Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-12-19
A Model Democratic Leader,

Hon John OCOnnOr, the most prominent
Democratic member Of the Ohio House of
Representatives, was yesterday sentenced by
the United States Court, sitting in this city,
TO imprisonment for twelve months in the
Jail of Montgomery County at Dayton, for
the offence of forging pension papers to pro-
cure for himself pension. The proof Of the
deliberate forgery and fraudulent purpose
was SO clear that nothing was left to his coun-
sci but to ask mercy on the plea that O'CoN-
NOR had resolved to lead a new life. The
Sentence is a very light one for the offence.
The Hon. JOHN C'UoNNoR's Legislative his
tory is remarkable. This was partly because
CT his previous eventful life Soon after he
took his seat, circumstantial statement was
made that he had been a deserter from the
volunteer army in the war of secession. When
elected, he was an inmate of the Soldiers
Home on account of disability alleged to be
because of military service. 4 Committee of
Investigation was app>intei, and the case
was found to be complete one of bounty
jumping and desertion. And then it turEed up
that ne had served term in the Michigan
Penitentiary for larceny. But his services
were needed by his brother Democrats to
carry through some strong partisan measures
for recognizing the penitentiary and the be-
nevolent institutions, reform school, ETC., and
they did not regard these matters as any dis
qualification for their legislative work.
The fitness of their estimate can not be
questioned. Mr.. O'Connor remained a mem
Der, and the Chairman Of the Committee On
Military Affairs, till the last of the session, and
was efficient in passing some of the meanest
legislation that has disgrsced our records.
Just before the adjournment his fellow Demo-
Gratis took up his case and declared his seat
vacant. The only reason for this was that he
was unworthy to be member because guilty
as charged. But there was a gross inconsis-
tency in holding him worthy member to do
al the D mocratic legislation of the session,
and then declaring him unworthy.
OF course, this declaration is invalid, and
MIR. OConnor remains recognized by his fel-
low Democratic members as eminently fit for
DOluOChdtlC lcSIStditOn lHtTe lb an OUNlOuS
incompatibility between the laws of the Uni
ted States end the Ohio Democratic idea of
public morals Of course, it must be that the
United States laws are at fault, and that this
is another case of invasion of the rights of the
States by the centralized authority, as fragrant
as the interference with the custom of Dem
ocratic repeating at elections.
This conviction and sentence are further
more reflection On all the Democratic men,
bers of the Ohio House, for they regarded
these MATHS of O'Connor as in no wise dis
Qualifying him for the work of legislation.
and as no imputation on his Democracy. We
shall expect 10 see them take high ground
against this invasion of Democratic rights by
the United States as soon as the Legislature
ASSEMBLIES.
If this proceeding of convicting Democratic
party managers for nothing but repeating and
false voting, and Democratic Legislators for
nothing but forgery, be not stopped, the very
constitution of the Democratic party may be
undermined Il Gin Gag.