Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-04-07

W argue endC tney are not so smart
as the former, when we all know tina,
their absence from the public teat SC
long has SO whetted their appetites
that they are as sharp as new file
1t would also argue that there are
more Democrats than Republicans
for sale, and that wouldn't suit the
Springfield Rep"blicam either.
In this town, early on the morning
of election, before it was known that
there was a Republican majority OF
sixty, a Democratic Committee man
offered $l2 apiece tor votes, and was
not very secret about it either. So
far rs l know, he found no takers
Did the Republicans buy votes? OF
course not; but I am not on the
stand, and | always make it point
to turn my blind eye toward that
party's committee on election day III
NEW IlalnpSnlfe.
There can be no doubt about the
Democrats buying votes, but so far
as l know, the Republicans, when
they see shaky Democrat going to
ruin, they throw about him the arms
of their love, they ply him with rea-
son, they immerse him with argu-
ment, and if they succeed in convert
ing him from the error Of his ways
they are overjoyed, and to manifest
their delight they have been known
to present the new convert with a
bran new suit Of clothes-his free
dom suit, rs it were-which shows
the innate benevolence of that party,
When lived in Haverhill, in this
State, the town was very close and
both parties worked hard for the I'M
certain vote. There lived there one
loses Mcconnell, a well disposed,
industrious, supplemented man, who
got an honest living by saving wood
and doing odd jobs. His wife, Lyd-
ia, was sharp and competent, and was
really the captain of the family
Now, Moses had been reared Dem
ocrat. but must have had his sCruples.
The Republican Committee, on the
alert to do good, visited him and la
bored with him, but he was befogged,
his mind was hazy in regard to alb
stract political dogmas of remote APP
plication, but he thought he could
see barrel of flour; upon this point
he was uncommonly clear. The
Committee, bent on doing him good,
were willing to be all things to all
men, and as he couldn't come up to
their level and talk principle, they
descended to his level and talked
flour. When the conference broke
up Moses was convinced, and prom
Used to vote the Republican ticket
The hearts of the Committee warmed
up to Moses and they promised to
roll barrel of -four into his kitchen
that evening-because Moses was
poor.
Meanwhile the Democratic Com
mittee, knowing better than the other
party where rested the seat of power
in that house, feloniously approached
Lydia, and with fifteen dollars of the
currency Of the United States did
purchase of the said Lydia the vote
of the said Moses, and Moses voted
Democratic, but having forgotten to
notify the other party of the change
of programme the flour was deliver
ed, and for six months Moses and
Lydia ate slaPjacks made from that
Republican flour,
Is there no law against buying and
selling votes in New Hampshire?
There certainly is, with severe pen l.
ty attached, but nobody wishes to see
the law enforced. Election week is
half holiday, there is contest of wit
and skill between the contending
Committees. There Is an indescrib-
able zest in winning a vote from
your opponents by sharp practice,
and the joke holds good till the next
election. Some inexperienced person
might think politics exceptionally
debased in this State, but it is not so.
The parties are as pure here as in
Iowa, only they are more bold in
their conduct from half-century of
immunity. The aggregate of votes
purchased in the State is small. If
the practice were abandoned it would
not materially affect the general re-
suit, for each party now gets about
half Of the floodwood, and if no ex-
ertlon whatever were made each par
ty would still get about half of that
vote, and the character and reputa-
ton Of the State would be greatly
elevated. Give us purity Of elections,
but if we cannot have that, don't ag-
gravate the evil by adding hypocrisy
to corruption.
This State is good for 5000 Re-
publican majority next fall.
MOODY Grow.
The indianapolis Journal, which
is understood to reflect Senator Nor
toms opinions, says that public opin-
ION favors the repeal of the Resump-
ton act, not rs a means of imitation,
but because the government cannot