Year: 1868

wiz SuhAOAo va hhio
generous forbearance than they have
yet manifested for tine victims of their
prescription.


| We believe the more prudent of the
leading Radicals have already seen the
necessity of conciliating the universal
repugnanee now felt for the enactments
10 which We have referred. They feel
that to permit those abominable meas,
ures to remain in force will be to assure
their own overthrow. On the other
hand, they are aware that to repeal
those measures and to permit even
such to vote as are qualified under
the Constitution as amended, is to
invite and hasten their own destruc.
tion. Advance they dare not; to
stand still is fatal, and to recedo is GER
| tain death.


Their political destiny being fixed in
any event, all considerations of policy
may as well be laid aside. Let them then
think only of reparation; reconcile, as
far as possible, an outraged public; link
zone virtue with thousand crimes,
and sgnalize their departure from pow
er by sweeping repeal of the yillainous
system through which they can no longer
rule. The people will permit them TO
be their own executioners if they choose
but if they be "infrm of purpose" other
hands will WELD the weapons that shall
take them off.


We notice sundry manifestations from
oracular authority, of desire to length
en- the Radical lease of power by par
tial atonement for the wrongs of the
past. The oaths for suitors, lawyers,
and teachers have suddenly become use
less, except as political capital for the
Democrats. Their abolition is now ad-
vised, as sort of sop to the popular
CERBERUs. Upon the reputation for
magnanimity which is thus hoped to be
gained, il is thought that more string
ent measures of disfrauchiseInent may
be enacted, so that an inch of honesty
will thus excuse an ell of villainy.


The design is crafty, but we have no
fears for the result. If prescription is
wrong in part, it is wrong throughout,
and tho confession that portion of tho
system is unjustitiable, is tautamount to
an admission that the remainder
is unlawful and wicked.


Aside from the reforms We have sug-
gested, other proper legislation will
occur to those who have consulted the
only reliable interpreter of popular
sentiment, the Democratic press, OFF,
cial corruptlons of all sorts are Offend
ing the public nostrils. Investigations
of the Asylum and Penitentiary frauds
are loudly demanded. Thieving Off
GERS, wherever found, should be held TO
strict account. A detailed report from
the Governor as to his disposition of the
"Civil Contingent Fund" for the last
four OF five years would not be amiss in
this connection. The useless Office OF
County Treasurer should b, abolished.
The School Fund peculations should be
examined and corrected. AbOut nine
tenths of our petty offices should be dis
pensed with. Sensible measures for the
encouragement Of immigration should
be matured and passed.


AS preliminary to this, any declara-
tions in the Governors message de-
signed to misrepresent the state of So
ciety in West Virginia ought to be sup
pressed. To no purpose do we invite
population, if the Governor is to be
permitted to drive it away by declaring
that our State is not safe placs for
settlement.


This will do for start. When our
Legislature shall have shown its appre-
citation of good counsels by proper
course of action, we may give it the
benefit of additional suggestions.