The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-19

We have passed through a season OF
%pageautry. The autumnal skies have
been gracious to our festivals and The
people haze had an amiable, innocent
time Of pomp. Four hundred years
since Columbus revealed the existence
OF America to mankind. And in return
we give mankind a confederation Of ma
tions stretching almost from pole to
pole. To have given New York, Phiia'
delphia, Chicago and Rio Janeiro was
much, even to q world which had known
Nineveh and Babylon. But we have
contributed what is more to be priced,
amoral and political sentiment which,
never SO potent as now, will be potent
to the end Of time.
There was much that was ilattering
in this week OF Columbian festivity.
The lesson would be i'll taught il soon
forgotten, or imperfectly applied. What
we learned above all wa belief in u
selves and in the moral forces which
have made tho American Republic tho
rarest Of the gifts oil Columbus to civil
cation.
We have been told in eloquenco and
song, in burning words from many
pens, OF peace and prosperity to the
Republic OF what Columbus would say
if he were to return. A union which
had resisted war, stronger oven because
OF the throb and tension OF war; an IN
ternational policy OF peace based upon
respect for American rights and SOY.
ereignty a financial system which had
made the American dollar the symbol
of commercial integrity in every money
market OF the world; an administration
which had won loyalty and confidence
at home, respect and confidence
abroad. And as Columbus studied the
splendid outlook he could only see that
these fulfllments were the develop.
ment OF Republican policy-the fruits
Of Republican rule.
THE ORA
If so wise q man were to be asked his
impressions, the answer would be, that
those who in the political conduct of af-
fairs had done so well should be contin.
ued in the work OF we'll doing.
This We take as the lesson OF the
week.
Republicans in their campaign dis.
cushions. Preparing, as they are now,
to approach the poll and record the
august mandate OF national destiny,
may truly claim a commanding share
in that American development which
alone more than anything else gives
value and brilllancy to these festivals.
And while dwelling with gratitude
upon this it would not be hard to real
ize what Columbus might have seen
had the republic oil 1892 been the ex-
preston OF Democratic and not Repub-
lican administration.
Let us suppose the baleful policy OF
the forties when Democracy was in
power and flushed with the truculent
a~scendency OF jackson. There would
have been the Interior consequences of
that annexation fever which brought
the ever to be regretted war with Mex
leo. The necessities OF slavery would
have compelled the annexation OF Cuba,
as contemplated by Buchananan and
other diplomatists in the 0stend mani
festo.
The "rights of the south to the terri
tories would have covered the com-
monwealth beyond the Mississippi
with the blight OF slavery, and the re.
sources OF n great government would
have been degraded TO the enforcement
OF DEGREES like the Fugitive Slave law.
Our finances would have been in
spired BY the Jacksonian principles,
which, warning upon time honored,
necessary and accepted financial insti-
tutions, precipitated the panic OF 1887.
We should have as money what re-
presented the capacity OF state printing
presses, and. under the ominous name
OF 'shinplaster," reduced American
credit to the level OF Turkey or Spain.
The wildcat would have taken the place
OF the eagle as the legend on the Ameri-
can dollar, and our securities would be
about holding their with those Of
the Argentine republic.
TRUcELERs INSTEAD OF LEADERS.
Instead OF a federation OF resolute,
seli-respecting republics, governed by
men proud of their descent from the
Lees, tho Pinckneys, the Harrisons of
Old Virginia and the Carolinas, with
capacity to rule and defend their
homes and make their own communal
laws, what else would Columbus see?
A few panic stricken old maids in Ar
kansas and the swamps OF the extreme
Floridas under the leadership of
Colonel Howells, Of Atlanta, on their
knees in terror lest the reelection OF a
President who has been the patient,
kind and magnanimous friend OF tho
South would result in compelling white
women TO marry negroes. For OF course
the ~perceptive Columbus would ask the
meaning OF the howls over the "force
bill" and what more could be said in
explanation? 1t would not be q pleas
ant spectacle, VIC fear, for the intrepid
navigator, and we should not venture
to anticipate his comments upon a
course OF political action SO foolish and
cowardly. But what could he say? II,
in their desperation, d%emaSogues will
develop such politics as this force bill
rubbish and the calumnies and heart
b%urnings involved in its discussions,
wc cannot escape tho odium. We can
we'll understand the contempt OF tho
Grim Italian who believed in God, and
knew that hia divine providence would
centure, even in political controversy,
~chicanery aud deception.
MAINTAIN NATIONAL PRINCIPLES.
The political lesson OF the Columbian
festivals is that we must as a people re.
member the men who made us a ma
ton, and the principles which governed
their political action. What was this
Aiacavnrv Of Amnricn. This trinmnh nf