Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-08-07
a Republican b Brannon,s Nomina-

A Republican on Brannon,s Nomina-
Iolarksburg Telegram, Repl
The Republicans of the First congress
sional district, the first one to break sway
from the Democrats column. wereentire-
ly ignored at Charleston last week, al
though they are expected to furnish tie
votes to secure the election of the ticket
named. They have been fighting the
battles of the party with faithfulness
and energy at last bringing permanent
success. They are rewarded by the selee-
ton of a former Democrat, who CLAIMS
to have renowned the faith of his fathers
and to have seen new light but four years
ago, when even wayfaring man could
have foreseen the political drift of she
country, and Mr.. Brannon co6ld discover
that to perpetuate himself in office he
must become Republican either il. fact
or in name-which it is, time may deter
mine.
The door of Republicanism is always
open to receive accessions from every
source. but none should apply except
those who are moved from principle and
not by official gain. When political
Penitents knock for admittance from
principle they are ordinarily humble and
modest enough to become seasoned in the
new faith before applying for office; at
least as vehemently as did one OF the
nominees of the convention. From his
facility IN buttonholing" one would
never have suspicioned him guilty of
former Incorporate and virulent criticism
of the party of his present pretended
choice. The convention nominating him.
in its platform. denounced, in strong
phrases the Democratic party for the
theft of the governorship in 1850, but re-
warded one of the principal actors in that
larceny. Hereafter the party is precluded
from animadverting upon the crime of
that year. However much it may regret
that the leading citizen of Harrison coun-
ty was deprived of the office to which he
was elected ip 1855 by the free and intel
ligent vote of the people, 1t remained for
the convention at Charleston to forever
set the seal of silence on Republican lips
from further discussion of that subject.
1t sometimes happens, of course. that
Republicans or those claiming to be Re
publicans have chosen to cast their lot
with the Democratic party, but few in
stances if any, have occurred where that
party has taken up renegade Republican
and nominated him for office at the FIRST
convention after renouncing his faith.
Democrats usually prefer to vote for
regular Republican than one deserting
his party, and this preference is founded
in wisdom, and may we'll be recommend
ed as guide for Republicans in the
present instance. AS the matter now stands
Republicans have two Democrats from
which to choose a member of the supreme
court; one lifelong consistent Demo-
crat, and still professed Democrat; the
other one who was engaged in an effort
to destroy the government in the Cos
elected as a Democrat to the circuit court
of his district and thence promote to thed
supreme court of the State as a Democrat,
filing the. Office as such. and standing
with his party in all cases OF a political
nature before that tribunal until possibly
in 1850. If he did not do so then, it may
have been. as was recently suggested, and
by some believed. because he was then
given to understand that If he deserted
his party and stood by the opposition in
that contest he was to be rewarded, as he
has been, by nomination as his own
successor. If it be true that such trade
was made, that fact eminently disqual1fies
him as man fitted,to occupy position
of thatcharacter. To be a Supreme judge
a man should be without reproach, pure
in character, steadfast in principle, firm
and honest in every act. thought and
judgment These are of more concern
than eminence as a lawyer or jurist. A
man may be learned in the law, profound
in his legal attainments, yet, if he does
not have. and is unworthy of the respect
and confidence of his fellows, his decisions
carry but little weight, however correct
and just in principle.