The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-10

EDITOR HERALp.-Considerable ankle
ty is ielt here TO know what more, If any
thing. will be done by the Chairman OF the
Republican County Committee to prevent
weakened or unscr dpulous Committee
men from accepting and counting the votes
of Democrats at the Republican primary
election, as il is said that quite a number
OF them intend, and have made arrange
ments, 10 do. At first "a cloud nc larger
than a mans hand" "a little acorn. -
this disgracetul practice, growing every
year, has assumed threatening proportions!
and is now q very Large OAK" Some
thing should be done TO preserve, or raih
er restore the purity of our primary cleo
ton ballot boxes, OF they cease to be ex-
pressions OF party preference. and are not
entitled TO party allegiance. We. the
common soldiery, the men of the musket,
have been most grievously sinned against
and imposed upon BY our would be Off
cials OF the past. Sundry politicians,
small headed and hearted fellows, smart
Alexis" aspirsnts for office, and their
henchmen, have. in the not very ''lang
syne, too, been guilty of some disgrace
III ly fantastic tricks before high heaven, :"
and the Republican party OF Somerset
county. We have been sold several
times TOR much less Thar the traditional
''mess of pottage." And while We are
disposed to let by--ones be ~by-gonCs, ito
forgive and forget" we don't intend to
have any more ''fooiin' round dar. with
impunity, in the future. ''Dinns We hear
the slogan 1t is as yet only a whisper,
but it is in the air, and il means some
u fbanr n.sr nnrhanc shan r.ara
thunder of the captains and sh%outings."
IL might be as well to say right here,
that the writer has not been, is not now,
and never intends to be a candidate for
any office; he is not o ''soie-head," nor
has he any ak, or even a little Ratchet,
present or prospective, to grind. Also
that he is not writing in the interest, or at
the suggestion Of any candidate, or to in
lure, by attempting 10 weaken, the claims
of any OF the very many courteous gentle
men from among whom We. ii is to be
hoped, are to have the privilege OF choos-
ing color sergean,s for our little skirmish
with the outside barbarIans next fall.
But he thinks, with many others, that we
should have a tair, square deal. Rascality
in our primary elections should be in
continently stamped out-this unprinci-
pied treason TO the party made odious, as
odious as treason 10 the country used to be,
and the perpetrator, "whate'er his name
or age or station, by all decent, honorable
men, dhdthemd. And though Brother
Beecher, Canon Farrar and some other
sensational ~theologians have, It's said,
weakened, somewhat on the orthodox
belief in the severity and duration OF the
future state OF punishment, he may, per-
chance. try TO plaster his soul with the de-
lusive though ''fiattering junction" that
there is only q little ''unpleasantness'
awaiting him on the other side of the
Styx. he should be taught that in this
country there is q political and social.
''ouier darkness for the man whose con-
science, with such base injustice TO his
party and to his competitors. is corrupted.
Everything is not lair in war or politics;
and honesty is the best policy, even if IN
successful. For there are some damned
spots that will not ''out,n and some
CHASTITY ghosts that will not down, " at
the high behest Of cen proud wear
ers OF the purple and fine linen.
The sentiment here is. and always has
been, for Republican primary elections;
and our Committeeman, We are happy 10
say, has the particles Of stony matter
commonly known as sand and has it
bad. too. None but Republicans have
been, or will be allowed TO vote at these
polls, mark that; and o n more than
once. They can if, they wish, vote
early" but cannot vote often" We are
rel igiously Ops sed to the suicidal prac-
tice OF stufing ballot boxts with the votes
of dogs, dead men. non-residents, repeat
ers, a1d D.mtc ats. We think no returns
should be accepted except under oath. and
further, that all candidates receiving the
greatest and nominating number. of votes
should be compelled to ''most solemnly
swear that none had been by themselves,
or to the best Of their knowledge and be-
Lief their friends for them. bought, stolen,
whitewashed. or manufactured. And We
really believe that q great majority OF the
Republican voters OF Somerset county
are with US in our humble but most earn
est appeal TO the Chairman Of the Repub-
lican County Committee tor this hare
bodkin.' XEBEc.
CONFLUENCE, April 3, 1878.