Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-11-13
The New Governor of Ohio.

The Philadel phia Bulletin, gives the
following incident in the early career
of the Hon. William Allen, the
Democratic Governor elect of the
Buckeye" State -
"It appears to be conceded that the
Hon. William Allen. has been elected
Gov. of Ohio by a small majority. -
Though this must be great surprise
and a notifying defeat to the Repnb
lican of that State, they may have the
consolation of rejecting that their
Governor elect is an able man, and, so
far as we know, without a stain. or Il
suspicion of one, upon his character
either in public or private life. Mr.
Aliens political experience is little
singular. His first appearance in
public life was in 1882, when he Of
fered himself as candidate for Con
gress in Chilicothe, the place of his
residence. Mr. Stansbury, the sitting
member, and Duncan Macarthur, then
Governor OF the State. were opposing
candidates, and the contest was warm
and animated Stansbury had just
voted for the charter of the Bank of
the United States, which President
Jackson defeated with his veto, and
that was a subject of heated contro
versy. Ie had, besides, a good deal
of notoriety from a recent conflict with
Samuel Houston, a member from Ten
nessee and afterwards the hero of San
Jacinto, President Of Texas and Sena-
tor from that Stale. The active can,
vas was between Allen and Stansbury,
Macarthur attending to his duties as
Governor and resting on his reputa-
ton and general popularity, We TO
member hearing OF an incident in the
contest rather amusing, and showing
Aliens character AT a large public
meeting held in the woods, in one of
counties Of the district, Stansbury
made strong attack upon A len, ridi-
culing his pretensions and his age, and
wanting to know it the people wanted
a boy to represent them in the councils
of The nation. He held the audience
in a roar ofllughter at Aliens expense,
and made his friends very nervous. -
Some of them went to him where he
was sitting ON log, at some distance
from the rostrum, and wanted him TO
defer his reply two Or three day:, say
ING the feeling was such that he could
not have a fair hearing. But Allen
answered, mo, it he could not meet
that emergency he was not fit to be
their representative Accordingly,
when Stansbury was done, Allen rose
and made a bee line for the stand, and
commenced his speech. Stansbury
sat down near him. looking up with
grin, like the rest of the audience, ex
pecting a retort. Bat Allen, who was
ola grave, serious character, answered
him never Il word, nor took the slight
est notice Of anything personal he had
said lie was at the time about twen-
ty.fve years Of age, barely eligible,
tall and spare, and with tremendous
voice that filed the woods He dis
cussed the question of the banks, de-
picted the dangers Of great moneyed
corporations, laudcd the patriotism
and ability Of General Jackson, and
tried to make the people feel that his
re election was necessary for the safety
of the nation. Soon the people fell in
to his own train of thought, and
Stansburts speech was Of no account
The result of the contest was that
Stansbury was left far behind, and III
a district Of five counties, Allen had
one vote more than Macarthur. But
this did not quite end the question.
The friends of Macarthur demanded
that the district should be contested,
and served notice on Allen Of their in
tentlon to take testimony to prove
errors and frauds. Aliens friends
wanted him to meet them on their
own ground ; but after the most anxi.
GUS reflection. be refused, and took no
part IN the proceeding. A year aud