Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-03-28
COMMUNICATED.
PIpEnrowx, jeff. Co., W. Va,
March 25th. 1876.

consequently have little or no personal ac-
quaintance with the citizens of our county
beyond my immediate mountain precinct
But living this secluded life, take tho
county papers and endeavor to keep posted
In what is moving the world around me.
take especial interest in elections, aud have
never failed to vote since 1 enjoyed the right
of that privilege. But I am no politician
and no Office seeker. My little mountain
home, under the good Providence of God,
supplies my daily needs, and L am happy and
cohtented with my lor, esteeming myself rich
in that have but few wants and am able to
crafty them. But am not unmindful of
the fact, that as q citizen 1 owe solemn du.
ty to my country, and it is the desire to per
form this duty properly, that ilnpels mo to
address you this communication.
Our country sorsly needs honest, upright
men at the head of every department.
Roguery in high places has brought the blush
to the nations cheek. Dante found public
peculators and political demagogues together
in the lowest circle of hell, fitting place for
such characters. We should guard against
these. No man is honest who has not honest
and independent sentiments, aud it matters
not whether he be railroad man, middle.
man or granger, these organizations or as
sociatioDs never can and never will make him
honest. The morale of trades and professions
arc about even in this SCALE These are times
when We should look for men, and not for
parties or for cliques.
Ne have not ia our mountains any rail-
roads, turnpikes, money lenders, grangers,
middlcmen, lawyers or Legislators, and we are
consequently above aud beyond the influence
of any such, but we do feel that VIC have
Gods greatest boon to man, honesty and in
tegrity. BY this standard We wish to meas.
ure every candidate for ofice-to separate the
burrs from the chestnuts, and then examine
each particular chestnut to see there is no
worm in it. | have noticed most candidates
are wormy. The best way to try them is to
put them under fire, aud il there is any worm
about, ho is very apt to show himself A
very correct why to estimate tho worth of
candidate is to look at his record in private
life and see what he has been doing for him.
self. If he has been failure there, you NAV
rest assured he will be a failure in a public
function.
After | saw the cards of Bill Williams and
Sweet William, announcing themselves for
Office, not knowing these gentlemen PERSONAL
~, called little meeting of my friends and
neighbors, and after elaboration and consal>
tstion, no one from 6ae community being
willing to become a candidate, we decided
upon the following catechism, to be submits
ted to Mr.. Sweet William and Mr.. Bill vii.
liams, and to all other candidates expecting
our sufrages, for their respective answers
thereto:
l. Are you in favor of tho present system
of attending to other peoples business and
leaving your own undone, and the unjust
discrimination against and evasion Of honest
lnhOr = II uh, ,,CIiEn,,Ior i
pose
2. Are you in favor of taxing not only the
property Of railroad companies but the prop
erty of turnpike companies, Durham and AL
derney cattle on the same basis of our noun.
tain cattle and sheep.
8. Are you in favor Of limiting the speech
es OF our legislators within the working capa>
city Of their brains, so that when the brains
are out the speech shall end
1 Will you faithfully perform your prom
ises according to their tenor and effect, and
have you heretofore done so
D. Will y"u accept free pass from turn
pike companies and the pcrqni>it,s of fat
oeiec at the same !ime, unless impelicd to do
So?
6. If AS Durham gets into Bs field, and
while tresspassing there BIS Aidcrncy goes
for him and kills said Durham, will you COM
pei 3 to pay for As Durham?
Z. Will you advocate the passage of law
requiring members of the Legislature, and all
other officers, on oath, to refuse to receive
their per diem, in every instance they nre in
vited out to take square meal and they par
take thereof?
s. Will you vote to lessen the fees of off
so to reduce their income within their
expenses, and require them to steal to make
up the deficit
0. Do you favor the unjust discrimination
that now exists under Tanners bill in favor
of poodle-doga a"d terriers?
10. Are you in condition to act soberIy as
we'll as impa'tialiy? In other words, are you
addicted to corn juice i?
II. If you get fat office will you continue
to hold it, whethcr you fit for it or not?
-. DO you think you could do your duty,
if you were paid to do it and received en-
couragemeut in the performance of it be-
side?
IS. Are you in favor of staying at home
and attending your own affairs, until your
fellow citizeus call upon you to assume those
of the public
a stiN small voice from the mountain.
PETEp pIpED