The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-07

| missioner OF 4uteFHhl heNeHue JOuu w
Mason, in an interview with the INTEL
LIdEScER representative, talked very
Interestingly about the result OF the
recent election and its causes, and some
vital questions that will come before
the state legislature. What Mr.. Mason
has to say on the so-called "West Vir-
ginia debt question" will prove particu'
larry interesting to all citizens, as he
makes some timely suggestions. Asked
If the magnitude Of the victory did not
surprise him, he said:
"Yes, the elections since the inau.
guration OF President Cleveland, March
4, 1893, have been series OF surprises.
From the day he aud his cuckoo
friends announced the policy OF the ad'
ministration, the people OF every state
| in the union have availed themselves oi
every opportunity to express in the
most positive terms their disapproval oil
this policy. No administration-no
even Andrew Johuson's-was ever so
utterly and unanimously condemned.
Certainly President Cleveland under.
stands by this time that the people OF
this country will have none OF his free
trade theories.
II confess was much surprised at
the vote in West Virginia. / had sup
posed for years that il We could get a
test vote on the question of protection
and anti-protection we should carry the
state by more than 10000 majority for
protection. The late election was a
reasonably fair test. It WAS the only cleo
ton we have had during the last twenty
| FIVE years in West Virginia where Demo
Gratis have pretended to discuss princi-
pies of government They have hereto.
| fore relied exclusively on passion and
prejudice, war measures-'nigger domi-
nation, mixed schools, &c. A few anti.
quated gentlemen discussed the fo'ce'
bill during the late campaign. but they
did 30 to empty seats. No one could
have convinced me year ago that
| 5000 OF our people would vote Tor free
trade. knew how devoted Democrats
we're to their party, and that Us Gistaste-
| full as free trade was to them they
would vote with their party so long as
that policy was concealed under the
name OF tariff reform, tariff for revenue
only, or any other disguise; but when the
| party leaders threw oil the mask and
declared for free trade. pure aud simple,
upon all articles in which West Virginia
| is interested, confess I expected to see
more OF breach in the party. How.
ever, the leaders Of that party. with q
| few notable exceptions, tamely marched
into Grover Clevelaud's free trade
camp. Distinguished Democratic lead
era in West Virginia, who do not be-
| lieye in free trade. who know that free
trade would bankrupt the state and de-
stroy every material interest in it,
made speeches for and did all they
could to elect men who had openly de-
clared their intentions to force free
trade against the interests OF their own
people. These leaders could not carry
the rank and file. They refused to
obey the orders OF the leaders as they
did in 1861.
WHAT TO DO WITH VICTORY.
"Again, / must confess, that after the
past campaign opened, and l saw
so many OF the leaders clinsing to the
party-even using the most desperate
means to elect Democratic congressman
Of pronounced free trade views, l los,
hope aud was very agreeably surprised.
when I found that protection had
carried the state by more than $4,000
| plurality. Il was q splendid victory. II
was an emphatic expression OF the will
| OF the people upon u question OF great
eat moment. The same element which
carried this election can, il wise coun-
sells prevail, control the ofiairs OF tho
state for many years. II should not be
forgotten. that 1t 10 one thing TO win q
victory and quite another to know what
to do with it. General Early surprised
the Federal troops at Cedar Creek In
October, 1854, aud gained q great VIC
tory, but instead OF wisely following up
the retreating foo, he permitted his
soldiers to throw aside their guns and
plunder the enemy's camp. General
Sheridan, twenty-five miles away, hast
ened to the field. turned back his re-
treating soldiers, renewed tho battle
aud changed Early's victory into most
disastrous defeat The victory gained
on the 9th OF November should be fol-
lowed by a wiso and economical eXcr-
else oil power. Let the victorious party
show that 1t has come into power for
the sole purpose Of giving the people
better government"
"Who will be elected senator in the
place Of Mr.. Carnden?"
~ take 1t for granted that Mr.. EIkins
will be. lie seems to be the choice OF
nearly everybody. l do not think he
will have any Republican opposition.
During tho campaign II was gonerally
understood so far as know. that lie was
the only candidate for United States
senator. OF course tho fact that ho was,
or IL oven now, the only candidate is not
suillcient reason for electing him, and
his friends do not put 1t OH that ground.
Few men In the state, II any, are so well
equipped for the position. BY reason oi
his extensive acquaintance with the
public mon Of the country and his Ia.
niliarity with public business, ho will
be OF more servicG to tho state than
perhaps any other man could be.
Then it should always DO borne
in mind that Mr.. Elkins Is
man OF very high order Of ability,
well educated aud cultured. II is n
great mistake to regard him, rs many
do, simply ~ a successful business man.
He possesses in q very rare and kigh
degree the elements which 80 10 make
q useful and popular representative.