Litchfield enquirer., 1867-03-28
The Congressional Candidates.
WILLIAM H. BARHUM.

MT. William H. Barnum is no speaker. 7 We much doubt whether he could, even in aplain way, state in the House the needs of his constituency. Nor is he man of such general intelligence as would enable him to exercise any valuable influence on those who can talk. The only thing he thoroughly understands is the business of iron manufacturing,a business we'll enough attended to in Congress, as it strikes us, ,alrea- dy. Moreover he belongs to that class of can didates who are doing more to demoralize our pvaitivs ti1au LII QUIET causes put toee'n- er-men who are rich and who are nothing 70 do what they cannot expect of hon. est men-who are bringing matters to a pass where none but rich men can afford the heavy election expenses rapidly com ing to be considered legitimate. While we do not accuse MT. Barnum of committing any criminal offence ws do believe that he is spending his money most lavishly; that he is bringing every possible influence to bear on his workmen; and that most of the dissatisfied Republicans whom he summons to Salisbury come away we'll supplied with "the sinews of war" When, therefore, 8 man like W. H. Barnum comes before the people for support, especially on such a platform as the Democracy have framed for him, we feel justified in saying, that, aside from his politics, there are grave personal objections to his election.
 2a P. T. RARNUM
 That there were objections to Mir. P. T. Barnum's nomination we have never at. tempted to disguise We said at the time what we thought of the matter. Since that we have left the subject to our Democrat. tc cotemporaries, and most industriously have they pursued it. We cannot blame them, for it is their only capital. They have, however, far overdoneE it. Their attempts to establish comparisons between him and notorious counterfeiters thieves, hurglers, Fernando Wood, John Morrissey and criminals of like grade, are utter failures. They produce no evil dence, only an ininitude of assertions and foul names. In their attempts to make him infamous, they have only succeeded in making themselves so. @
 What manner of man Mr. P. T. Barnum really is, how he meets the mountain of islanders heaped upon him, and what his political views are, the people of this coun- y have hada most excellent chance of judging. He has met them fairly and frankly, while his adversary has kept close ly to his corner working through his emis- aaries in the only way he can work. .gJr THEIR POLITICAL RECORD.
 On this decisive point, we wish to say few final words. Many of us strongly opposed the nomination of MT. F. T, Bar mum. Is there any inconsistency in our advocating his election? The Democracy say. yes-We say, no! The difference be- tween us is irreconcileable, for this reason. that party cannot see itself as others see it.
 straight Democrats" cannot be expected so appreciate the malignancy of that dis ease of Copperheadism. which has tainted sheir whole party system. nor how detesta- ble its odcr of treason and cowardice ren. ders 1t to those who breathe purer politi- cal atmosphere. When the question, there fore, was that of Mir. Barnum's aomino,fon we compared him with Republicans and opposed him strenuously. When the ques- ton is that of his election, we compare him with Copperhead and support him as strenuously. We. must not forgot that there are great principles at stake; pr1nci- ples which we sustained during the most