The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-30
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THE INTELLIGENCER.
WHEELING, JANUARY so, 1890.
The Real Issue at Charleston.

The Real Issue ut Charleston.
In the comments of the press and the
general discussion OF the events which
have occurred at Charleston recently.
ending in the maintainment by the Re-
publicans of their majority rights. the
real significance attached to the strug-
gle which eliminated in the agreement
which was reached between the major
tiles in the house and the senate. and
stopped the struggle that was exciting
the whole state, and averted crisis
which would have meant so much, has
not been fully realized and apprecia-
ted.
The idea that the sole and only ques-
ton involved was the choice of Il Uni
ted States senator. and the personality
Of the choice Of the majority Is Il mis-
taken one. a far Graver problem was
met and solved. one which had it not
been met firmly and with determination
would have placed this state in stu
atioE before the country that would
have been anything bur cnviab!e. The
issue. aside from the matter of the
senatorship. though the result was the
choice Of Republican senator. as the
people designed 1t should be. was
whether the verdict O. majority Of
the voters should be sustained or not;
whether the majority Won at the polls
should be maintained. or whether that
majority should yield its rights.
1t is possible 10 imagine what might
have occurred had those who were con-
tending for the maintairment OF 4 VIC
tory at the polls weakened. or had the
programme of wholesale unseating of
men whose elections had not baen dis
puted continued. 1t meant not alone
damage to the reputation, OF the state.
an injury to its good name. o set back
of quarter of century inits progress,
but it would have been an unjust re-
Election upon the people of West
Virginia. 1t would have meant great
deal to regret. AS 1t is. the triumph of
the majority, the consummation OF the
effort to avert disastrous consequences,
brought about by the flrmness Of the
stand taken. Is n notice 10 the country
and to the people Of the state that ma
joTity rights must be respected. The
good effects will be far reaching. They
will be felt by Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike. The votes of the people
must be fairly counted and their rights
respected no matter who is to be the
beneficiary, no matter what party is
most concerned.
The lesson learned was one which
will not soon be forgotten. 1t will be in
n measure safeguard for the future,
and good citizens will be thankful that
the crisis was passed without situa-
ton such as came near threatening the
stability of our state government. and
hopeful that in the future no such 4
condition will again arise. In the
meantime all the people know that the
Republican party intends always to
stand by its victories won, where those
victories are attacked, and for these
rights will stand united as one man.
The issue was plainly drawn. and to
the credit of the state 1t was settled In
n way that carries with 1t its own les
son. 1t would have been better II the
situation had not arisen. 1t Is better
that 1t was passed as 1t was-better for
all concerned. 1t will be better for the
Republican party. The issue was to
save the state from great misfortune
from which it would not have recovered
for years. II the public could not sec
II this way: II party men could not APP
preclate this real significance, 1t Is be-
cause they did not look deep enough in
to the character of the struggle which
ended last Monday night.