Litchfield enquirer., 1878-11-07
0bt Gttfbhelo Gnquirer,
 liTCHFiELp, CONN.
Thursday Nov. 7, 1878.
The Salisbury Plan.

from that ultra democratic sheet. The Farmer, an attack upon the honor of Mr. Miles, on the eve of election. giving no time for an explana- ton, and thereby virtually aidiug the Demo cFafa in their effoFts to place rin the Sens ate corrnptionist who is known as such all over the country: to the ordinary observer it looks like a strong leaning to the Democratic party. y.- WOIcottCilN Registe,. W
 The WoIcottville Register hoists the colors of independent journalism. It places no can didates' names at the head of its columns and it tells wholesome truths regarding the Bar mum regime, which we rejoice to see published. We believe that it meansto do honest work un- der its motto of Independent in All Things" It is a somewhat younger independent soldief,i however, than the Enquirer, and we take the liberty of calling its attention to certain facts which have led us to regard our Republican managers with something of the same distrust with which we agree with the Register in re- garding the Iea1ing politicians of the Demo cratic party. ..'
 In the first place it must be acknowledged that it was the Republican party which made the first direct appeal to the pocket book in this Congressional District, by the nomination of P. T. Barnum in 1867. This nomination. was made in opposition to the wishes of the best men of the party in both counties, and the two Republican papers then published in this county (the Litchfeld Enquirer and the Win sted HeraldJ denounced the nomination in ad- vance. The Democracy replied with the noni- ination of the 'Iron" Barnum as against the Snowman Barnum, and the campaign which succeeded was one of the most disgfaceful that ever occurred in any American State. In Sal isbury in particular the purchase of votes was conducted by both parties, without even the decent pretence of concealment. In the fall of that year, an examination into the conduct of that election began before the House Com mittee on Elections of which MT. (now Sena- tOr) Dawes was chairman. It plainly appear ed from the testimony, 30 far as it was taken, that both sides had been guilty of the most fla grant corruption. In Salisbury, particularly, it was an open fight of money against money j; and, although the bribery practiced by Bar num's agents was clearly proved, it became so evident that the Republican managers, if not equally successful, were equally guilty, that the investigation was allowed to drop unfin- ished. Though we did not know who of the Salisbury Republicans were implicated in the Barnum investigation, we distinctly remem- bered the general course of proceedings proved against them. The Odenbreit testimony was therefore, less of a surprise to us than to our younger independent brother of the Register Finding that there was no denial of the authen- ticity of this testimony in the Bridgeport Stan dard, where it would most naturally have ap- 'peared, we thought it our duty to call the at tentiOn of our readers to what seemed to us a most important piece of evidence. We must further state that since our former issue, we have looked in vain for any denial or eApana- ton of this matter from MT. Miles or his friends. We are in receipt moreover, of a letter from the editor of the Farmer in which he says that he copied the Odenbreit testimony from the stenOgraphers report. ... ,.
 While we believe that there are more Re- publicans than Democrats who object to the bribery of voters in elections, we cannot in view of all the facts, put any faith in the puri- ty of the managing politicians of either party. We believe that the course of Connecticut pol itics is more and more inclining towards the free use of money at elections. The practice was net begun with Wm. H. Barnum, and the constant selection of wealthy candidates by both particularly for candidates for the state Senate-shOws that money is becom- d. :.e ofI ! Republican managers.
 It IS very easy matter to criticise political enemies only. Independent journalism must go further. It must be able to criticise friends as well as foes. We are often surprised at the scnsitiveness of Republican friends under cen- sure at our hands, the justice of which they cannot deny. Because the sympathies of the editor of the Litchfied Enquirer are in the main on the side of Republcapism, many of the politicians of that party seem to expect us to say nothing of objectionable Republican practices, or of objectionable Republican nom- nations. They ask us, in effect, to turn fair ness into fraud; to talk independency and to practice craftsmanship
 We pretend to no infallible judgment, but we do recognize our duty of criticizing the po- litical methods of both parties as fairly we can. As we now write we do not know whether the Barnum dynasty in Connecticut is to stand ol fO fall. It is 6 mOmentous battle; but what we wish most of all ts see destroyed is not on. ly Barnum, but the Barnum political method. Our readers have all heard of what, in the Cot ton states, is termed the Mississippi Plan What Connecticut has most to fear, as it seems {" us. is what may be termed with equal pro priety, the Salisbury Plan"
 4 local item contributed, last week, called attention to the continued high prices of do mestic service. Servants wages have suffered little if any reduction since '73' The seryjce of an able bodied farm laborer can be securet at less price than that of a female servant, a least for the winter months. This is matte deserving the attention of all who employ do mestie labor. The New York Bulletin show, thas the average reduction in mechanics, wagel in that city is lees than g per cent, while ths cost of manufactured articles, and of most sup. plies for family consumption. appears to have decreased in . much greater proportion, Wages rise slowly and fall slowly. as the greenback labor reformers will surely discover if they ever succeed in "watering" the currency as they propose.
 Indiana cast very heavy vote, last month and the Democrats had plurality oi Ia, 73G nearly three times that of 1866. The ney Senate consists of 94 democrats, e3 republican and 8 nationals; the House, of 30 democrats So republicans and Il nationals-or, on join ballot, A democrats, @ republicans and i nationals. The Democrats therefore lack thre votes of g majority on joint ballot. Dan YOos to be pretty sure of his reelection.
 It is rather amusing to note the similarity e