Connecticut western news., 1880-12-22
Asttor from Hon. George w. Poet.


 which is hoped will continue. IDLEwILD.
 Astt0r from Hon. George w. Poet.
 At the request of several of our readers, of both parties, we republish the following let ter of the Hon. G. W. Peet of this place, which appeared in the Bridgeport Farmer last week:
 TO THE ELECTORS OF THE FOURTH CONGRESS
 SIGNAL DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT.
 Two years ago last autumn, some life long friends of mine solicited me to accept the nom- inatiou by the Democratic Party for the place ot Member of Congress for this district. It was thought that could be elected, and un. der this belief l consented that my name should go before the convention. The result of the ballot was that 8 worthy gentleman of Fairfield County was nominated. I cordially supported the nominee, and deeply regretted bis defeat. When the tune came round for another convention, l kept aloof from the can vass which resulted in the nomination of William H Barnum, the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who per emptorily declined it. A few days later the delegates met under the old organization, and
 
 unanimously nominated mo Knowing that the Democratic Party, if left to an honest ex- ercise of the franchise, had majority in the district, l accepted the nomination, and ac- cording to the old Democratic precedents used all honorable efforts to secure my election. was defeated by fraud and bribery. About ! $80,O00 was expended by my opponents in the district to buy Democratic votes, $50, ,0O0 Of which was put out by government officials, and the remaining $3O, 900 by the man most interested in the contest. Of course, could not stem such current. The "putocratic element" as it has been ingeuiously called 1 WAS irresistible. From $50 to $50 head were paid for voters who were sold in 'mar- ket overt" with shamelessness that ex. presses better than wprus can do the hope. lessness of our social and political situation The seaworthiness of a ship is best ascertained ed by testing the timbers which constitutes it's framework We have in this district large number of foreign voters. Most ofthese have come here from a mother country, as our l colonial ancestors did to seek an asylum from British domination. They have found here, in place of the novels, oppression and starva tion that they fed from, comfortable houses and schools for which they pay nothing, easy wages and what, they say, is better than al freedom to worship God.' This inheritance their fathers never fought for, and l do not blame them half so much as I do the degen- crate sons of revolutionary fathers, whc have sold their birthright for mess of pot tage; and what is it that these wretcheG creatures are selling? Only their wives anG children, their honor, their manhood, their flu ture in this world and the next. Who are buying these commodities? The aristocratit sons of revolutionary sires; tne lords of tile .I, ,,l U lock shops, the tan vat and the blast furnace Lately from high authority the proposition has cone forth to confer upon Ulysses s Grant for life, the high office of Captain Gen eral of the Republic. This proposition has been backed up by venal and shameless press Why not? Are they not ready fol the Empire? What else could we look fori we cared to examine the precedenIs of his tory? Was not the republic of Rome, which was founded by the model patriots of the world ready in it's rottenness to give the whole treasure of the nation to it's Caesar ! Did she not vote to make him consul for life Did she not thrice offer him a kingly crowr which he did thrice retuse?" Did not France in substance Go the same thing to Napoleon the Great and Napoleon the Little?
 For myself have no tavors to nsk, I have paid no money to buy my fellow citizens and I owe them nothing. With the administra tion against us, could avail little to carry out the principles for which we struggled in the late campaign, and 1 cheerfully accept my defeat The Democrats have sold out Gen Hancock who, but for the venalty of our vo | lers, would have been now the President elect of the first Republic in the world. and 1 who would have been the chief of a party tC perpetuate to the end of time the principles ! %hich Washington vindlcated with his sword l The money ot the Treasury of the United States and the contributions of oficeholders and offce-se has secured an eifectual rand 1 fear, final triumph.
 | Let the victors crown their Caesar and be stow divine houorS upon him It seems pity | that there should be so little of the old class cal divinity in this wooden idol. However, this is matter of preference and depends chiefly on tho taste of the votary. There would seem to be all iucongrulty in the adora 1 ton bestowed by a young republic upon tn \ wandering divinity, visiting in his country s ] ships and at the cost of his worshippers the tumble down thrones of Europe and Asia il, order to perfect himsel in kngcratt Imagine | George Washington periecting his statesman ship in this way
 But the times are changed In his day there | were no Black Fridays aud no t hIskey Rings | In his day iolons were not pardoned out of 1 prison because they were friends of the Pres Ident He even refused the thlrd term and vas so regardless o1 the wishes of his family | friends as to deny nomination for judge | hip to a kinsman. The battle in which l rave eng Iged was undertaken i'll behalf of the | aburing classes with whom 1 have alway~ >mpaihjzcd. l can say without boasting. | hat I have always tried to lift up the honest | working man to his proper level Ii he chooses to fall on his knees before a rival whose merit and capacity arr to be measured | by the length of his purse, am content. Ii | he prefers to foster the interest of the hordcs ol Chinamen now rushing to our shores to ,upplant the emigrants from Europe he must lake the consequence. So long as Demo crats will set themselves up for sale to the highest bidder like cattle ln the shambles so 1 long this country will be in a state of vassal- age.
 No Democratic administration will ever be secured until there IS change ill the moral condition of the voters. This change is not likely to be effected. I have often thought