Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1859-04-23
The opp osition Candidate.

The Opposition Candidate.
.-'i -f4
We have, in previous article, had occa>
sion to see what lie is opposed to. 1t pertains
to the right understanding of bis anatomy and
physiology TO inquire what he is In f1vo,- of.
lie sets up for q sort of model of perfection.
and invites the pencil of the painter and the
pen of the historian to do justice to all the
bewitching features of his Jace-ior face he
hat, and that right abundantIy, and features
multitudinous aud of marvellous play and
power. Herein consists his glory, that he is
not content with mere negative virtue, such as
opposition would be, but boasts positive and
persuasive graces of his own. He scorns to
be considered handsome by a contrast with
the ugliness of the Democracy, and boasts the
beauties of real craftsmanship. He despises,
OF cours ;, ali demagogueism. If he. CANDLES
With the political cards, be nevertheless scorns
the character of a a'sportsman.' It is mere
SANDER 10 call him gambler. He neither
descends TO the love of ill>gotten gain, nor is
tr1ing enough to be amused with the .sport.'
Like the celebrated Judge DooIy, of Georgia.
he plays cards just to break the faro banks
and punish the craft for their disregard ofm
rality!
First of all, he devotes himself to the
POOR! ith keener scent and quicker
foot than the dogs OF Sparta-'hounds of scent,
sagaclous, ihepIrsues the wrongs of the poor
OF Georgetown in particular.
This he said, mot that be cared for the
poor nor yet that he carries the bag . but
that these same poor may help him BY their
sweet voices to get hold of it. The poor of
Georgetown is rather venerable institution.
having been on exhibition now some years ia
all the States, from May to Augnst-all for
the wants of wood from October 10 April.
The Opposition candidate always has them
on exhibition, and gIo&ingly depicts their pri,
vations and sutferiugs and zealously advocates
violation of the Convention for their relief.
L Ike 'Absolom Bess,' be feels for them, but
ne'er felt ia his pocket Yet, be is in favor
of the poor Even the post office appropri>
ton failure is mainly to be lamented, because
il brings to staud-still that branch Of the
public service in which the poor of the couu.
try were particularly interested.' Surely.
there can be NO better friend OF The poor
himself go poorH AS Burns says, he tmust
be poet. His gun never misses 'the pcor:'
Shot at whatever game, down comes the
poor 7 The sbiyering regiment of Georges
town duly executed, and the post Office poor
snugly sacked 10 mail bags. up come the reg
ulars of the poor soldiers.' These are sort
of standing army of Opposition regulators
"a motley crew of Captain DoolitIIe's aud
young Yidowr, and fifth cousins, .aIl for love,
and little for land. a very few of the gal.
LIANT soldiers, who have survived the battles Of
their country, miugIe despondingly in the vast
assGmblage of beggarly speculators who eI-
bow 'hern out of the way, and clamor, like
league Okegan, for the man with the two
barrels OF wh'skey.' Never is the Opposition
candidate so much Sin his glory as when be
puts himself at the head ofthese poor clients.
and leads the charge upon the treasury aud
the ballot box. 49,.
Herein is a noti5ile that tile poofi' IL gem
eral-the ost Cftice poor the poor soldiers
aud all poor-are generally rich enough in
intelligence and virtue to understand and des-
pise he appeals of the Opposition candidate
TO their assumed ignorance and want of yir.
tue. They becomingly resent sentiment
which outrages their patriotic devotion to
equal laws aud the constitution of their coun-
try. They perceive that the Opp sition can.
dldate, rail he ever SO much at the Democra>l
cy, has never an honest and feasible plan tor
their relief, and is tbe last man in the world
to give him money; except as the price of his
honor and lib-rty. HIS manhood is outraged.
and his resentment flames like that of viola.
ted helpless innocence at the thought that his
poverty has been made the pretext of dishon.
oriug his name. No, no ! ii is not the honest
poor man who G 4 be bought by bribe money
stolen from the public Treasury OF the
country by official maIfeasance, or appropris>
ted from party or private funds, to betray the
liberties of America-but the he2rtIess mil.
lionaire, who taltening on jobs, and cout,is
wing specuIations 10 be doubly paid for or
sustained by Treasury appropriations. who
schemes and plots and sells himself and buys
whom he may, 10 undermine the Constitution
of his country, corrupt the ballot jbgx, and so
pIomoe his sordid interests at whatever cost
of public virtue.
We do not intend to fiatter the poor, or
deuounce the rich. Virtue is confined 10 no
class, while vice burrows as we'll in the bowels
oftbe poor as the sumptuous balls of luxury.
It's, however, zonr dnty and our pleasure to
express the contempt which we know the yir-
tuons poor never fail TO feelf that candidate
who fawns upon the vices of their Glass and
fattersithe rank breath of the beggafly Iazza.
ROM, who live by the arts of tnendacity and
hang about the Governmental Treasury ike
II tvpas : maya I, n-oitaIs rf 81 Tava.n. q