American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-04-23
RowDxTsM.

.
dent and wise philosopher of old time,
and one that we cannot dwell to care
fully upon, that if you summon the
Powcr of Darkness, and consort with
him, having in view the end of making
him a helpto your evil deeds, you may
lind that he willnot abandon you when
you would have him, but the unclean
thing will always cling to your skirts,
to your great annoyance" We can,
not invoke and exercise the spirit of e.
vii, at will The few past years of
our political history has made this fact
apparent. Ambitious and and design
ing men have entered into compacts
with shoulder hittcrs, ""Short Boys"
"killers' and sporting men," having
for their aims the elevation to Office of
their unworthy selves. Many of us
have seen the operation of the rowdy
system as it llourishcs so Extensively at
the polls, on election days. A few of
us perhaps, have felt tile power that
crowded decent men from the ballot
box. When the bad passions of the
creature have become excited by bad
liquor they are ripe for any mischief,
and it not unfrequcntIy happens that
disgraccful rows cnsuc, which soon as
sumo the form Of riot. And who is
mainly answerable for this? Who first
summons the devil, to work their will?
The politician Let Us look moment
to the moduS opcranai It's customa.
ry in our city to hold primary elections,
at which candidates are chosen for the
different Offices in the gift of the pco.
pie. We will suppose that Mickey
Macfirkin is dcsirous of being elected,
and in order to accomplish this first
gets the nomination and endorsement
of fthc primary" Mickey knows per,
fcctly we'll that his pursuits are ques.
tionable, his character somewhat blcm.
ishct, and that he has buta slim chance
when his name shall be submitted TO
the test of candid expression Of ser.
timcnt on the day for voting. lie
consequently y resorts to bribery. lie
secures the chief Of some faction to his
interest, and by free use Of the mon.
ey that he has gained no one knows
how, wins by fraud what hc could not
attain by fair means. Others, seeing
the success of Miekey's plan, and al
belt ambitious like himself, resort to
the same means, to ensure their pros
motion. The ball rolls on, and the
rowdIcs find themselves useful, and
grow impertincnt and q nuisance. 1t
will be perceived, therefore, that the
best friends to these law breakers are
the very persons who aspire to become
lawmakers. What wonder then that
rowdyism, haunts itself under the
very eyes Of judicial authority, when
the incumbent of the Office, may need
the rowdy influence to insure his re-
hclcctiOn? What commentary upon
the justice Of the elective system.
| The evil power thus invoked by men
who seek prcfermcnt, cannot be excr-
ciScd thereafter. lie who has benefit
ted by such practices, becomes the very
slave OF those who have been his tools.
Lacking the excitement attendant up
on political canvass, tho profession
al bully is driven to seek it, or rather
seeks it from choice, in the disrcputa-
bic houses that are everywhere open
toreccive them. Here their orgje5 are
apt to end in quarrcls, which not un.
frequently leads to bloodshed, and as
in recent case in our city, to a vio-
lent death. We feel as though the cit,
izcns would be justified in establishing
a vigilance committee like to that form
ed in California, by (which the "roughs"
were driven out, never to return. If
men will allow premium fer rowdy.
ism, We must expect to bear the innic-
TONY. y. Excelsior.