Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-08-29

1rCleVllle CQ1On-defHlQ.
Gen. Beatty, at the Republican Con- :
,ressional Convention last week, made a i
'attling speech in which he handled t
George L. Converse without gloves. He
pictured him in his true light as a debased
md corrupt politician, and boldly charged
lim with having obtained his nomination
through the vilest means, and challenged
him to call for the proofs. The charges
were of such a character that no honora-
bic man could afford to rest under them
for day, but George L. Converse, al
though he has since made two public
speeches, has never once even referred to
the matter, but stands like a convicted
man, dumb before his accuser. He knows
that every word spoken is true. and that
General Beatty not only can, but agtll
prore every syllable, if he is given an oppor-
tunity. And General Beatty's charges
were not argued from Republican stand
point only, but he produced sound Demo
cratic testimony in his support. He read
to the Convention the accompanying edi-
torial from the Columbus Capital, the |
organ of democracy in Franklin county, |
in support of his statements.
We hope that our readers will care
fully peruse every sentence of the article |
and be convinced, from Democratic
testimony, that there is truly something
rotten in Denmark" Inwardly digest the
lesson contained in the shameful narra-
tive, and then hand it to your Democratic
neighbor, that he may see what the
Democratic world is coming to, and stop a
while to think. Yes, get them to thinking;
thinking for themselves, and they will
wonder how under the sun it was ever
possible that they should have stood si-
lently by so long and witnessed the same
selfish and personal use made of their pO-
litical fidelity, which has forced the Dem
| ocrats of Franklin county into open re-
bellion. Here is the article, and remem-
ber that it is no Republican lie, gotten up
to deceive the people, but an editorial
from the leading Democratic paper in
Columbus:
| 1t is the purpose of the Capital this
morning to call the attention of the peo-
| pie of this city and county to an evil that
has grown up in our politics to such a
magnitude as to demand an immedi-
ate and thorough remedy. In doing this
we shall be under the necessity of recit-
| ing some facts that may have an unpleas-
ant sound to some gentlemen now holding
official positions, and which may appear
to reflect no little discredit upon the Dem
ocratic party of Columbus and Franklin
county, but while this may be unfortu-
nate it can not be helped. The Capital is
the advocate of pure Democracy, not that
composed of rings and rottenness, and to
| any intelligent man, who examines with
any degree of care the working of our
city and county political machinery, the
truth will come with irresistible force,
that in the present condition of our
politics, good government, sound and
healthy public morality, are things utter
lp impossible.
It has long been a subject of remark, as
we'll as of regret, that our best men, our
business men, and the men who earn their
living by hard work, do not take any part
in politics, that they will not be candi-
dates for office, and they are seldom seen
at the primary meetings and conventions.
, While this is an admitted fact, we very
much doubt if the true reason why it is SO
is well understood. We very much doubt
whether there has been yet thorough
comprehension of the fact, (and that it is
a fact we are prepared to prove,) thai
no man can obtain a public Office in Franklin
county or In the city Of Columbus unless he
buys 1t. 1t is no longer the voice of the
, people that calls any man to an office
The people do not any longer have the
privilege of choosing one of their num-
ber whom they esteem most worthy to
represent them in official position; they
: only have the poor right of choosing be-
: tween few men who have bought tn
priUilege of being candidates.
We assert the simple truth when we af-
: firm that such is the condition of things
now prevailing that no poor man can be
2 nominated to office in the Democratic
| n,Exr .oPf L,
worthy he may be. No man whose hon
Orable instincts prevent him from associ
e ating with and proptiating the good viii
' of horde of drunken bummers, leeches
> dead beats, drunkards, gamblers, thieves
and prostitutes, can be candidate will
0 any degree of success. That is the eIe,uen
that to all tntentS and purposes rules this cit,
and county to-day. It is the ruling powe
: in politics, and the candidate who woult
succeed at the primaries must buy it
: favor or fail. We present few statistic
= of what it costs to receive the nomination
v for office in the city and county, merel.
. remarking the figures are not imaginary
but represent amounts that have been aC
# tually paid, and we can give the name
d and details if necessary.
II To be a member of the City Council, a.
office that pays nothing in a legitimat
way, has cost as high as $500.
Candidates for Justice of the Peac
1t have paid out to leeches and blackmailer
,e of different kinds as much as 5000 in
single week.
. To be Representative costs $500, a
10 amount equal to his salary.
fe County Commissioner and Infirmary D
ia rector cost $400 each.
- A candidate for Congressman must ex
u pect to be bled to the amount of So, ,00(
a and be very thankful if he gets off wit
lie that. In cases where the opposition
D. strong, the amount will be doubled.
Five candidates for Sheriff have bee
70 known to spend an aggregate of $I5, 600
d, secure the nomination.
ee Auditor, ClerksOf Court and Probat
nc Judge call for an outlay of from 81 200 I
50 900; while he who would be Mayo
u must expect to bleed to the same amour
This amount is not used IN the legit
a mate expenses of the campaign. 1t dot
ri not go to newspapers, brass bands, publ
meetings, torchlight professions, an
c such things. These all come in subs,
d. quently. 1t is used to obtain the nom
Id nation. 1t is squandered in saloon
- gambling dens and houses ofprostitutiol
There is in this city a gang of polite
ef deadbeats, who are dependent on this sy
er tenn of things for their very existenc
es They bleed the candidates in the ia
m enough, with what miscellaneous stea
ings they can get at during the winte
and then bleed new lot in the spring
off They never did an honest days work
, a their lives, and never will until the pen
ba tentiary receives its just dues. They a.
nv the men who run the party machiner
le- who are always at the primaries, and wi
'se setup things around in the dirty slums
cir the city. TO be candidate involves Il
oa necessity of distributing money la
q ishly among these fellows, buying the
ng support and their 'influence'' 1t il
'or wolves the necessity of being afflicted d,
ne after day with these dirty and loathson
= leeches on the body polite. Like Il
10 horse leech's daughters, they incessant
est cry~'Give! Giver' and are never sati
re- fek. A gentleman, not long since ca
nv did9te for Office, but compelled to wit