The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-09-29
The Prospect in the District.

The average Republican majority in
this district for some years past, has been,
in round numbers, one thousand. What
are the chances for overcoming that ma
jority this Fall?
We have for months entertained an
opinion which is constantly growing
stronger, that one half of that msjority
was lost before any nominations were
made. This opinion was based on the
disintegration of the Republican party
caused by the corruption and profigacy
of the leaders of that party. 1t is per-
fectly obvious to every man who has his
eyes open, that all over the country are
Republicans who believe it TO be high
time that their leaders were rebaked, and
who will administer that rebuke by vo-
ting with the Democratic party. or by re-
naming away from the polls.
From this cause, and others more local
in their character, we have estimated that
the thousand majority would De reduced
to five or six hundred, admitting both
candidates to be unobjectionable.
But the candidate Of the opposition, or
as some Republicans call him, the candi.
date of GKosvENoR and KEssrNeER,is not
unobjectionable. We do not allude to
such political views as he holds in com
mon with his party; but to objections
which will make many Of his party
friends hesitate before they cast a vote
for him.
tits affirmed with decided emphasis
that something very far removed from
plain, old-fashioned honesty characteriz
ed the course by which he obtained his
nomination. That there was deceit and
double-dealing practiced, can only be
questioned by discrediting some Of the
most reliable men in the district.
But long before that time, and since
that time, and during all the time for ma
nytears past, it has been told as an open
secret that Mr.. VAN Worries has been O
prominent member Of the Athens ring
We profess to have no intimate knowl-
edge of the operations of that ring We
only know that it has obtained wide
spread notoriety in connexion with fal
jobs about Athens, and especially for bar
gains and trades in federal as we'll as
county Offices.
Whether public opinion has done in.
justice to these Athens politicians we are
not prepared to say, but this much we can
say with confidence: that the reputation
which they have achieved, or which has
been fixed upon them, will lose to Mr.
VAN Worries scores Of votes in the dis
trict. He may be as honest as the average
of politicians, but it is merely stating 6
notorious fact to say that in many part:
of the district he is not held in very higl
esteem for open, manly, straightforward
practices.
This suspicion of his unworthiness, SC
widely prevailing, must further cut dowI
the majority some scores, if not hun
drcds, leaving but small margin to over
come.
Now in Monroe County. we all agree
that we have not given our full majority
for several years. We have twenty-five
hundred, and should easily give, this Fall
two thousand. This would be an increas
of two or three hundred to our average.
IF we may add to this one half or ever
one fourth of the Republican votes claim
ed in Washington County for Mr.. OLD
HAM, the entire opposition majority dis
appears, and there remains 4 handsom'
balance to our side.
Against this calculation is to be PLACED
possible increased oppos itiou majority
in Athens County. If the ring there
Yields the power aseribed to it, no sur
prise need be occasioned if it uses th'
means to add two or three hundred to th'
usual majority.
This we believe to be fair and candle
estimate OF the situation in the district