The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-02-12

this occasion.
Il y nder republican form of gov
ernment, sueli rs ours, where all the.
powers reside with the people, who
through the ballot choose their own
pubic servants, and thus dictate
public policy and direct and control
Their own governmental affairs. all
must recognize the supreme import
ance OF free, honest and unpurchas-
ed selections, and the danger to our
poiiticai institutions from crimes
agaipst the suffrage. ~
Isolated cases of illegal and inn
proper voting may occur, despite
the greatest care and watchfulness.
But these occasional crimes
against honest elections do not SCI
rloiisly effect, and cannot really en-
danger our political system. 1T is
organized fraud, in systematized ef-
J forts by political organizations in
closeand pivotal States, aud through
out the nation, to cai-ry elections by
fraud and purchase, that positive
peril and eminent danger tosour
form of government exists. The
tendency to adopt the methods OF
the 9uays and SDudleys for the
achievement ot party victory, is a
menace to free institutions and free
government that challenges the
thoughtful attention and serious
consideration of patriotic ciSEensi
OF all parties. ~ 8f.f ssff ~
The property and personal liber-
ty of the citizens should be project
ed and held sacred in the eyes of
the law and of the people, but it is
vastly more important, looking To
the broader consequences, that the
power of his vote aud its FREQ cxz
ercise, should be safely guarded and
kept inviolate.
This constitutes the basil strhct-.
ure of our government, and upon
it rests our entire political system
as designed and fashioned by the
fathers OF. the Republic. Without a
free ballot we cannot have a free
government; without an honest bal
lot We cannot have. an honest gov
1 eminent. We may us we'll expect
wholesome, perfect fruit from a
tlinted seed or defective, germ as
| good and honest government from.
unfair, corrupt elections
/ Having these cardinal principles
in mind, considering the cloud that
hung over our state elections, CON
sidcEing the charges of illegal
voting and general corruption, pre-
terred by the people and the press
of the State, and now in the light
OF what has been clearly proven,
considering also the finding of the
Joint Committee, and the final ac-
ton of the Joint Assembly, let all
the people say whether or not the
contest was honestly or wisely un-
dertakep; whether. or not this sue
ccssful resistance to an assault on the
purity of the ballot in West Virgin
ia, was not an Imperative duty en-
Joined by true regard for the
rights ofythe people; whether. or
not l, rightfnlly, and rs choice OF
the majority of the electors of this
| State, stand here about to assume
the duties of the Office of Governor.
The parties who conceived, plan
ned and executed, SO far us they
were able, the scheme of fraudulent
voting in certain counties, that so
nearly achieved success, may to
discrcdit the character of the tri-
hunal that has righted the wrong
they attempted upon the people,
endeavor to ease their consciences
by clamorous charges of political
burglary and theft; and through
their newspaper organs seek to di-
vert the attention of their own
party followers. from. the crimes
proven against them, by the testi-
inony taken and flied. But this
testimony remains. 1t will stand
against them as long as the records
of this contest shall be preserved,
and upon it | confidently ask the
Judgment of the people of West
Virginia, as / sought and obtained
that OF the highest tribunal, to
which, under the Constitution and
laws of the State, / could appeal,
What we have endured and ex-
pended in this contest counts for
nausht in comnarison with the pre
servation of the political rights of
the people through an uncorrupted
ballot. -
l :