Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-09-07
MARYLAND POLITICS AND NEWS.
The Fourth Districf-The New POliti.
cal Element I'm Maryland. the Gel
cred Vote - Remarkable Gaze or
Death by Fasting.
SPECIAL Correspondents Of The Start

IN
Death by Fasting.
Special Correspondence of The Start :
HAGERsrowS, Sept. 5, $50.
E6.tcr S,Gr,-The campaign for the coming
November election, inausurxted Last week by
the republicans placing in nomination Judge
John l.. Smith, of Carroll county, as their stand
ard-b bearer for Congressional honors from this
(the 4th) district, composed of Allegheny, Wash
II Ston, Frederick and Carroll counties prom
lses to be conducted with unusual spirit by both
parties. The partisan papers Of these counties
are already exhibiting much warmth in their
political srticies-those of the republican party
IN advocating the election Of Judge Smith, and
inc cis III tne democratic party In urging
kInd consideration OF the democratic nomi-
NAT ng convention which Is to assemble in Fred
sIlck Clty on the 18th Of the present month.
The convention will have q long list Of candi-
dates from which to make a selection, and it
must be confessed that all he gentlemen
named IN this connection are possessed of abil-
ity, and are well known thrOaghout the State.
Aneghany presents the name Of Hon. Patrick
Hamill, the present incumbent, whose friends
urge th1t denomination Is due him; but, a 9
Mr.. Hamiil was simply compromise candidate
two years ago, his chances OF securing the NOM
ination do not rate very high. Capt. Horace
Re:ley, Of the same county, would be pleased to
serve, but he hes not sufficient backing to bring
him prominently before the convention. Wash
iDeton county will be content with either Major
A. X. Syester or Col. Geo. Schley, express. ng a
Frederick is dead bent on C.pt. John Richie,
but in case of strong opposition would "appease
its appetite" with another gentleman bearing
military title-Col. Geo. A. Hanson. Little
Cstrol, not TO be outdone in the race, falls into
line with the single name of Col. John X. Long
well, and will urgently press his claims. With
all thls array OF names, the convention may
probably have some difficulty in making a seiec
ton, but il is generally admitted that the fight
will wax warm between tue friends OF Richie
and Syester, with the advantages decidedly in
favor of the latter.
Judge Smith, the nominee of the republican
party, is the strongest man they could have Sc
lected, being very popular, Of fine abilities, and
possessed OF large wealth. With SyeSter pitted
against him, as will doubtless be the case, the
contest will be an exciting one, and, as is usual,
the friends Of both gentlemen are confident of
the success of their favorite.
As Hamill, the present incumbent, was elected
two years ago, by a little less than five hundred
majority, the new element-the cOlOred vote
will have an important bearing i'm this contest,
and an unbiaSed statement of facts and figures
NAV enable the reader to form idea of the
probable result. This county, (Washington,)
for several years past, has gone democratic by
about -FOUR numbered majority, and as the col
ored vote will not reach over three hundred or
three fifty, with some dssensIons in the republi-
can ranks, IL Is probable that in the coming
election a majority of votes will be cast for the
democratic nominee. This may also be said of
Allegheny, where the colored vote will be light
probably not over two hundred and fifty-but
when you come down TO Frederick and Carroll
there is a more cheering aspect for the republi-
cans, for in the former county the colOred vote,
if brought out will reach seven or eight hun
dred, with not less than five or six hundred
in the latter county. There are divisions among
the republicans undeniably, and they cannot
poll as heavy a white vote as heretofore; but
with the large colOred vote in their favor are
willing TO give large odds, and yet claim a vic
tory. The democrats, however, show dispose
tiCn TO make a sharp fight, and hope to gain
something by appealing to the prejudices Of the
whites ON the negro question.
A remarkable case of death, superinduced by
fasting, occurred here on Friday last, the victim
being John French, young man about twenty
two years of age, and son of the Hon. George
French, of this town. French was young man
gifted with intelligence, but for several years
past it was noticed he held peculiar views on the
subject Of religion, and some time ago he an
rounced to the members of his family that he
had a special religious mission to perform.
which the Divine Being had assured him could
only be accomplished after he had tasted forty
days and forty nights, which feat he began nearly
two months ago, and actually flushed two
weeks since. During these forty DAYS, the per-
suasion Of his friends could not induce him to
eat mouthful, and at last strategy was resorted
- by placing tempting fruits and other things
in his way in such a manner as to leave him
under the impression that their presence was
unknown to all but himself, yet he refrained
from partaking of them in every instance. He
became greatly reduced looking more like a
skeleton than q living being, and a few days
compelled TO take TO his bed. After the expirs-
ton of the forty DAYS he was fed with great care
but his system had sank too deeply to recuper-
ate. and at last he gave way, his spirit seeking
flight on Friday morning last at six O'Clock.
This Is no fancy sketch, and there Is not q
person here who doubts that French actually
accomplished the extraordinary feat of fasting
forty DAYS and forty nights. Physicians pro-
Dounce this to be one Of the most remarkable
cases that has come to the knowledge OF the
world. nB.,