The Hartford herald., 1879-08-20
The situation.

The great political contest OF the cOun-
ty il over. The smoke of the battle
has cleared away, and the stiffness fol-
lowing the shock is supremely grand.
We may now survey the field, note the
results, and examine our present situa-
ton. The work of last Monday was
we'll done, and glory and success crowned
the efforts of the Democracy all along
the line. At every point victory perched
upon the Democratic banner.
Hartford precinct was the theater of
u hotly contested engagement, but the
result was largely i'm favor of the DemOc-
racy, the majority being reduced very
considerably, Buford did nObly, Bart
let's held her ground, Ellis did good
work, bringing up the largest majority
of any district in the county, FOr,lsville
fell short some owing to circumstances
surrounding, Sulphur Springs held her
own, ROsine, the great Radical strong
hold, advanced considerably upon the
enemy, Stewartsville, though but a
little boat, is entitled to the "highest
honOrs," Cromwell came near redeem
ing herself from Radical majQrities,
Cool Spring redeemed herself, running
out "A ahead, Rockport made good
!,
notwithstanding little meeting i'm the
camp, or rather little discontentment,
resulting i'm a Greenback element, did
nobly, and the Democracy of the coun-
ty are proud of the part borne by the
Centerville Democracy. Upon the
whole grand days work was done.
We started into the contest with badly
organized forces. Schisms and local dis
sensions had crept into the ranks, but
now we stand united Democracy.
We hope a lesson has been learned from
this contest. The Radical party was
thoroughly organized, and suffered not
a man to be out of line. Regular drill
ing had been the order of the day for
months past, and everything had been
done to inspire enthusiasm into the
ranks. The colOred voters We're well
looked after, and no means We're left
unused to force them into line. But a
party resOrting to the means that the
Radical party did resort to, i'm order to
hoodwink and bull-dOze the colored
man, must ultimately fall. 1t could not
rely upon the merits of its own princi-
piles, and of its own past history, but
presuming upon the ignorance and pref
udices of the negro, false and absurd
stories, were poured into his ear. Not
satisfied with this, threats of social Os-
tracism, and even of personal violence
were indulged in on the day of the elec-
tion. These were the acts of II party
goaded to desperation in its dying ago
nies. Sensible, cOnsiderate men of both
colOrs will be disgusted with these things,
and many will never vote with such a
party again. In the meantime-as
before ntimated-DemOcrats should
learn a lesson. No local discussions nOr
personal feelings should be allowed a
place i'm the minds of Democrats when
contest is up. But every man should
feel that the principles and unity of the
party are Of paramount Importance. Ii
would be a funny spectacle to see the
devil, after having done all he could to
seduce church-members, and drag them
down into his own dark dominions, slip
ping around among the deacons of the
church, whispering into their ears that
such and such members were not as
faithful rs they should be, and ought to
be churched. And we have seen Just
such spectacles in our midst. Republi-
cans slipping around i'm the Democratic
camp, whispering into the ears of Dem
ocrats that such and such ones were not
good Democrats and ought to be
churched. Such strategy as this ought
to be understood, and instead of disaf-
fections being engendered thereby, q
closer union of strength and feeling
should be the result. Financial relief,
free elections, and fair juries, are prin-
ciples prominently before the people
now, and the people of Ohio county
have set their seal of condemnation
upon President Hayes and the Radical
party in their efforts to maintain party
supremacy at the expense of constitu-
tiOnal liberty. Efforts have been made
to arouse the Union Soldiers against the
Democracy, but to no purpose. Union
Soldiers fought for the Union but not
for despotism, not for the Radicalparty
The samelove of country that prompted
them to brave the dangers of battle
fields still burns upon the altars of their
patriotic hearts, and prompts them to
resist the encrOachment upon liberty by
n corrupt party. Henceforth the Dem.
Ocratic party in Ohio county is united,
with no wings, nor divisions, no union
element, nor southern element, but all
having i'm view the common veal OF
our country will march OH in solid
columns to do battle i'm the cause of con-
stitutiOnal liberty, evidencing to all
classes and all cOlors that the democrat
ic party is the party of the people.
OBSERVER.