The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-11-21
NUMBER SO.
The DIartyrdom of Po,it,cs.

The editor of the New York Sun has
friend who was once candidate for Of
flee but did not get elected. AS the cleo
tion is now over and many have shared
the same fate, they may prepare theis
minds by reading the annexed sketch:
"You have never been candidate for
public Office. l was last year, and I tell
you the 18th century is still a long way
from the Millennium. If it has not its
racks for the body it has its racks for the
mind; and what are thumbscrews to the
screws which modern inhumanity and in.
genuity apply to the pockets. l have
said was candidate for Office at the
last election. Some of my fellow-citizens
thought l was very fit and proper per-
son to represent them in our City Conn.
Gil, and / was at the time, decidedly of the
same opinion. have modified my opin-
ion since. Well, l accepted their nomi-
nation, paid oil the assessment, and some
thing more; promised, aud lodged, and
hedged, until began to find my con-.
science relaxing alarmingly. ,s,
"For two weeks before election day
ate little, slept little, rested little and fell
off in flesh to the enormous amount of ten,
pounds counted the probable vote
would get dozen times day, stood up
bravely against Misrepresentation antlsub-s
mittcd even to be introduced to and min
gle with score of loafers-because, as L
had entered the field, was determined
to fight to win.
"When the morning ofthe election came,
feared the bursting of blood vessel and
an untimely end, so great was the pertur--
baton of my mind. As the day wore on
my friends grew confident of my success.
yet the vote would undoubtedly be Close
My opponent had-but I won't traducs
him-and my friends we're not as expert,
enced in the political warfare as his. I
was in tortue. The sweat tstarted-though'
| the day was raw and cold-from every
pore in my body. My face frightened
me as caught a glimpse of it in the
looking glass of the saloon where had.
gone after sundown to meet the committee,
and hear the result of the vote
"a crowd rushed to congratulate mo
on my success. A report had just come
from the inspectors that was triumph
ant. The effect on my excited mind I
cannot now describe; but think ] SEEM
ed to lose my consciousness for few mo-.
ments, and was just beginning to realize .
new and inexpressibly delightful sensation
of glory, when 10! the authoritative an--
nouncement came that my opponent Was,
successful by fifteen votesI l didnot faint,
bat darted from the place, found my
home as cherries as prison, and after .
day OF two of suffering, morti6cation=
and hatred of the world and all the races
of free and enlightened voters, my appe-
tite and peace began to return.
| Talk" shouted our friend with unusu-
al emphasis, "of racks and thumbscfcws.
and stakes and scaffolds! suffered them
all at once in this humane nineteenth cen
tury, and in this free and happy country,
and all because desired to serve my fell
low-citizens in public capacity, because.
l was the fool to believe that if took the.
field half of the opposition party would
cast their vote to me. Will you believe.
it?" he added with some bitterness, and:
forgetting his resolves not to traducc.
The man that beat me could scarcely
write his own name, and was low and row.
dyish in his habits to boot. Pshaw! be .
candidate for Office and get beaten by q
numskull or slang-whanging politician.
and it will take the poetry ont of yonr no.
tions of the wonderful progress and ex--
traordinary snlie htenment Of the race