Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-09
Is West Virelnia a Pivotal sad?

is west virginia "a GlNCtdi cldlc
One of our exchanges SAYS that the six
votes of West Virginia are worth looking
after No doubt this statemant is true in
The sense in which 1t was intended to be
understood. Yet coming from Demo
crat, it does injustice to West Virginia in
that il implies that that gallant home of
"freemen is in danger of falling into the
hands of tho enemy Yes, the six votes Of
West Virginia are worth looking after"
If Mr.. BLAINE had not declined to be the
nominee Of the next Republican National
Convention we should feel that there was
much 10 be done in that little State
by the Democrats Of the whole Union, or,
rather, for the Democrats Of the whole
Tmon-that is to say, for the Democratic
party-the party of the people and the
hope of tho country.
STEVE. EIKISs IS now a West Virginia Re-
publican politician, but has, nevertheless,
great popularity among the Democrats OF
the state. HE'S devilish sly" too, and can
make bis infut nee felt in way that IS
dark" and by tricks" that are not
always vain" lie has large pecuniary
interests there. In q word, everything
but his politics and his party associations
recommends him to the favor OF the peo-
pie of the Vermont OF the South.
But Mr.. BLAINE Is no longer a possible
nominee OF the next Republican National
Convention. and as Mr.. ELuSs's POPULAR
ty in West Virginia does not cause any
body there TO look upon hum as q presi-
Dental candidate. so his utmost efforts
there in behalf of HARRISON would leave
the Indiana statesman far IN the rear OF
The nominee Of the Democratic conyen-
tion.
When the Democrats of West Virginia
learn that the Republicans consider the
Elk votes of their State worth looking
after" they will know what duty demands
OF their hands and govern themselves ac-
cordingly. The Republican party ought
not TO be half as strong as it Is III that
State. We have styled that little Com
monwealth "the Vermont of the South"
but we beg pardon of all good West Viz
ginians for thus using that phrase. Yer
mont is a State which. 50 30 speak, does not
yet know that the war between tho States
had ended. On the other hand. West IT.
ginia blood was shed freely upon both
aides in the war. and she long ago buried
the animosities of war and took her place
side by side with her mother in the Demo-
cratic ranks. There Is never theess a
strong and respectable Republican party
In West Virginia; but it ought 20 be neither
strong nor respectable. sounnatural seems
an alliance between southern men and
northern Republicans.
However, all the lesson which we set
out TO inculcate Is that if West Nirginia's
ak votes are worth looking after" they
ought 10 be looked after" by the Demo.
Gratis of that State. Yes; the outcome of
all the Republican boasts Will be larger
Democratic majority than usual.
The same paper says that West Virginia
may become "the pivotal State" We
would that we had the power 10 make her
"the pivotal State" We would not be at
ali afraid 10 place her staunch and stead
fast Democracy in that responsible and
all-important position. In that case her
Six votes would be looked after" with
the most intense interest by the leaders
and all the voters of both parties. Her
Democrats must work as If that We're the
actual condition OF things. Indeed. that
will necessarily be in some respects the
true state Of the case.