Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-07-18

Editor Of the Spirit
There appeared in the last issue of the
Free Press (July stb) letter dated Moore.
field, Hardy county, w. Va, and signed
"Democrat"
The writer of the aforesaid letter-by way
OF apology, we presume, for the false state.
ments he was intending to publish to the
world, and in palliation of his course in cast
Ing reflections upon one Of sold Jefferson's'
most gifted sons-starts out by saying: "L
hare thought it aoou1a not be uninterestino to
your readers IN old Jefferson to kno0 hoao zoe
stand IN this section in regard to the matter"
We-reply, had the people of "old Jefferson"
been very DESTROYS of ascertaining the senti.
ments Of the voters of Hardy, respecting the
two asPirants Lucas and Hoge) for Congress
sional honors, itseems quite clear to our mind.
in the light of present information, that this
self-named democrat" would have been the
last personsin the county they would have
called upon for any reliable Information
Ii this man (O, styling himself "Dem-
ocrst," bad been content to confpe himself to
truth, based upon information he had re-
oeived in good faith, and then untntcntionaXy
made statements that uould not boar inves.
tlgation, We are convinced that the people of
"oid Jefferson" in spirit of true charity,
would have felt disposed to condone the Of.
Tense. But arguing from the stand point
that such was not TIE case in this instance, we
ore reluctantly forced to the conclusion that
this Hardy democrat" not only kneu at
the time that be was disseminating false state.
ments, but did SO with malicious intent. Or
had he sent his letter for publication to a
paper In his own county, assuming of course
ne could have found one willing to publish
1t, and We havo our doubts on that score \
VIC should have considered it q waste of time.
paper and ink to have taken any notice of his
scurrilloua attack upon Mr.. Lucas, feeling
confident that nothing he could say, write or
do would have the slightest influence, one
way or the other. But since it is our con.
viction that democrats" purpose aud inten.
ton was to villify and defame MIR. Lucas,
solely with the view to create a public opin.
ion in favor of Judge Hoge, we conceived it
our imperative duty, ns Democrat and friend
OF pure aud high toned gentleman, and in
the interest of justice and truth to endeavor,
to the best of our ability, to meet and combat
squarely, through the medium of the Press,
the statements found in said letter; and in
SO doing we shall endeavor to eliminate per-
sonal feeling, and are perfectly wiling
to rest the case in the hands of our fellow,
oitizeus of the I'd Congressional District-let
them be judge between ourselves and this
self>styled Democrat" If we ore not mis-
taken this democrat" is himself a chronic
otlce>seeker, having been twice defeated, in
one year, once for the State Senate, and once
Tor the Mayoralty of a small town. am
credioiy informed, by a gentleman who re-.
Gently passed through Hardy county, that
whilst there he Was told by native of Har>
dy, and who was we'll acquainted with this
man, that he ("Democrat') could not be
elected to the position Of constable any,chere
IN his native county Now, Mr. Editor, such
Is the record OF this person who presumes to
call himself "Democrat," aud so accuse Mr..
Lucas of having the Glitch for office" ooh.
consistency thou artindeed jewel" and never
found IN the bosom of such as he who styles
himself democrat" Since we are discussing
the itch for Office" clause, let us compare tho
record of Hoge with that of Mr.. Lucas. Before
the war hoge was candidate for an appoints
ment as Prosecuting Attorney, then for the
Legislature, then for the State Senate. Since
the war he was candidate for tho Consti,u-
tlonal Convention, afterwards for that of
Judge OF our Circuit Court, and with tho err
mine upon his shoulders, a candidate for
congress, and IN tho meantime an aspirant
for the U. 8. Senate. There is not in the
whole State-and 1 state this as fact and
without preJudice-a more persistent od;ce-
seeher than Judge Hoge. On the other hand
MIR. Lucas has never asked but one Office at
the hands OF the Democracy. He has t,cice
voluntarily retired from the contest for Con-
| gress, for fear of disturbing the harmony of
the party. In 1880 he lead Judge Hoge on
eoery ballot, except the first Gas we are in.
iormed) while oil the candidates were in the
held. Why was not Judge Fl. then willing
TO retire ana concentrate the Eastern vote on
Mr.. Lucas? "Gooa Democrats neyer claim
NJ anil
votce Of the people and DONE say, L demand
this or that nomination and Office as reward
for efforts in behalf of the success of the
party This as not Judge Hoge.s position
he sets up no claim to the nomination, and is
as true and good Democrat as Mr.. Lucas"
VINO, In the name of conscience, would for
moment have imagined the author of the
above quotation to be the man whose record
have just given Could any one, in placing
the two pictures Gin their mind's eye) side by
side, distinguish any resem blance I assert
fenriessiy that my authority, as to Dem
oorats antecedents, are correct. Assuming
this to be SO, then, has he not by his own
nano, aud over nom de plume be has
usurped aoithout right. stul,i6ed himself?
IT,, as "Demooras says" Judge Hoge does not
claim re- nomination, why don't the Judge
say so, and not misead his friends? When
Will better opportunity ever offer Judge
ii. to make known his wishes, than that which
presented itself when writing to his Berkeley
constituents recently. Judge Hoge is too
dstute not to see that Mr. Lucas has done
more for the party than he has, and he does
not deny 1t. lie hno,cs 1t, and the people of
the I'd Congressional district kno,0 1t, then
why not come forward in a spirit of fairness
and say to the people, 81 am thankful for
past favors received at tho hands of the De-
mocracy, but am convinced that Mr.. Lucas
Is now better entitled to the honors than any
man in the district and | rasi-n am ILL.,