Litchfield enquirer., 1880-07-08
Republican

In the 17th Dist, the 'plan" culmina ted in 1875 when under Mir. Barnums fostering care it netted the Democracy 1042 majority in eight towns, mostly small. Mr. Barnum's popular itv, however, was steadily waning in this Congressional District. In 67 he ran 934 ahead of the governor; in '69, 194; in Fl, but 150. In 1878, he ran 270 behind the gover- nor; and, in '75, 1880 behind the governor.
 How happens it, then, that while MT. Bar mum steadily increased the Democratic majorl- ty, especially during the years he himself ran for Congress the majorities in his own town, in the Seventeenth District, and in the Con- gressional District, have fallen away SO rapidly since he has ceased to compete for the popular vote? The explanation is very simple. A large percentage of the voters be controlled, having been accustomed to receive money at nearly every election for ten years, scM TO longer uote Me Democratic ticket un1ess paid for doing so.
 The next great political step was to turn the Salisbury Plan against it's inventor. This is precisely what MT. Miles has done. In 1877 he ran for the State Senate; reduced the Salis- bury majority to thirty; wiped cut Demo. cratic majority of 897 iu the Seventeenth Dis. trict, apd was returned by majority of 80 !! In 1878 he captured Mir. Barnum's election agents, kept the greenback diversion alive, and was elected to Congress by handsome majority. After long years of depression the Republicans had reconquered the District by lighting the devil with fire !"
 Of late the Democracy have been casting about them to find some candidate who can recapture their Salisbury Plan and recover their lost member of Congress. They think 1 they have found just their man in MT. George w. Peet,. President of the Iron Bank, man of large means and few seruples formerly 8 Republican, and one of P. T. Barpum's chief managers in the memorable campaign of '67 He was put on the track in last falls Senatorial election. and recaptured the 17th Senatorial District by majority of 461. A strong and partially successful effort was made to pack delegations in his favor 10 the Democratic Congressional Convention of 1878. Tha t effort will soon be renewed, and we look on | his nomination as an assured fact unless some unforeseen accident changes the aspect of l politics in this Congressional District. 1 We understand that the Repuollcan mana. l gers intend to renominate Mir. Miles; and then the fight will be to see who can best manage the Salisbury Plan. If these party arrange ments are carried out there will be the mos disgraceful election seen in this District since 1867. The Republicans will have the more re putable candidate but the Democracy, train ed and led for ss long by MT. Barnunl, have the more thorough organization for the pur poses of corruption. We have left ourselves however, no space for comment on the mora aspects of the Salisbury Plan, and with tn, foregoing brief sketch of it's history we leav' It's moral aspects for future consideration a the campaign proceeds
 We are indebted to Rev. Mir. Woodruff, o
 Washington, for the pamphlet giving an ac count of the Re-Dedication Services of tn,
 Washington Congregational church. It is very valuable historical work and every sol 1 and daughter of Washington should have copy of it.
 1 Hancock paid Tiiden 2 yisit, last week, ii company with Gen. Franklin, Heury Waiter son and Senator Wallace. The willy. olc saint was very cordial.