The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-08


returns" may be construed in as many
ways as will suit their partisan pur-
pose.
1t matters not that this majority Of
constitutional lawyers" have changed
their position five times since tho debate
in the joint assembly began, and that
each time they have reversed them.
selves and made themselves the laugh.
ing stock Of all the fair-minded lawyers
and citizens Of the State. It matters
not that during this whole farce, when
the Democratic side has distinguished
itself by some extra fine ground and
lofty tumbling, the Republican side has
consistently maintained but one position,
1t matters not that distinguished Demo.
cratic lawyers, and leading Democratic
journals of the country, have taken the
Republican position, and have de.
nounCed the tactics Of their party as
unlawful and reyolutionary-still It is
treason for a Republican to enter his
protest and to say boldly that he will
not submit quietly,
VIII the able constitutional lawyer"
who writes the alleged editorials Of the
Democratic organ give us his opinion Of
Judge Ferguson's opinion2 Judge Fer
guson is tho peer Of any lawyer in the
State, II not in the country, and us such
enjoys a national reputation. He is q
Democrat, He takes the Republican
position that the Democrats have yiOlat-
ed the fundamental law Of the State. Is
he, too, a "domagogue" and "blus'
terer2" Other Democratic leaders and
Democratic lawyers have taken the same
position. There are some, we are i'd
vised, in the Legislature, who have done
so, but their tongues are tied by caucus
obligations, and through false sense Of
honor they imagine themselves pre-
vented from voting their honest senti-
ments.
Judge Ferguson and other distinguish
ed Democrats have warned their party
that 1t is digging its grave by pursuing
It's present tactics, Are they revolution
lists?
1t is amusing to sec the Democratic
organ each day declare that the econ.
test is being carried on properly and ac-
cording to a strict construction Of the
constitution" What in the Democratic
mind constitutes ''Sirict constructions"
is 1t an adherence to the letter and the
spirit, or is 1t the adoption Of a wide
latitude which permits them to attach to
words meanings that would make Noah
Webster wonder II, after all, his llfe's
work was q iailure2 Does n strict con-
structionist change his views rs to the
meaning Of the constitution five times
within three days2 Is a party strictly
constituting the constitution when 1t de-
clares one day that the constitution de-
mands OF 1t to do a certain thing, and
the next day VOWS that just the opposite
thing is right2
Frankly, are not the Democratic "con-
structionists" more properly, "destruC.
tionists'') at Charleston making them
selves ridiculous before the eyes Of the
world, and the everlasting laughing
stock OF thegenerations Of lawyers yet to
Gomez And Is not the organ Of party
gaining the unenviable reputation Of u
political contortionist when it has not
the manliness to acknowledge that its
party leaders arc cutting laughablc fig.
ure and attempts to follow them, which
involves the changing Of its views on
a question Of party policy and constitu-
tional law at least once every twenty
four hours2
Seriously speaking, the. INTELLIdENcER
does not believe that General Golf will be
obliged to wade through blood to take
the seat to which tie people have
elected him. II does believe, how
ever, that II thecontest is not decided,
as the law prescribes it shall be decided,
before the 4th Of Mach in Judge Elem.
ine's favor, General Goil, being entitled
to do so, will take the oath OF Office and
serve as Governor until the matter is de-
termined either for or against him, un.
less his friends, who comprise the PEG.
pie who elected him, desire him to do
otherwise. This, as the 1NTELLlGES-
cER'S Charleston dispatches have said, is
a matter for General Golf and his friends
to seriously consider This serious con-
sideration might result in confirming
the present determination Of General
Goli and his friends TO take the seat, as
he would be clearly entitled to do.
While such course would involve
the State in political turmoil, the INTEL
LluENcER has never said 1t believed that
It would cause bloodshed, No one
desires that, and General Gol is the last
man who would in any manner enCour.
age It; nor do we believe Judge Fleming
would countenance II.
The Democratic revolutionists who are
playing their desperate game at Charles
ton would scarcely go to the end ofresort-
ing to armed force to prevent the Repub'
lican GovernOr.cleCt from taking his
seat pending the contest. They know
Us well as anybody that public sentiment
would not sustain them in such course.
They realize fully TINT tho members Of
their own party are not unanimous in
their endorsement OF the policy they
are now pursuing and could scarcely
hope for united support In such an
undertaking. But II they should SO re-
glst, then General Golf would not shrink
from the duty that would DO Ills under
the circumstances.
The INrELLiuRNcER has never, and
~. .,.A .,n,,, ,,l.annkn oV,,li,inU Nhnt