Litchfield enquirer., 1879-11-20
Gbe Gttfb6elo Gnquirer, LITCHFlELn. CONN.
Thursday, Nov. 20, 1879.
Elections"

 above heading on our first page. It will vel repay a careful perusal We subscribe tt most of the views of our correspondent. Tht change from spring to fall campaign proves beneficial one. The greenback question car no longer be considered live issue, at least il this part of the country.
 It is undeniable, too, that Irlshmen have lost much of that blind faith they once had ir the Democratic party. The John Kelly vote of New York, is an important instance ir from Straight Democracy and we hear that it had an important influence on our own cleo. tion, many Connecticut Irishman urging the fact that Kelly was in rebellion in New York in explanation of their owu refusal to support the Democratic ticket in some of our Connect icut elections.
 While we agree in the main with our friends sLastly," there are one or two of his state ments that strike us as requiring qualification. The November vote indicates, indeed, that there can be a very fair election when there is nothing at stake of sufficient importance to warrant the expenditure of money. Suppose that an election of U. S.Senator, or of President and Congressmen, had been at issue, is it at all certain that the use of money would not have decided the result? Moreover, in close Senatorial Districts, where rich men were nominated, was not good deal of mop- . ey spent?
 Every one who is at all conversant with our elections, knows that there is very large ele ment in the democratic party who have to be interested ID some way, or they will neither work or vote for the party.
 We think it would be fairer to state the case in this way there is large. floating ele- ment, composed principally of democrats, who demand either money, place, or some other reward, for their votes. This class is increas- ing in number yearly. It bears larger pro- portion to the total vote in the western part of the county than the eastern; in the northern than in the southern. In this town those best informed aver that the propotlon of purchasa- ble votes cannot be less than 5 to 8 per cent. In Salisbury, the worst town in the county in this matter, it is much greater. So shameful
 
 main to the long domination of MT. William H. Barnum, and to his peculiar methods but the game is one that both parties play on oc- casion. There is no disguising the fact that success in politics, at least in this part of the State, seems to be generally dependent on the free use of money.
 The next question is regarding the remedy our friend proposes. His suggestion is a good one If reputable men would in all cases take charge of our town canvasses that would be a reform in itself The difficulty now is that committeeman are often chosen because they are willing to resort to any means to carry elections. Reputable people do not wish to know how they do it.. Another reason is that the conduct of a successful town canvass is 8 matter that takes more time than most people are willing, or can afford, to give gratutously. Hence it usually falls into the hands of paid agents, or into the hands of persons who ex- pect to co nduct it in their own personal inter- est.
 There is no doubt, however, that the careful conduct of elections is a necessary part of any effective political work and if re- putable men will not undertake it, disreputa- ble men will. It is also undoubtedly true that the dirtiest political work is that done by spec ial agents, acting in the interest of unscrupu- lous candidates They are nuisance that specially needs to be abated, since they act in- dependently of the regular party managers, and often in opposition to the true interests of the party of which the candidate they represent is the nominee. There is no doubt, also, that, as, "Observer" charges, these fellows absorb a . large share of the money they receive. Still a shrewd nominee, trained in Salisbury tac- tics, will see that good deal of his money reaches the individual voter it is intended to corrupt.
 All this rascality must stop, and stop speed fly, or popular government, at least here in Western Connecticut, must be conceded to be lamentable failure.
 Two millions more than the twenty -nine granted, will be needed for pensions
 A Cincinnati clerk of the U. s. courts has
 
 it is said, of $10O,OOO
 U. s. Senator Matt Carpenter expects great rascalities of the Democratic majority in that body, and Matt is not suspicious man either. The Chicago Tribune thinks it will be Grant and Hawley or Blaine and Washburne in 1880. We move to amend by striking out Grant and Blaine.
 The South has raised twelve million more pounds of tobacco half million more bales of cotton, and 200, 900 more hogsheads of sug- ar, this year, than last.
 The loss of eleven millions by reduction of the the tobacco tax is a ''reform" which re- suits in loss to the government without helping the consumer. ...
 William P. Williams, of Brookfield, has SC. cured the appointment to the Naval School from this Congressional District, through 6 competitive examination.
 Governor-elect Cornell and ex-Gov Jewell are both spoken of in connection with the chairmanship of the National Republican Committee made vacant by Chandler's death. Either is a competent machinist.
 Before the war Texas raised 200, 900 bales of cotton; this year it raised million bales, four fifths the product of white labor. Half the whole Southern crop of this year was produced by white labor.
 California grape culture, depressed to such point that grapes were worth only half a cent a pound, is looking up little. Grape syrup and cured fruit are proving valuable re- source
 The Mississippi Democracy carried Yazoo County by emitting an independent preclnc1 which gave 600 majority. One of the Demo