Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-01-24
A NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITY.

for the Senatorship as mere empty
compliment, to be fttingly bestowed
upon thepresent incumbent, the Dem
ocrats in the Legislature have weakly
let slip an opportunity of almost in
calculable Importance to the future of
our party.
In addition to the apathy which af-
fected Democrats all over the country
in the late campaign, the party in this
State was torn by the dissensions in
spired by rival candidates for the Sen
atorship, These, of course, made it
the easier prey to the arts, fair or un-
fair, of the Republicans, and left it
hopeless minority in the Legislature.
The Republicans have chosen as
their leader man who is not only a
thorough-going partisan, but an astute
and far-seeing politician as well. He
had already shown himself ardently
DESTROYS of the success of his party
and willing to use the most available
means to compass it; and he is now
proving his appreciation of the fact
that. I'm order to retain power, his par
ty must move very slowly in the di-
rection of partisan legislation and dis
turbance of the present condition of
things. His constituents have shown
a laudable disposition to defer to his
advice, or to bend submissive to his
will, in these particulars. And the
Republican regime in West Virginia
has all the strength that comes from
the control of single master-mind,
1t was but natural that the Demo-
Gratis should for time appear COM
pletely demoralized by their over
whelming defeat But they have al
ready begun to realize that their only
hope lies in reunited party and in
honest and competent guidance. Here
arose the great opportunity Of the
Democratic caucus in the Legislature.
They were met together to consider
of their choice for an Office whose in
cumbent necessarily exercises pow
erful influence in State politics. They
were the accredited representatives Of
the party in this State. Their duty
in the premises was two fold, looking
to the 1e-establishment of harmony on
the one hand, and of competent lead
ership on the other. By ignoring en-
tirely the leaders of the several fac
tons and their more violent partisans,
they could do more towards restoring
harmony in the party than could be
accomplished by any other agency,
They should not only have sought out
man who was not identified with
either faction, but such a man who
combined in the highest degree the
elements necessary in party leader;
for without such leader we can make
no Roadway against the admirable
organization Of the Republicans. Their
action in giving him the nomination
would not, of course, have made him
at once the actual and recognized head
of the party. But it would have fur
nished him with the best possible Gre
dentials for that position; would have
fixed upon him the attention of the
party throughout the State; and would
not only have furnished the best o.
portunity to weigh his fitness for the
post, but would have inspired in him
the development Of the essential quail
tiles in the highest degree.
This opportunity and these duties
they either failed to recognize, or else
weakly passed by, The action which
they did take might prove to be abso-
lutely void Ct political significance il
We could know the inmost working of
their minds. In the absence of such
knowledge, it appears to serve notice
on all men that we are still a prey to
the dissenslons from which we have
already suffered so grievously.
The first critical moment in the re-
union and reorganization of our party
has been allowed to pass unimproved.
The healing of our wounds and the
restoration of harmony must now be
left to the slow effects of time and pub
lie opinion. We can only conjecture
how much precious time has been lost
through the craftsmanship which
could see in the action of the caucus
only an empty compliment, when cir
cumstances imperatively demanded
that it should be stern call to duty
and commission to lead mighty
host to battle and to ultimate victory.