of the fraudulent re-
turns should not be declared, snd The re-
Turns themsflvel should not be published.
This was their contest. Against this
the Republican leaders fought AID in order
+ to defeat it resorted TO the revolutionary
extreme Of Withdrawing from the joint
assembly and attempting to block its
work.
A CONVINCING PROOF.
This action is the mcst convincing proof
that they fear the result Of a searching in
ves.igat:ou into the crimes committed. 1t
shows that there is no resort within their
reach which they will not use in order, II
possible. to prevent the investigation.
Gen. Go6 seeks seat stained with
fraud. and in order to obtain it his friends
openly violated the Constitution and im-
peached the highest tribunal known to
the laws of the State.
THEIR DESPERATE PURPOSE.
The so-cllled protest introduced in the
assembly was bat another indication Of
their desperate purpose to gain a political
advantage in the work that was being
done. Not one member on the Republican
side could be found with the brszenness to
defend The wording of the diatribe. Not
one member was willing to own it's author
ship, and yet the Republicans insisted to a
man on its passage and on its insertion in
the Journal Of the assembly.
REvoLUTIONIsTs.
These facts in themselves are sufficient
to give the lie to every claim and every
charge made by Republicans in the as
sembly. They charged fraud, and they
defended fraud. They charged reyolu-
tion, snd they have made themselves
revolutionists. Nothing more remains to
be done now that q fair and impartial
trial is assured, than for Gen. Goff to re-
tire from the contest, and then confess
that his claim to the Governors chair is
based on corruption, and can only be
maintained by smOthering the will of the
people
A DAY OF DISGRACE.
The Republicans Act Like School Children
-ThaY Prasont An InsnltInr aProtes 81. :,