The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-01-26
After the Athens Esse.g.

Tho following ScnOrcLlllS artlcle from
the Democratic Enquirer, 7th inst, pub
lished at Macarthur, Vinton County, Ohio,
adjoining Athens County, is fair speci-
men CT the feelings of the people Of the
State towards the Ring:
"The Radicals of our neighboring
county of Athens-who are blessed with
all the 'shonesty," "decency, virtue"
etc, usually found in the Radical party,
and who are seeing to it that the New
Lunatic Asylum is being erected in tEeir
county without defrauding the State out
of a single cent-dont like Democratic
editors. The noble editor of the Spirit
Of Democracy, published at Woodsfield,
Monroe county, and in the Athens Con
gressional district, published q number
of articles and communications during
the late political campaign, in which the
wicked acts of the aforesaid RAIDS were
exposed in the best of style. This riled
the honest RAIDS in o terrible manner
they couldn't bear to see the ''naked
truth" The Court of Common Pleas
convened in Athens in November, and
Z. II. Moore, Congressman elect, and
one of the Lunatic Asylum Trustees,
and T. +. WILDEs, an eN-general and
the masked editor of the Athens MeSSen-
ger, the Radical paper, were witnesses
before the Grand Jury. They told Won
derful stories in the jury room about
what the editor of the Spirit Of Democ-
racy had published relating to their af-
| fairs; and two indictments were found
against him. Just think Of it! An
Athens County Grand Jury finding in
dictments against Democratic editor
residing in another county. What law
abiding and loyal gang OF individuals
dwell over there!r Well, short time
after the adjournment of the Grand
Jury, *one of the hellish devils belong
ing to the Ring wrote few lines to
the editor, telling him that he had been
indicted, and that if he would furnish
the Ring" with the name of the author
of the communications he had publish
ed they would discharge him, as they
were after the real parties and not him.
The writer of the letter closed by say
ing, if he didn't give the name of the
author they would arrest and take him
before the Athens Court of Common
Pleas. Did any living mortal evel
dream of legal business being conduct
ed in that manner? The editor-H. X
WEsT-who thoroughly understands
how to treat such desperate devils when
they commence hostihtes, gave them
notice that they could go on with theil
arrest, which they accordingly did. On
the 10Th of December the Sheriff OF
Athens county went up to Woodsfeld
and arrested the editor. The editor was
fully prepared for the arrest, by having
the necessary papers already made out
commanding the sleepy Sheriff to pro
duce the wide-awake editor before the
righteous Probate Judge of Monroe
county-right at home, where criminals
are punished as the law directs, and
where sham indictment are not found
against Radical editors and letters writ
ten proposing to discharge them if they
will divulge certain secrets. The edi
tor was of course discharged by tho
Probate Court, because he was guilty o1
no crime. He then commenced three
suits against the Sheriff, MOORE ant
WILDEs for S11 900 damages. We hope
that "Athens County Ring will discov
er, before the editor of the Spirit Of De
mocracy is through with them, that they
cannot cover up their rascallty by in
dieting Democratic editors of neigh
boring counties for publishing accounts
of the dishonest acts they are guilty O.
A tyrannical "Ring' exists there, com
posed of men who control both the pub
lie and private affairs of the county
religious rs well as political. If mar
disobeys the laws or rules of the 'Ring
he is compelled to discontinue his busi
ness and sell his property for just what
they please to allow any person to pay
for it, (if we have right understanding
of the wa they manage matters in that
small kingdom and leave the county
For instance, J. R. S. BOND, now editor
of the Chillicothe Gazette, refused to dc
as the Ring directed; 'and he was
forced to sell the Athens Messenger es
tablishment, when he was proprietor tc
a party that pleased the Ring for So,
600, when he was offered by another
party $4,000 for it,
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