Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-10-05
BARNES VS.. BELL.

A prominent DemOcrat-One who hal
been all his lifetime identified with the part,
which he still adheres-said to us, the othel
day. at does seem little singular that We
have come to such pass that the fact of ones
being of temperate habits should be urged
against him as candidate for office" And
this was said by one who makes no pretensions
to abstinence himself. He had, however, seer
enough, as an employer of men, to know that
scbriety is no objection to one who is to be
trusted with high responsibilities. He was
disposed to record to others the same personal
liberty he claims for himself, and more than
this, he fully recognized the fact that habits
of inebriation tend to disqualify any one for
regular and trustworthy employment.
And this feeling is more general among hon.
est and intelligent Democrats throughout the
State than if probably understood by the
Democratic editors who are resorting to argu-
ments drawn from the temperate habits of
candidates whom they oppose. In order to
intensity this feeling, they do not scruple to
add, whenever it suits their purpose, and re-
gardless of truth, that this or that candidate
was CRUSADER" and whatever else they may
conjure up to excite hostile passions A
special object of their attacks-for the reason
that his name stands at the head of the Re-
publican State ticket-has been our candidate
for Secretary of State, Colonel Milton Barnes.
Their malicious shafts, however, fall short of
their object. Their inventions are understood
In their true character, and will only serve to
call the attention of sober, well-meaning Dem
ocrats to the comparative character and habits
of Colonel Barnes, and of his opponent, VIM
Bell. We have no reason to deprecate such
comparison. So far as this matter is con-
cerned, we do not apprehend that it is going
to affect any great number of votes on either
side. There is nothing practical involved
here, unless it be in the way it impressed the
mind of our Democratic friend already quoted. |
And in that shape we are content to leave it.
There are considerations, however, having
direct and practical bearing on the vote in
elligent citizens will give for Secretary of |
State, which deserve to be daily pressed upon
-S
hould duly remember that the ballot he casts
n October may have ten or hundred times
he effect of that he casts in November, on the
ssues to be determined at the latter election,
his consideration alone should be decisive
plth every man who opposes the election of
1lden and the Inauguration of what, as the
Inquirer assures us, would be ''the most cor
upt administration the country has ever
nown."
A comparison of the public record of Barnes
nd Bell should be equally decisive in favor
the former with all honest and loyal men,
of party considerations While
'ell was giving aid and comfort to the Con-
ederate Democracy-the same power now
ppermost in the '.Solid Southland making
appeals to the people against the
ieasures necessary to keep our armies in the
eld, Barnes was rendering gallant and hon.
rable service, from the first to the last year
the war. In October, 1862, the following
ppeared in the Democratic Adrocate, publish
d at Newark, Bells home:
Strike! j.! to save yourselves from Drafts,
inscriptions, Unrelenting, Iaterminable civil
'ar, from an impending flood of free Negroes, ,
'om corrupt Congress and Administration,
'om a mountain of Taxes that will crush the
merican people forever
[Signedl WILLIAM BELL, JR., And Others
And this is the same William Bell, Jr.,
hom the Democrats ask you, people of ,
hio, to elect as your Secretary of State, over
olonel Milton Barnes! Now look at the
authoritative record of Barnes, given in con-
ensed form as follows:
4th October, 1861. Mustered in as private !
I'd o. Inf.
7th December, 1861. Appointed Captain Co.
, 62d o. V. l.
Oath March, 1862. Battle of Winchester.
LIST September, 1862. Appointed Lieutenant !
olonel 9th o. V. /. /
As Lieutenant Colonel of the 97th o. vi,
participated in the following battles:
3lst December, 1862. Battle of Stone &
iver !
9th September, 1868. Battle of Chattanooga.