Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-28

able NOr the Dhu HNaNH OF NMN LANAA scr
vice and the Force BIN Was Its Natural
OutgrOwth.
The following article from the pen Of
Hon. William l.. Wilson. Of West Vir-
g.7ia, under the title "A Campaign for
Principle, appears in the April num-
Der Of The Forum:
The weakness Of the Democratic party
sttle close Of the Civil War compelled
20 rely for a return 70 popular favor
more upOn the misdeeds and demerits
of its opponents than upon positive
merits Of its own. Anxious 70 draw re-
cruits to It's wasted ranks, it naturally
had recourse, both in its platforms and
,n It's campaigns, TO vigorous arraign-
meuts Of the party in power rather than
90 clear and explicit statements of its
purposes and principles. Yet IL would
be- unfair 70 charge 10 with any conceal
mpnt Of its temper aud attitude as 70
the chief controversies of the day. IL
was, as il ever had been, national par
tv. and exerted itself az all times tO-as-
suage the spirit of sectiOnalism. IL was,
a, ever, a States rights party, and did
all that 10 could 10 revive the dropping
cause Of local self-government and tore
sist the centripetal forces let loose by
OF the burdens Of the people, and
fought against extravaganza in pub
lc expenditure. These were great and
timely services, and they were wisely
aud we'll rendered by the party under
the lead OF Hendricks, Thurman and
Bayard. But any party condemned TO
remain long In opposition, II II does not
actually dissolve, loses something Of
the boldness and initiative that belong
% and are developed by responsibility
and action. 1t is too apt to content it
self with cenSure and criticism, 20 be-
come lax, il not ambiguous, in its own
expressions Of faith. welcoming TO its
ranks all who are willing TO cooperate
10 war upon the party in power, with
out requiring from them the acceptance
OF any difnlte principles.
NO AMBIGUOUS PLATFORM.
The Whig party, in its day, developed
immense enthusiasm among its follow
ers, and had a great and superb array
of leaders; but the battles 10 won were
fought upon ambiguous platforms, with
ambiguous leaders on whose military
prestige IL depended for popular
strength. Once only in its history did
70 venture into q presidential campaign
with o genuine Whig candidate upon a
genuine Whig platform, and then IL
lost. But what was both prudence and
necessity in the first contest after the
war ceased 20 be such when voters be-
gan 90 manifest WEAKNESS Of the Re-
publican party and willingness 10
abandon its ranks il they could know
with certainty where such abandon
meut would take them. As the first
principles OF the Democratic party 1X
It's position on an fundamental questions,
., was more habitual strategy, born OF
long exclusion from power, than any
necessary uncertainty that held 10 back
from taking the unmistaSable position
0n the tariff question which was no less
sound policy for itself than frank deal
INK with the people.
But the rank and file were ready for
the word Of command; and when the
word came from President Cleveland in
December, 1857, they marched forth
with great enthusiasm for a great cause,
and with something OF the aflifmatiEe
aud aggressive purpose that had so often
led the party to triumph in past
generations. The first battle was
lost as much through the
lingering vitalily Of the sec
'ioual issue as through the perfect com
o'cation OF the protected industries.
But deeply as they felt the defeat OF an
administration whose vigor, honesty
aud hdelity to Democratic principles
vel. deserved approval from the peO pie,
The Democratic hosts lost neither faith
nor earneStneSS I'm their cause, aud went
out of power with the buOyant comb
oeuce that in its name they would
Speedily win again permanent control
OF the Federal government. Every
where they kept the tariff issue 20 the
irout, defined their position more boldly
aud clearly upon il, made IL a theme OF
constant debate on the hustingS, in the
press, at the SchOOl-hOuSe, the post
once, aud the village store, until eco
homie discussions got ''intO the air,
aud the SCREENINGS OF the bloody shirt
orator fell upon unheediDg and unSym-
pathetic ears.
SUCCEEDING VICTORIES.
The first fruits OF this policy were
Sathered in the state elections Of 1889.
Iowa swung over into the Democratic
column; Ohio chose a Democratic Gov
eroor; Massachusetts, was lost by mere
scratch; and New York, which had so
sHevouSly disappointed the Democratic
hopes Ia lSSS, came back with malori-
"es ranging from ten to twenty thou
ana on her State officers. These and
o.ler victories clearly showed that, In
9-. 9-lltion 10 local causes operating in the
inherent States and communities, there
"as one general and steady force work
N. everywhere for Democratic success.
=, Ine Fifty-frst Congress, by partisan
tQlD ard