The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-04-05

ptncu OH TUESDAY last. II NaHio "''''
by notices posted up at the Court House door
and elsewhere, and was properly heraldea III the
leading newspaper Of the place. Thus provided
for, it came-it had to come. Like an eclipse OF
the sun, it was bound TO come Oft, though Ottawa
and its suburbs should be covered with darkness
as black q Egypt.
The offices to be won were not large nor profit
abls but to each there is attached that other elc
ment which makes offices in this country so
yrcedily sought aftsr--honor. The men who OBJ
tanned these eminent distinctions live on honor.
They clothe themselves in it; they feed upon it,;
it is their vital air; they battle in it; they drink
it--"strayght'-th is, unmixed with whisky.
The day was inauspicious for comfort, especial
ly in the morning. 1t raned, not "cats and
dogs" but plain rain water; but it was suspicious
Of large vote and great excitement Even be-
fore the hour fixed by the law for opening the
polls, the polling place-Alderman Hooks office,
kindly loaned for the occasion-was crowded
with anxious candidates and few dry old buffers,
who had come in anticipation of drinks, early
and often. The election in America is precious
boon to the impccunious consumer OF corn juice.
IT is his harvcst-his seed time being all the re-
mainder Of the year, when he is "secdy" enough.
On election day he no longer patroniZes every
one whom he may meet who can raise Il quarter
and has the generosity to treat" On this day
he stands--as long as his legs do not "go back
on him upon his dignity, and they, the more
wealthy persons and all candidates, must seek
him. An election day is an astonishing lcveler
of distinctions; it wipes out social distinctions
in wonderful manner; it Ignores caste, and
places all men upon broad platform, never very
much too high for the vulgar to step upon, nor
100 low for the convenient reach of the upper
crust On this day the silk hat hobs to the tat
tered "slouch;" kid gloves clasp with brotherly
warmth the drtbegrimed hand of the coal
HEAVIER; the soft, white palm of the professor
rests contidingly within the "bunch of tives" of
the prize fighter; and the pious brother, who
hourly turns his optics to heaven in horror be-
cause of the wickcdncss Of the world, beams
with pleasure upon the sinful man whose mind
runs not above three-card monte. Here men OF
every station meet and jostle in one crowd, IN
one common pursuit, and silk velvet, plush and
broadcloth jostc in easy familiarity with the rag
tag and bobtail. These general observations are
no more or less true as to any election in the
country than as to Ottawa, nor neither more nor
less so here than elsewhere.
At9 o'clock in the morning the voters were
called to order by the Town Clerk, and on motion
of citizen Ierrick, citizen Harvey Day was sworn
in AS moderator and citizen Geo. {. Thompson
as assistant clerk, and the voting began. In less
than ten minutes no less than seventeen OF the
twcnty-one candidates had voted. This was an
example, set by those gentlemen to their friends
"to vote early;" of course, giving with it the
more time to fill the other requisite in all indus
trious and useful voters-to "vote often"
There was no fight on Supervisor, Assistant
Supervisor, nor Town Clerk We, Bccmus, hav-
inc been reelected to the last huge office by a
vote of 1914 out of $780, the whole number cast
again return our thanks to the voters of Ottawa
for this mark of their esteem. The emolumcnts
of the position are not burdensomc, but What is
lacking in this particular is more than made up
in honors. We can divide with any one of the
other town officers who may run short Of this
precious quality, and still have enough for our
own use There were some scattering votes OBJ
tanned by inexperienced candidates, who are such
novices in the business that they did not make
much of showing on the final result. Henry
Guerding, for justice of the peace, received sew
eral votes George b.. south merchant, got
away with five votes for constable, and still his
mind is not in that fclicitous condition known t.
the jewellers in paradise-he is not happy. The
Angel Gabriel (colored) was complimented with
few votes for every office on the list from SUI
pervisor down to constable. The Buffalo Rock
Giant and Count Dick Daley were not forgotten
neither were Monzcl nor Coy, who got i votes
each for constable.
| The official vote is rs follows:
/ MN, ION