Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-04-01
Decidedly Good.


a letter In the last issue of that pa
per which contains some excellent
hits in an ironical way. We make
the following extract from the let
ter, which will repay perusal. He
says:
Our country sorely needs hon.
est, upright men at the head of
every department. oguery in
high places has brought the blush
to the nations cheek. Dante found
public spectators snd political
demagogues together in the low
est circle of hell, fitting place for
such characters. We would guard
against these. No man Is honest
who has net henest aud indepen-
dent sentiments, and it matters
not whether he bea railroad man,
a middle man or a granger, these
organizations or associations never
can and never will make him hon.
est. The morals of trades and pro-
LESSONS are about even in this
scale. These are times when we
should leok for men, and not for
parties or for cliques.
We have not Ia our mounta ms
any railroads, turnpikes, money
lenders, grangers, middlemen, law
yers or legislators, and we are con-
sequently above and beyond the
influence of any such. bat we do
feel we have Gods greatest boon
to man, honesty and integrity. By
this standard we wish to measure
every candidate for 0ffce-to sep
arate the burrs from the chesnuts,
and then examine each particular
chestnut to see there is no worm
in it. / have noticed most candi-
dates are wormy. The best way
to try them is to put them under
fire, and If there is any worm
about, he is very apt to show him.
self. A very correct way to esti-
mate the worth of candidate is
to look at his record in private
life and see what he has been do
ing for himself. IF he has been a
failure there, you may rest assur-
ed he will be failure in q public
function.
After l saw the cards of Bill
Williams and Sweet William, an
nouncing themselves for Office, mot
knowing those gentlemen person
ally, / called a little meeting Of
my friends and neighbors, and af-
ter elaboration and consultation,
no one from our community being
willing to become candidate,
we decided upon the following
catechism, to be submitted to Mr..
Sweet William and Mr.. Bill Will.
liams, and to all other candidates
expecting our suffrages, for their
respective answers thereto
/. Are you in favor of the pre-
sent system of attending to other
peoples business and leaving your
own undone, and the unjust dis
elimination against and evasion
Of honest labor ? If so, what mod
ificati0n do you propose +?
2. Are you in favor of taxing
not only the property Of railroad
companies but the property of
turnpike companies, Durham and
Alderney cattle on the same basis
Of our mountain cattle and sheep.
3. Are you favor of limiting
the speeches Of our legislators
within the working capacity of
their brains, so that when the
brains are out the speech shall end?
4. Will you faithfully perform
your promises according to the
tenor and effect, and have you
heretofore done so?
8. Will you accept . free pass
from turnpike companies and the
perquisites of fat Office at the
same time, unless impelled to dc
SO?
6. If AS Durham gets into BIS
field, and while tresspassing there,
BIS Attorney goes for him and
kills said Durham. will you COM
pei B to pay for AS Durham
7. Will you advocate the pass
age Of a law requiring members Of
the Legisture, and all other off,
GERS, on oath, to refuse to receive
their per diem, in every instance
they are invited out take a square
meal and they partake thereof?
8. Will you vote to lessen the
fees of officers SO as to reduce their
income within their expenses, and
require them to steal to make up
the deficit?
8. Do you favor the unjust dis
elimination that now exists under
Tanners bill in favor of poodle
dogs and terriers
10. Are you in condition to act
soberly as we'll as impartially In
other words, are you addicted to
CORN JUICE?
IL. Ii you get fat Office will
you continue to hold it, whether
e.. Al