The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-11-13
raE REPRESENTATIVES, NATTER

The election Of Hon. Hon. N +.
Barnes, in this District, over the regu.
lar Democratic nominee was a sore blow
to the Press Ring matter Of per.
sonal affront- and rendered all the
more uuendurable because "the editor
of The JOURNAL worked hard at the
polls all day to bring about the result.
1t is not surprising that these gentle.
men begin to feel discouraged and
soarly Is defeat after defea. meets them.
They find it hard to kick against the
prioks.
1t is At the door Of this Ring that
the responsibility lies for the failure Of
this District to elect Republican Rep.
resentative. Had the Republican Con.
vention made such = nomination a.
had been been discussed among Re.
publicans, and As it was understood
would be made, success was certain
The dissatisfaction that existed among
Democrats with the nomination of Mr.
Rigby guaranteed enough votes from
that party to elect tho Republican can.
didate, if that candidate were judicious-
ly selected. But that Convention will
fully add purposely threw away the
opportunity, aud played into the hands
of the regular Democratic nominee
Mr.. Bridgman is worthy and estima.
bic citizen, but he does not possess
those elements Of political strength
which are requisite to enable .
candidate to draw to his support DIS
satisfied opposition. From the begin.
ming it was evident that, with the Dis.
trict three to one against him, he was
making a hopeless run.
When few days before the election
it was announced that Hon. N. F.
Barnes, Of this city, was in the field as
an independent candidate, men of both
parties rallied to his support from con.
siderations Of Z local nature. Although
the time to work was brief, bis election
was secured BY . vote of 28l to Psi for
NJ. Rigby, and u for MI. Bridgman.
These figures show how entirely out of
the question was the success Of Mr..
Bridgn,u. Republicans we're LETT no
choice other than between the two
Democratic candidates, and they held
to their right to cant their ballots in
such !. way ~ to guard thor local
interests. The Same causes that oper-
ated to elect Mt. Barnes would have
elected such = Republican nominee -
We have referred to.
One thing that contributed in no
small degree to the success Of Mr..
Barnes was the bitter opposition, the
coarse personal vituperation, he re.
ceived from the Press Ring. He
dared to assert his independence Of
them, which was the head and front OF
his offending. They spared no effort
to secure his defeat, and this served
to send him to the top wave of pop.
ularity. 1t was the misfortune of both
Mr.. Bridgman and Mr.. Rigby to have
the support of these meu-the most dis
astrous thing that can befal candidate
for Office in Stearns county. Among
Republicans they were for Mr.. Brldg.
man among Democrats, for Mr.. Rig
by-with the usual fatal consequences
to both. When it was reported or
Wednesday morning that Mr.. Rigby
was elected, the Ring were in high
spirits over the "copperhead success
as they were pleased to term it, but BY
afternoon they we're in dark back Of
6oes gnawing the file Of Barnes cleo
tion.
In common with ma ority Of th'
Republican voters Of this city, Wit
clearly saw that under 20 circum'
stances was it possible for Mr.. Brldgmar
to secure enough votes to elect him
the editor Of TIE JOURNAL did no
propose to cast his vote for the regular
Republican nominee, simply because BIZ
was such nominee, when to do so wal
to elect the Democratic nominee, who
for various reasons, was not 50 satisfac'
tory as ma independent candidate. W.
place this statement at the service Of
the Press Ring, and they are at liberty
to make the most of it. Aod lest they
should get out Of employment We com.
mend to their attention the following
extract from tho St. Paul Press, whose
editor likewise asserts his right to use
his individual judgment in these mat
tiers =:
1--WE wish it distinctly understood that
tho P1ess will support no one for any Of
fee Of trust or responsibility, Of whose ct.
ness Ne have any doubt, simply because
be is the regular nominee Of Republic
can Convention when the circumstance,
leave Us any choice"
Now, let the little Press bark At thu
heels of the big Press. Sic
REPUBLICAN, BOOSTERS went to the