Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-04-17
Thursday
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.
The Morals of Politics.

The canvass for Delegate to the
Constitutional Convention in Preble
county, and the mode in which it was
conducted, by those opposed to the
election of Mr.. BARNET, furnishes in
some of its features, food for reflection
to the conscientious, fair minded citi-
zen. Mr.. BARNET was not before the
people in an attitude that ought to
have subjected him personally to
abuse, or his character to misrepre-
sentAtion and vituperative defama-
ton. Indeed he was not personally
responsible for being placed before
the people. at all as a candidate. 1t
was their act and not his, for it is to
be remembered that he time and again,
and even on the floor of the Republic
can Convention, stated that he was
not q candidate, and could not and
would not be the candidate of any
party. But if the people, without re-
spect to party, saw proper voluntarily
to tender to him the position of Dele
gate, he would discharge theSduties of
LLc OIlCC W thS OSSO VI LIS 8OAlItACS.
That while he was not seeking, and
would not seek the place, he would
not feel at liberty to refuse it if his
fellow-citizens thrust its duties and
responsibilities upon him. This was
not only commendable, but honorable
irr him as a nan and a citizen. 1t
placed him in an attitude that entitled
him to the respect and esteem of his
fellow-men.
When the people, therefore, with
out previous concert of action-with-
out party drill and without distinction
of party, put him forward as the man
whom they wished to intrust with the
grave and serious duty of forming a
new organic law for their own gov.
eminent, they-the people thus act
ing-and not Mr.. BARNET, became the
responsible party to the transaction.
And this was not a party or political,
but simply a moral and civil response
bility assumed by the people i'll their
aggregate capacity as citizens. If
there was nothing immoral or i'm
proper in it-and we claim there was
not-then the people had the unques-
toned right to occupy the position
they assumed in the matter; and be-
ing thus in the right they were enti-
tied to fair and honorable treatment
at the hands of those who saw fit to
place themselves in opposition to
them, or least their opponents should
have refrained from the use of i'm
moral, not to say basely dishonorable
means, to defeat the people and their
choice Fn9er these circumstances if
foul play and dastardly blows were
secretly and stealthily struck at Nh.
BARNET in name, they were in fact
and in effect aimed at and intended to
strike down those who were respon-
sible for putting him forward, viz
THE PEOPLE themselves. Iffoul means
were used to defeat Mr.. BARNET and
the people, by whom were they used P?
Not by the Republican party as a par
ty I FACT, for Mr.. BARNET is a Re-
publican and was voted for by Repub-
licans as we'll as Democrats without
respect to party. Nor can it be said
that it was the Republican party
against the Democratic party, for as
has been said, Mr.. BARNET is a Re
publican and the Democratic party
had not nominated him. If, therefore,
foul means were used to defeat Mr..
BARNET and the people, and it was
not the Republican party as a party,
in fact, that did it, and it was yet done
in the NAME of the Republican party,
these interesting questions arise :
Who are the parties authorized to
make use of foul means in the NAME
of the Republican party. to defeat q
Republican and the choice of Repub,
licans? Is there a RING that claim:
the right and power to use the Repub
lican party organization to crush and
defeat Republicans not members O
that RiNG, and to use any means fail
or foul in the NAME of the party t.
accomplish this end? If there is sucl
a RING, it is certain that Mr.. BARNE,
and the Republicans who voted 70
him are not members of it. For i
stands to reason that they would no
have made use of means calculated t
defeat themselves.
We suspect the existence of a RIM
in the Republican party of Prebl
County, which, for years has CONTROL
ed and still expects to control that OF
ganization, and through it the office
andvpublic patronage of the county
We suspect further, that the Ring il
tended to accomplish two purpose
by the means used to sustain itse
and defeat Mr.. BARNET in the lat
First, to make such a daz,
Iingly brilliant exhibition of the pr
tency of its power to vilify, TT;
duce, defame and misrepresent IL
character, public, private, religion
moral and political, of any who ha
the temerity to not only question, b
openly revolt against its infalibilit