Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-01-11
For senator.

United States had almost expired and he
was a candidate for reelection, we were OF
those who deprecated the bitter and, as we
thought and still think, unjust and uncall-
editor opposition to him from members of
bis own party, and desired his success-be-
cause Of his efficiency as a Senator, his sc-
tivity in promoting the development and
material prosperity of the State, and his
services to his party, and especially because
the election of Democratic Legislature was
due, in no small degree, to his efforts, and
from party standpoint he seemed to de-
serve a second term. We offer no apology
for our course at that time and have no re-
greet for our support ofsuch worthy citizen
and loyal Democrat.
The situation at this time is in many re-
poets a repetition Of that of six years ago,
another central figure taking the place then
held by Mr.. Camden If the party then
owed a reelection to the senior Senator, it
is under no less obligation now to return
Charles J. Faulkner to his seat in the SEN
ate. If Mr. Camden's energy and skill in
organizing the Democracy Of the State was
an important factor in then maintaining
Democratic ascendancy, surely Mr. Faux
ner's admirable supervision of the campaign
of '92 contributed no less to the victory that
followed. If Mr.. Camden gave literally of
his wealth then, as he has at other times,
toward the necessary expenses of the party,
Mr.. Faulkner devoted his brains, his talent
for political warfare, all his strength, all
the time remaining from his senatorial du-
ties. to holding West Virginia against the
Vaccinations of Elkins and the federal adj
ministration in 30 and 90. He stumped
the State, speaking with great power in al
most every county; he has given personal
attention to the perfecting Of the Organiza-
ton in every part. We do not hold that
any man may demand political preferment
as his right; but if a Senatorship may
rightly be used in payment of a party debt,
certainly the leader has paramount claim
ON whom the Democracy Of the State relied
in an hour of real peril, and to whom is due,
as far as it can be to any one man, the cred
it for the splendid triumph Of last NOyem'
Der.
On higher ground, the Senator may rea'
sonably expect to be continued in Office
His position among Senators is one of prom
iuence, and his services have been cOnspic-
uous. The local interests of his constitu-
ents have been cared for diligently; his at
titude upon matters of national importance
has been that of q statesman not only, but
of strict Democrat; and he has acquired
an influence among his associates and de-
veloped a facility in debate that fairly en-
title him to be styled a leader In the man
/ agement Of the brilliant resistance of Dem
/ ocratic Senators to that mOnstrous product
Of sectional malignity and unPrincipled
partisanship, the Force Bill, he was second
only 10 the astute German. His genius fol
/ leadership was exercised to the preserva-
ton of the civil liberties Of the people, and
from every quarter of the country his splen.
did services have been acknowledged. I'm
til now, no Senator who was conspicuous
in that struggle has met with a shadow OF
opposition for reelection; in Germans
case, the autagonisms of years were laid a
side in recognition of his defence of the
right of sefgovernment, and Others have
been or are about to be returned by the
unanimous consent of the Democrats OF
their respective States. Shall West Vir-
siuiaus be unique in ingratitude?
Since Mr.. Camden last Spring formally
and, as it was then understood, finally de-
cined to enter the race, Senator Faulkner
hrs been regarded as the only candidate for
the Senatorial succession. With this un-
Outstanding he recei7ed the cordial endorse
ment of the State convention az Parkers-
burg with this understanding candidates
for the legislature were nominated and
elected. If other asp,rants had announced
themselves before the primary conventions
were held, there would have been opportu-
nifty TO choose between them and nominate
aud instruct legislative candidates accord
ingly as it is, the election of Faulkner as
his own successor is as certainly expected
by the Democrats of the State as if he had
been formally nominated by them.
s
The presidential electors chosen on the
eighth day Of November last met Monday
in the capitals Of their respective States and
voted for President and Vice-President of
the United States. 4 majority of the votes
cas-, for President were received by Grover