Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-05
The Senatorial Election.

inse. When IL Is known that this seEa-
torial district gave las. year republ can
majority Of l49S. the question a: once
arises, what has caused this great change?
Weansg7er without hesitation: The fraud
practiced in the republican senatorial
convention, by which the nomination Of
John Comstock was consummated. Ii
is true, local questions. rival interests,
and sectional pr,judices have had their
influence in dividing the republican vote
al tho POLLS, but the Great First Cause Of
of this discussion. in our ranks, the
strong undercurrent that has swept SO
many staunch and true republicans into
the democratic circle upon this senatorial
question, is the base me us which the
:Iieuds of john CcMsTocE used to Sc
cure to him tic nomination in the sena
torial convention. Tie fraud of which
they were charged vas too palpatle to
be denied; Of their attempts at bribery,
they openly boasted, and lie republicans
who were not st.icd Is the question Of
individual or sectional interest were loud
AMI outspoken in their denunciations Of
such dishonest, corrupt and refarious
practices among the reputed leaders Of
tie patty. Wherever the facts have cir
culated aEd lie tluth Of the matter be
come fully understood, tue republicans
Lave risen almost unanimously and placed
tie seal of heir condemnation upon the
untoward act. by regulating at the
polls nomination secured By such cor
ruption and deception.
After tie senatorial convention. when
the candidates, Mr. FIFIELD aud Mr..
CoNsTocK beth claimed the nomin ton.
Mr.. FIFIELD expressed q willingness 10
decline, If Mr. CoMsTock would do the
same, and let the republican central com
mittee put up new candidate. This
fair and honorable offer en- tie part Of
Mr. FiFIELD, was fatty rejected. If it
had been accepted. rs it should have
been, and as many republican papers
from abroad advised, this dis,r;c: would
have elected TO the senate republican
without the least difficulty. But the poi
ilicians Who manipulated the convention,
determined 10 run JoHN CoMsTocK.
Mr.. FIFIELD declined and gave him
clear field. lie has run as the only re-
publican in the field, and has probably
been beaten by the regular democratic
nominee, by several hundred minority
Let the L;ame fall where ii belongs
upon tie leading politicians of St. Croix
county, who forced his bogus nomination
upon the party. |. is useless TO claim
that sectional interests changed the re
publican vote 50 completely. Hudson
has always appealed TO River Falls TO vote
for John Comstock, because the local in.
terests of the two towns were identical,
ami River Fails with a republican major
ity Of one hundred and seventy five, an
swers at the polls by giving lvEs the
democratic nominee one hundred and
seventy six majority. What better evi
deuce is needed that there was foul play
IN the convention and the nomination Of
John Comstock was a mere prciense,
Wherever the proceedings Of that con
vention have been best known, the rcpu-
dia:ion at The polls # its Illegal action
and d;sg acefn! tfaale hss been mos;
complete.
The contest is over, AMI il Mr.. Com
stock is defeated with splendid m:jor
lis Of nearly seventeen Lundred in bis
favor, let il he a warning 10 tie leaders
of the republican party in this district
not to make iudicious selections only, but
to conduct their conventions honestly
and justly, respecting the lights of alI
candidates aul delegates, that the nom
nations may lie fairly and sqaarely made
and brought before the people without
the stain Of fraud or bribery upon them.
This must be done TO gain the united
support Of the republican electors at the
polls, without which, the party caunot
hope for success.
1t is often necessary for political par
ties as well as persons, TO take strong and
distasteful medicines 10 drive from the
system diseases that may fasten upon it.
The more sggravating the disease the
more severe must be the treatment to
effect cure. Let US earnestly hope
then. that the bitter dose the republicans
of this senatorial district have been COM
PEELED to swallow this election, may re-
suit in the publication of the party, and
a speedy return to its wonted health and
yigor.
THE STATE ELECTIONS.
As far as we can judge from the mea-