Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-10-07

lackeys all over the State--the more dis
reputable the better-because they can
be used all the more easily to further
the rings purposes 2
Now, if the Statesman is Demo-
cratic paper, is tired of the rule Of the
ring Of very small demagogues, with
whom principle is nothing, and a
chance at the treasury everything" what
show will the people have, if this ticket
the representatives of that party, should
be elected? The charge is put strong
ly; the language used is unmstakable
in its plainness, and is terrible in its
scope. If true, and true the charge
must be, because it is made not only by
a member of the Democratic family, but
by one authorized to speak for tan
admitted, authorized organ of that FAM
lily. What do the hewers Of wood and
the drawers of water in that household
consider to be their duty under such cir
cumstances? Will they go on and aid
this ring, or will they assist not only to
make bare this corruption, but to punish
it j? Is it entitled to their longer conf
dence? Thus much for these managers I;
and now see what this same organ says
of the leading Democratic candidate
the man, who if elected, will be at the
head of the Departments of State, and
who, if the Statesman is correct, will
be the last of the ring, streaked and stri-
ped ring. On the 18th Of April, 1876,
speaking of Fl. M. Mathews, the Estates
man" said:
We can assure our friend
that there is no pique in our opposition
to Mr.. Mathews; but our opposition to
him arises alone from the fact that he is
the apple of the eye Of the Walker
Baker-Burdett ring, that has so long
controlled the Democratic party of the
State to its great detriment, bringing
odium upon its fair fame. We
are as certain as we are penning these
lines, that if Mathews gets the nomina-
ton, he will be defeated. o If
they cannot rule they mean to ruin"
On the 9th of May, the Statesman
said:
"That portion Of the Ord district dem
ocracy and especially our FREUD of the
Hinton Heraldin advocating the claims
of Col. FL. NJ Mathews for the guberna
torial nomination, have perhaps never
thought of the fact that Maj. f. A. Ben
nett still retains his place as Auditor,
although fl fteen out of twenty-four Sen
ators pronounced him guilty of high
crimes and misdemeanors and that I'M
der the instructions vonchsafed him by
Col. Mathews, Att. General, he, Ben
nett, still goes on pocketing ices which
of right belong to the State treasury
| Can the democrats of West Virginia af-
ford to go into the State canvass with
such a man at the head of the ticket
who had advised public officer to con-
tinue in his course of plumber II e
3rd district should think twice before it
bows to the dictation of the Walker 3 +
ker-Burdett ring"
Yet this man whom the STATESMAN
as g Democratic organ, says chad advis-
ed public officer to continue in his
course Of plunder,' is the Democratic
candidate for governor, and does it not
behoove the people of the whole State,
as well as the 3rd district, ito think
twice before they bow to the dictation
of the Walker Baker Bennett ring"
The Statesman" on the 9th Of June
said as follows:
"If H. M. Mathews should, by any
manner of manipulation, receive the
nomination for governor at Charleston,
our opinion is that Col. Ward III. Lamon
could, as an independent candidate, beat
him out of his boots. There are thou
sands of democrats in West Virginia
who would prefer an honest republican
to a doughty member of their own
party"
General Golf is an honest Republican.
His integrity has never been questioned
by an opponent. Will not those thou
sands of honest Democrats, as honest
citizens, as pure-minded people, as in
telligent men, prefer him ''to doughty
member of their own party ?"
In the same issue of June 9th, the
Statesman" said:
"Should the Observation-Disclosures
Bennett ring succeed in securing for
their right hand man, Mathews, the
nomination for governor, we do not
think the honest masses of the party
l n L. Al