The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-04-23

the exact term useu IN Tue artlcle. Az
tention 10 called 10 tho fact that Fifteen
years ago the Democrats had q majority
Of nearly 5000; by lack Of organization
this majority has been frittered away
10 u ANAL majority. Instead OF being
managed In the interest Of party success
the party has Tor years been managed IN
the interest Ct certain individuals"
The latter assertion Is significant when
1t Is remembered that Mr.. sprigg (who
Is presumed to DO tho author OF the
letter. Is identified with the anti. Cam.
den wing Of the party. lie goes on to
say that ho sees nothing but over.
whelming defeat awaiting tho party II
the management Is not changed, and
continues with the following heart.
reuding statement, which Chairman
Riley will probably resent:
With these facts boldly staring US In the face,
tho rank and ille Of the purIy cannot under.
sand why on. Executive COMMITTEES does not nj
IelA[ AuUW u ulspuslklUu W uIkuulRG tlbIUukIly
the party iu all The counties In the State. The
people have been patiently waiting for s0me
move IN this direction on the part Of tho com'
mlttee, but they walt In valn. " " II the
Executive Committee will not move In the mat
ter the rank and ilc OF the party ought 10 take
tho matter In hand and have the party thor
oushly and fully organized aIt over the htatc
This Ii our only hope. NC have 4 majority u
the people OF West Virginia with us. aud we eau
increase that majority by, proper organization
and education OF the people.
This vigorous "kick" against the party
management is more than significant.
1t is not the first that has been made,
and will probably not DO the last. The
frank" Of the party, represented by Col.
James B. fancy, has already taken the
matter in hand" rs was noted in the
IsrELLlaEScER Of Monday, and has set
to work to "agitate" a new order OF
things. The faction which hes controlled
the party machinery for several years
will hardly submit to being deposed in
this summary manner by the Crank"
and will hold on like grim death to the
'dle," which Gems to be completely in
its power.
The writer Of the article, whom we
still presume 10 be Gen. Sprigg, in
accounting for the present demoraliza.
ton Of the Democratic party aud the
steady decrease Of the majority since it
reached the high-water mark, is mis-
taken when he claims that 1t is all owing
to a poor organization and bad manage.
ment. 1t is well enough to use this
argument among Democrats for the pur-
pose Of recruiting the rebellion against
the dominant faction, but our friend
knows as we'll as anyone that the present
condition arises from the fact that there
has been a steady growth Of Republican
sentiment in the State. The last cam.
paign demonstrated that Republican
principles do not suffer in West Vir-
ginia by a full and free discussion Of
issues. There have been few campaigns
in which the issues involved were more
freely discussed.
The Democracy brought among our
people their most powerful debaters and
their greatest national leaders, but the
effect OF their demagogic appeals was
only seen in a still further reduction Of
the Democratic majority for the National
ticket, and in two Congressional dis
tticts and on the vote for Governor, it
vas completely wiped out. 1t was not
inferior organization that did it, but it
was the disgust the people had for the
Democratic party. It was not because
Of superior organization on the part Of
the Republicans alone, but it was be.
cause they had the peoples side OF the
question.
The people had eyes to see and minds
to understand. They looked about
them and saw their wilderness being
transformed into a prosperous common
wealth; they saw the riches that had
been hidden in the hills being devel-
oped, and the valleys blazing with
furnace fires they heard the Woodlands
axe and the locomotives whistle; they
saw capital being poured into the State
from every side, and they knew it was
the beginning Of an era Of progress that
is TO bless US i. the future, and that all
of this was possible under the Republi.
can policy OF protection to American in.
dustry. Surrounded by these evidences,
they did not intend to give up that pol
Icy for the %fanciful theories Of free ira.
ders. The farmer saw in the develop.
ment OF the State and its increase in
population the creation OF a market for
his products; the miner and the iron.
worker saw future employment, and
every class Of tradesmen saw thrt in the
continuance of protection to West Vir.
gipia products lay their future pros.
Arguments and theories regarding the
downfall Of Democracy in this State, as
advanced by despairing politicians, will
be comforting only to those who love
their party better than their State. But
the truth about the situation cannot be
disguised.
The sensational letter from the Moore.
field statesman, following on the heels
Of Colonel Taney's walls and touching
plea for organization, and Chairman
attempt to inspire hope in the