Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-04-16

partisans within the party, and are
saving that about republicans which
cannot be unsaid after the nomina
nations are made. Shades OF Archie
Campbell. The party is in sore dis
tress. indeed, and the personal organs
are doing all they can possibly do, -
much more than the s'mass conyen-
tions" they yirtuousiy condemn.
to undo the work OF years
The time was when the party papers
would take no open part in the select
ion Of candidates. Every man at the
head Of paper had his view of things
certainly; but the expenditure OF
strength was reserved for the cam
paign against the common enemy.
Shades and shades of the many dis
Greet men who once occupied the
tripod in advocacy of republican
principles in West Virginia. In
long exerience in politics l have never
known party to succeed with IT'S
voting strength split in twain. The
most notable example in history OF
the attempt to do so ended in disaster
which befell the democratic party in
1860, and / blushingly admit that |
am old enough te remember that. We
republicans stood shoulder to shoulder
in those DAYS when we we're in the
minority and steadily reduced the
democratic majority. What now
sfWhom the gods would DESTROY they
first make mad. . Men stupidity be-
lieye they can use the party to their
own ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Parties have
gone down in disaster under that sort
of load.
regret to see in print the claim that
certain men have followers. = What
does that mean? To the initiated it
sounds familiar There is no man who
has those about him who profit by his
success. Are these the followers
Perish the thought.
The republicans should take warn
ing in time II they want to see
their party succeed next fall they will
heed this warning. And | want to
go on record now with the prediction
that the ever y-day. the. year repub-
licans, those who belong to the party
because thew believe in the principles
it represents will hold to strict ac
count those who are sowing the seeds
of discord in the year 1904. For the
loss of the governorship, of congress
man or of all the congressman, or of
seat in the United States Senate, the
loss of the legislature. there isno COM
pensation to those who have the pros
perity of the state at heart. They are
fast loosing patience and the day of
reckoning NAV come when the NOM
mating conventions meet.
What possible excuse the so-called
leading republicans can urge for
getting their party into such an un
seemingly squabble is beyond COM
pensation. Why the tax question
could not be discussed without s're-
sort to arms" so to speak, is
another thing that will require ex
PLANTATION. The candidates now seek
ing honors of the party are all good
men too good to engage In suchga
squabble.
Meanwhile the party is drifting, To
a western man that term will come
with peculiar force. and in the pres
ent muddle it will mean a whole lot. |
Those who have the affairs of the
party in their hands are too much oc-
cupied with "boasting" personal
to see that there are break.
ers ahead.
And right here another remark:
Should the republicans who 'de- |
serve" so much-some of whom have
had so much-permit this internal war
to proceed, the state will go demo-
cratic, not to be regained in twenty
years. That will be pretty hard on
the overwhelming majority of the
party those who are not posing as OF
the deserving" class.
A Veteran Republican.