The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-07-31

any section and Of all parties to the
point fixed upon. The method adopted
was this:
The partizans of any political candi-
date having previously agreed to con-
tribute so many :" shoats half or two
thirds grown porkers for the occasion,
perhaps, along with these fat beef,
and the ladies, in Like manner, having
promised bread, pies, cakes, and pickles !;
the day before the grand occasion, a
number Of practical contrabands under
the general direction and command of
some veteran woodsman and camper-out,
and, therefore, eminently competent for
the task, would proceed to slaughter
the animals, and next, preparing narrow
pits perhaps foot in depth. In these
they would kindle hot fires, keeping up
the fierce blaze for hours until the pits
were thoroughly heated and the wood
burned to bed of hot Goals, they
would then take the meat, in halves or
quarters, and making gridirons of green
oak sticks (rather an Irishism) roast
and haste the meat, until it was finally
done to a luscious brown. Dinner then
called, and a grand rush for some
roughly constructed tables being made,
the vast crowd would be there supplied
with the choice morsels described and
their accompaniment, to their hearts
content; and, then full to the very chin,
and spread around under the shade of
the trees, the oldsters well supplied
with cob pipes, they would be perfectly
ready to listen to any proposition or
argument their candidate might adj
vance the only difficulty being that
some would be stuffed SO full, that they
couldn't do much cheering on the oc-
casion. am glad to say that liquors I"
Of any kind--not even cold peach
ever figured in the refreshments fur
nished on these particular occasions,
or if they did at all, it. would be to the
smallest conceivable extent, and then
surreptitieusly obtained. "f
I have spoken elsewhere of the exac-
tions of the sovereigns-the care taken
to make the politicians feel their de-
pendence; and in some cases the extent
to which this was carried, and the con-
cessions made by some of the great men
who felt that they must "stoop to con-
quer," reminds one of the humiliating
necessities imposed upon candidates for
the Roman Consulships when they were
constrained to stand in the forum and
crave the "sweet voices" of the mob.
How often have [ seen the broadcloth
sleeve lovingly placed over the shout
ders covered by the insey hunting
shirt, as the canvasser for votes would
gracefully hook on to the intended
capture, and lead him out on one side,
as If complimenting him with State Sc
crets; and how often, too, have [ smiled
at and even admired it as something
like a "fine art" Many a cushioned
chair in the capitol at Washington has
been reached-aye, and held on to for
years-by such devices and through
such devious paths as these, until, in
deed, demagogism would come to be
thought valuable accomplishment
more valuable not unfrequently than
high talent without the tact to render
it available. '+
Nor was this all. Constrained to
thoroughly prospect the widest hooks
and corners of those remote districts
for votes, and consequently to face
every sort of lodging and hard fare with
an equanimity that dared not be rufHed,
could anything be more comical than
to see the political explorer, on reaching
rude cabin at evening, taking up one
child after another on his knee, and ex7
pressing to the proud father and pleased
matron his conviction that children as
fine and promising were not to be found
in the whole district that there was
material there, possibly, for even Pres
ident of the United States! 5.t-t..
But here I must relate rather curl
GUS incident and mishap which occurred
to one of this class on one occasion
among the East Tennessee hills. Over
taking one of these arch tacticians one
rainy afternoon, and quite uncertain
myself where I was to fetch up for the
night, very readily put myself under
his offered pilotage for the house of, a
leading partisan of his and local nota-
bility, some twelve miles off. The road,
l may say, was simply abominable; i'll
fact, it was only the customary %bridle-
path" of the district, muddy and rocky
by turns, and aggravated by the swell
ing and foaming riyulets at times cross
ing it, which here and there threatened
to sweep us and our horses away. i
With dripping ponchos and tired
steeds, we made out at last to reach the
place just as darkness was shutting
down upon us, and [ must acknowledge
the heartiness of welcome which once
seated by great log fire and denuded
Of our soaked outer habihments made
the roar of the rain on the roof and the
noise of rushing water course close by
only something to enhance the consci-
BUSINESS of having made fortunate and
timely escape. sEf @e
The evening passed pleasantly away,
| felicitating myself on my luck in hav-
ing guide out of "bad drive" and
my friend. the candidate for the Legla-
ture, not less well-occupied in discuss
ing with our host probable acquisitions