The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-14

N'S"iHk iStte'b Wiitteu Dy eN-
Secretary Of State Stalnaker, to u
brother Democrat in Logan county, who
had written to him for his views on the
political alIuation, will likely produce
something OF q sensation In ccr.ain
circles. The letter, the original of
which tho INrElLlaEscER has In It's
possession, was received by Mr.. Jack
ONeal, of Thackcr, a leading Democrat
who holds pretty much the Same views
as those expressed 80 iorcibly by Mr..
stalnakor, and as they arc the views OF
q great many other Democrats who are
neither as frank as Mr.. s~talnaker, nor
gifted with his picturesque style OF ex.
, preston, they arc herewith reproduced
for tho benefit OF an interested public:
WHEELING, w. VA, April 20, 1904.
To JACK 0'Hedl, Thicker. W Va
DEAR sIR:-Yours OF tho 18th inst.
received. 1 hardly know how to answer
your various enquiries as to the politi.
cal outlook, except from my own
standpoint, which, according to the
modern idea Of Democracy, Is not now
regarded as entirely orthodox. I
haven't the faculty OF executing such
wonderful "presto changes" us many
Others. For instance, when l first
know anything about Democratic prIn-
ciples 1t was not safe 10 aRy, especially
in this section. that you were not a pro-
tectionist; in fact, as gooda ono as any
Republican dare be, and no speaker
except OF the Randall type would
be allowed to make q speech
here, 80 intense was tho feeling
against any doctrine or person
even remotely suspected Of not being
sound on tho tariff. and now. 10, and be.
hold, the reverse OF this is regarded as
tho test of true Democracy.
AS ] said before, lam no prestidigita-
teur or acrobat and don't know how to
make these summersaults without danger
to my person; in attempting II, I might
light on the wrong end, and not on my
feet What We want here is for our
mills to run, thereby giving employ
mentto thousands OF working men-and
putting hundreds and thousands OF dol
lars into circulation. With our indus
tries here closed, our plants would be
about as useful and ornamental as q
eunuch OF 0 camp meeting. grass would
soon be growing in our streets, our
thriving little city would become al.
most d~epopulated for, wlshou. our fac
tories, we arc nothing.
As this Is my home I don't
want to SOC such q state
OF affairs. 1 au for my own peo-
Pile first, and II there Is anything LETT
after VIC got what we want l am willing
to give it TO the balance OF the people
OF the United States. This may not be
modern Democracy, but 1t ia my un-
altcrable conviction nevertheless. The
truth Ia there Is not a political harlot
with whom the Democrats have not
tried to go to bed.' They seem to have
creased themselves and slid oil tho
platform, "body, soul and breeches"
down tho throats Of the Populists. Just
imagine, ii you please, the Democratic
party inside Of old Populist PETER. l,
for one, enter my protest and don't pro-
pose beingswallowed. ItIam to BIO taken
in | insist upon selecting my own
whale.
Tho outlook, therefore, for the Demo.
ctacy, in my judgment, is gloomy. With
work the legislature con be kept
Democratlc-which I hope-aa I am
especially desirous Of eeeing Senator
Camden returned. He has done moro
for the stale than all tho politicians
put together, and 1t should be our
pride, lrrespec tive Of politics, to keep
him there.
You ask me In regard to the letter I
wrote during the last campaign about
not allowing tho colonlzed darkies to
vote. I would not allow 1t now. I had
reason then to believe that any attempt
to vote them would DO met with danger
and bloodshed to themselves, hence my
rea,on for advising tho taking of them
out peaceably on excursions. for had l
known, then, and II l know. hereafter, OF
any attempt to hurt theae people, |
would unhesitatingly aid In tho prose-
cution OF any such person or persons.
1.was raised among them they woremy
playmates when q boy; and l have q ain
core affection for them, and l would
not SEQ them come to any harm.
No shotgun policy for me. Illegal per-
sons should not be allowed to vote, but
they should nor DO murdered. don't
know that I havo answered your ques-
tons entirely to your satisfaction, but
hope you may derive some comfort
from them. As for myself i have no
political convictions that ! lot Interfere
with my business, or my fidelity to my
friends. Yours, very truly,