Year: 1869

| Nob ~'Shf oS


Our Fall Elections


As the time for our annual elections
approaches, inquiry begins to be made
as TO the proper course to be pursued in
the canvass. We have had letters from
different parts of the State. seeking in
formation upon this subject, and mani
Testing no little interest therein.


The character of the issues now
before the people of West Virginia
will give shape to the coming can
vass. Upon national questions, our peo.
pie are not now agitated. While all
hold their opinions, and while there are
antagonisms among them as sharp as
those of '6S, there is no general express
sion of them, nor is there any such stir
in the political elements as would bid
lair to call them forth. The chief con.
Germ now manifested in West Virginia
has reference to purely local questions
Every day the anomalous character of
our proscriptive system is being more
clearly understood. Every day men
are inquiring how it may be disposed
of. The Suitor's Oath, that drives
rebels from the Courts of justice ::
the Lawyers Oath, and the
Teachers Oath that exclude them from
the practice of their professions, and
the Voters Oath, by which men who
contribute most to the support of the
Government are denied the least share
in its control, are all beginning to be
appreciated in their true characters as
political monstrosities. They are a
burning disgrace to the State. They
ought to be got rid of. Where is the
remedyY


Addressing Democrats, chiefly, we
tender advice to the minority. Never
theless the minority is not always pow
erless for the removal of abuses. In
every majority, ~ matter what it's pol
itics, there are plenty of men who
are willing to do the right for its
own sake, no matter what the partisan
results may be. In times of fierce ex-
citement such men, partaking possibly
of ruling prejudices, do not speak out.
In calm times like the present, they
may be relied upon to support import
ant measures devised for the public
good, no matter what the parties may
say.


1t is upon these thoughtful, liberal
honest men of the majority, together
with tho minority party, that West Vir-
ginia now depends for the abolition of
her proscriptive system. If ii is to
perish upon any field other than that of
mere partisan struggle, the conservative
masses without distinction of party
must dispose of it. If they now hold
back, and refer the question to decision
two or three years hence by the two
parties as such, we may look for many
animOSities to survive the abolition of
distranchisement, and may expect the
successful party to come into power
under circumstances full of bad feeling.
and calculated to continue a strife and
a bitterness that have already existed


too long. For these reasons We favor


the removal of political disabilities in


this State, through such an uprising of


the masses as will relieve the measure


of its partisan aspect, and give it the
character of benefcent public policy.


To this end, we would not advise the


Democrats of West Virginia to precipi.
tate action in their nomination of can.
didates for the next Legislature. The
organization is sufficiently perfect to


warrant that great length of time will


not be needed in WHICH to bring out the
full party strength, should partisan
struggles be forced upon US. Hasty


movements now may anticipate and pos.


bly, prevent action on the part of such
conservative Republicans as may desire


to sink party in view of the pending


issues. II there are any such who wish
to aid a non-partisan movement for
the good of the whole State, they will
soon speak out. When they do so, CO.
operation is the plain dpty Of the Dem.
ocrats. 1t is the duty of every man


who does not regard his party as of
more value than his state or his eouu-
Try,


In many counties of West Virginia
the Democrats cannot possibly succeed,
even if party fight is made. But if
party politics be sunk, and the single
) issue of enfranchisement made to- detS.-
mila tie sanyass, the minority can be
|, Of great use to the public by casting its
, vote and influence in favor of liberal
candidates and measures. The Demo


Gratis are not now able to elect a Legis-


lature of their own way Of thinking,
but they may be of great service in aid
ibg the election OF men through whom
our people may be made free, and our
, State purged of the curse of proscrip-
ton. Such consummation would be


of more value than partisan triumph,


for it would be success over which all
might rejoice, and of whose fruits the
whole people would be partakers,
. Hence wo think that in those counties
, where the Democrats are in fixed mi.
nority, their plain duty is to give their


support to sound and reliable conserva.


tive Republicans for the Legislature
who will pledge their efforts to the re,
moYal of nolitical disabilities in this