Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-01
MIR. " Z. nihHARD
Full Text of the Letter lie Wrote I" the
New York world" in support OF samuel
7. Tilden and Tariff Reform-"Libel on
VVest virginia"


To ne Editor ofths Uorid'
SIR:-A letter in the New York Times
Of October 10Th. signed "a West Viz
ginia Republican" and dated Grafton
West Va. October 10th, attributes the
recent Democratic victory in the State
to Rebel Claims" The Times attaches
enough Importance to the letter TO make
it the text. or pretext, of homily on
that theme. well worn OF late, but
strangely enough not thought OF when
the claims were presented, nor until the
campaign was a month old.
Its hard to believe the letter was writ
ten in this State. There certainly has
not been enough in West Virginia TO sug-
gest much less to justify the writing OF
such letter. 1t must have been sup
piled to meet a demand in the New YORK
market. The writer says: There is no
more doubt that the great reason why
West Virginia joined the Solid South.
in the late election was on account oil
this scheme of the payment OF South
ern claims than there is that the sun
shines by day or the stars twinkle by
night. 1t is the bottom fact clearly and
perfectly explaining the whole thing
and il is the only fact which can clearly
and perfectly explain the whole thing.
The first remarkable thing is that
no West Virginia Republican news
paper or public man has dis
covered it, and some of them are smart
enough TO have made the discovery, II
they could hope that any one in West
Virginia would believe it. "A West
Virginia Republican" says further that
all the meetings, canvasSing and zen
thusiasm were with the Republicans,
but that they were numerically beaten
at the polls" all because of these rebel
claims. Then we must believe that the
cause which got out such large Demo
cratic vote couldn't get up any Demo
cratic enthusiasm or large meetings,
and perhaps must believe that some OF
the Republican enthusiasts voted the
Democratic ticket. He says the holders
of these claims fought shy OF RepuOll-
can counties, doing their main work IN
counties overwhelmingly Democratic.
His letter is dated at Grafton, in Taylor
county, and the only man he mentions
of his own knowledge as having claim
is located in that county. But Taylor
county gave Republican majority and
a larger Republican gain than any other
in the State
There is a bottom fact TO explain the
Democratic victory. 1t is simply that
of the citizens of this State n large ma
jority are Democrats. Ii always has
been so. In old Wing and Democratic
times the voters in the territory now
composing West Virginia We're Demo-
Gratis, two or three to one. During the
war many of them were absent in the
Confederacy, others refused To recognize
the State of West Virginia so far as to
vote at her elections and many others in
the northern part Of the State identi-
fed themselves with the Union party.
The election at that period, of course,
favored the Republican party, although
IL was some years before the
name Republican was adopted by
the party in this State. After
ward, the Republicans, being in power,
disfranchiSed the COnfedcrateS, and re-
fused Democrats any representation on
the boards who passed upon the qualiii-
cation of voters. In some counties these
boards DISTINGUISHED men who never had
been ConfederateS. In short, as Horace
Greeley then told the Republicans of
this State. they tried to make the pyra-
mid stand on the small end, and they
lamentably failed. But the failure didn't
come until after 1865, and in that year
West Virginia voted for Grant. In 1870
enfranchiSing measures had been initiat-
ed but before their completion the State
went Democratic. In 1872 the Demo-
Gratis being in power, attempted the
adoption of new constitution to get
possession of the Offices. and ring in the
party forced the nomination Of another
person over Governor Jacob, the sue
ceSsful candidate of 1870, because he
was too honest TO suit them. The con-
Stitution, which is one acknowledged
botch, barely got through; but Cover
nor Jacob, running independent was
elected, many Democrats and the Re-
publlcanS voting for him. This failure
of the regular nomination, together
with the inability of the West Virginia
Democrats to swallow Mr.. Greeley'S can
didacy, gave the State to Grant in 1872.
In 1874 it was largely Democratic on
Congressman. There never has been a
day when on a straight party issue the
Democratic majority OF the adult male
citizens Of the State has been any less
than at the last election. 1t is true
that the state under Democratic ad-
miniStratiOn has been corruptly and eN-
travagantly governed Gov Jacob 5
hands having been tied by lcgiSlation.l
For that reason the writer Of this voted
the Republican ticket at the last State
election, as he has al every other. "a
West Virginia Republican says all the
argument was on the side Of the Repub-
leans aud against the Democrats"
Before the last election the Republicans
did what they could to cOniine discus
sion to State affairs. The Democrats
much preferred the discussion on Ma
tional affairs. Thus each party sub
stantially confessed judgement against
its own administration.
How West Virginia Republicans could
have expected victory for themselves
on the grounds of Democratic raScality
in the State, while they were defending
Grant and his friends and their methods
i'm national administration, is cOnun-
drum which they couldn't answer before
the election. and have since given up.
Every sound argument for GOif was and
is an argument for Tilden. Few Dem
ocrats believe these arguments for Golf,
because Republicans were dishonest
enough To say that Democrats should
be turned out of power in the State for
corruption and for abuse of power, but
to deny that Republicans should be
turned out of power in the nation for
like reasons was plainly inconsistent.
Therefore the Republicans failed TO
make any impression on the Democratic
majority. Southern claims had no more
to do with the election than any other
ghost story that is told to brighten,
and everybody I'm West Virginia
knows it. That being so, perhaps it is
unnecessary to add that nobody here is
boaSting of the prospect of any claim.
Possibly the matter is not OF the least
Importance. but the letter referred to is
one of the moves of the campaign Of
false pretenSeS that the Republicans are
carving on. and il seems best to furnish
You the material of denial, to be made
either by the publication OF this letter
or otherwise. as you may deem proper,
The writer of this claims to be at least
an unbiased witness. rs he voted the Re
publican State ticket, voted for Grant in
lS6S. but Greeley in 1872, aud expects
to vote for Tildcn in 1876.
Respectfully yours,
WM. =. HUBBARD.
Whccling. ". "a. oct. 23d, 1876.
DIED.
NOFFAT-On Friday. October 81. 90 St
Lnni.- Mo Mrs L. X. MoFFAr. wife VI the late