Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-07


SIR: To achieve success in this State,
Democrats should understand that the
most important thing is, that the party
should hare tie courage Of is cORuic-
tiOHS on dU questions at issue. and eS-
pCcidiy ne question Of Tdrif Reform.
To temporiSe or make any compromise
on this question by cOnceding the right
10 levy tariff. or any other tax, for the
purpose OF protection to even the small
est extent, is to surrender the whole
question at issue on that point The
principle once admitted, it is then only
Ia question of eXpcdiency rs TO
the amount or degree of protection
that shall be provided or afforded to
those demanding it. 1t is against the
political heresy of the right to levy Il
tax for other purposes than rcreltUc, or
for public purpose, that the Democracy
must war. IL can afford to be aggres-
Sive on this as well as other issues be-
tween it and its adversary; but ii cannot
afford TO act with assimilation, or TO
speak with double tongue on the queS-
tions that are TO be the subjects for dis
cusSion i'm the approaching campaign.
10 will not do in politics any more
than i'm the ordinary business OF
life To- substitute trickery, deceit
aud hypocrisy for manly Straightfor-
wardneSs and honesty. The StrdddtWg
and crpcdicllcu policy in dealing with
grave political questions which concern
the highest interests OF the people, as
well as the preservation OF good govern
ment, will sooner or later bring defeat
and ruin TO the political party that
adopts such methods. Victories won by
the surrender Of principles are generally
short lived, and serve only as monu-
mentS TO mark the folly or the base dis
honesty and cOwardice Of political
trickStcrs.
The abandonment of principle by a
political party implies the surrender ~
It's iutcUiiH and creates diStruSt in the
public mind as 10 its fitness and
capacity to administer wisely and safely
the affairs of government. These are
no new truths, and need only be stated
20 arrest the thoughtful consideration
OF those who sincerely desire the sue
cess of the Democratic party. Ii claims
to be a party fighting for principles, and
not for men. II our principles are right
and we are fully persuaded in our OWL
minds OF their correctness, we should
not fear 20 avow them bOldly and trust
% the cand0r and intelligence of the
people TO approve and sustain them
But IL we feel that the doctrines We
hold are OF such doubtful Soundnes'
that We dare not publicly avow them
OF that we must resort TO the legerde'
main OF Straddling and double-dealing tC
con zeal them, then We are party OF
deceiverS aud hypocrites and do not de-
serve success Evasion, eXpediencI
and cowardicc will land MS in the bog
and Quagmire OF defeat.
DantOn. on one occasion. was asked
by friend what was the first requisite
To success? He replied: Honesty.
And the second? He answered
"BoldneSS." And the third?' asked
his friend: TO which he again replied
'.BoldneSS. And so in politics, if We
would win and win permanently, VT
must honestly avOw and adhere TO prit
cipleS. and with courageous boldneS'
battle FOR them, inspired by the conyic
ton that we are right, and everlasting
~ right.
Plato. Aristotle, and indeed all wiS'
men have held that the wiSeSt, best ano
most valiant men should be placed il
the offices where wisdom, virtue an'
valor are requisite. II common SenS'
did not teach MS this, we might learn il
from history, both sacred and profaue
When the IsracliteS were oppressed by
the MidiauiteS. PhiliStineS and Ammon
ties. they looked TO and expected hell
from the most wise and valiant.
When Hannibal was AT the gates OF
Rome and had filled Italy with fire AND
blood. or when the GaulS overwhelmed
that country with their multitudeS anC
fury. the senate and people OF Rom,
put themselves under the conduct o.
| Camilus. ManlinS. FabiuS, Scipio anC
the like: and. when they failed to choose
such as were fit for the work TO be done
they received such defeats as convinced
them Of their error,
What We need is honest, fearless. az
gressiye and capable candidates
with strong and earnest con
victions on the grave and serious
issues before the country, whose char
acters are guaranty that if elected
they will honestly and faithfully dis
charge the duties OF the Office to which
they are elected. and will be- true 20 the
trust committed TO them. With such Il
lead the hosts of Democracy against th'
formidable power of monopoly there Il
no reason to apprehend defeat.
IT, however, machine methods pre-
vail. aad the success OF the candidate
rather than the success of principle i
the object sought after, then victor!
would De defeat. ARAroR'