Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-07-11
THE CONGRESSIONAL CONTEST.
JEFFERSON CouNrY. july 8, 1882.

week appears letter, dated Mooreheld, j uly
Sd, 1882, and signed Democrat" ss the Free
Press is Hoge organ and is advocating the
cause of that gentleman with its usual ardor,
the letter as matter of course is tinctured
with unbounded admiration for that present
incumbent in Congress, and of yillifioation of
Mr.. Lucas, his formidable opponent in the
present contest. The writer claims to have
talked with leading Democrats in several
counties in the district, has made his calcu>
lations and proguosticates certain success
for his candidate. expect the figures which
democrat" has sot down, out of which to
CIPHER such q conclusion, are a marvel in
mathematical skill it is "a easy matter to
conclude to be true, what one earn
estly desires, and as he wishes the success of
his favorite, the facts can be easily arranged
to fit that desire. [ take his Impressions of
the feelings of leading Democrats in the three
counties named, with many grains of elbow
ance for the reasons, that the warmth with
which ho espouses his sido of the question
must have warped his judgment and abridged
his ability to gather facts, that he is contra.
dicted By reports and the Press of the dis
trics, aud tho very letter to which We refer,
from its very tone, shows desperation which
springs from consciousness that some bold
step must bo taken to bolster up q sinking
cause. The drowning man catches at straws
democrat" as a last resort in tho peril of
defeat, has taken to letter writing, of how
commendablca character lei others judge
L do not wish to follow him into tho domain
OF personalities and vituperations, and shall not
attack Mr.. Hogo as he has done Mr. Lucas,
except SO far as is necessary to state fully and
plainly the facts, that must eventually deter
mlno this contest-such a course would DO
even below the responsibility of "machiue
politics." but | have word to say with ref.
erence to tho custom of eleoting Representa-
tlVes In Congress alternately from each side
of the mountain, and also the custom of be-
slowing second term upon every one so
elected. After advocating tho continuance
OF such custom which he C"Democrat,' ny
thinks has riPeuod into law, he proceeds to
compliment rule established, he says in the
third district, of sending the same man back,
time alter time, in order that he may be ed
ucated for the position. It is an injury to the
Democracy for man, holding such views,
(Rnd am sure the third district announces
no such principle or rule in sending Mr.
kenna there for four times) to sign himself
Democrat" for if [ know anything of the
party's principles at ell, one among them is
rotation in Office" announced time and
again in the councils and conventions of the
party. If the writer really means what he
says, Whatever he may choose to call himself
hsis Republican in principle, may be "a wolf in
Sleeps clothing, "and misnamed democrat. !"
Again, he says: "Hoge has dono everything
IN Congress any other man could hayo done"
which, in the light of present facts, means
tha: he has secured continuance of an an
preparation of S25, 900 for the Monougnheia,
according to report published by his friends,
by his bland smiles and 2ra,o5a7- room. man
ners, an appropriation that has been nlado for
years, and this 10 obtained, too, from Con-
greas that is spending tho surplus in tn c
treasury in creating buildings throughout the
length aud breadth of this Union, without
reference to utility, necessity or convenience.
That this appropriation is a wise ono is prob
ably without doubt, but that Congress has
been continually doing it for some time is
certain and would have done SO again, had
any other representative been there, is eaual-
ly certain, even though he had not possessed
tho pre- emireut grace in manners ofthe Hon.
j. b. Hogc and suggestion in this con-
nectiou, how is it that DIr. Davis hiss had to
Introduce in tho Senate bill to ercot pub
lie building st Martiusburg, tho homo Of the
present Chesterfield of Congress? Would
not his superb manners have operated as suo~
cesstClly in tho House on that appropriation
as 1t did on tho river business; or is the ef>
feet OF this wonderful urbanity coufned to
water, and the opposite of the Pinaforo oonl-
modoro whose SUCCESS was due to "sticking
close to shore and never going 20 goa ?"
Again he says: "Ghe usages of tho party
give the nomination to Judge Hogc, and
there Is no reason to turn him ont except tho
desire of Mr.. Lucas to go to Congress. The
Democratic party cannot aEord to turn him
out"
There IS one thing the Democratic party
cannot afford to do, and that is, "o2Iog a man
to ta1:e advantage of has o,cn ,orong" What
has Judge Hoge done that no ia so essential
to tho Democratic party? What is no that a II
who oppose him arc resting under suspicion?
Is no @ loader iu Israel with outoorstic
power" or an Olympian Jo7o, too far above
mediocrity to be opposed? Democrat" or.
rogates to himself the right to place him on
q plain as high as Olympus and then to tell his
party, "You cannot afford to knock him
down"
The fac. is, Judge Hoge got tho uomina,
ton in 1880 through N.Y. Lucas and Mr..
Lucas friends and the only claim for his ro-
nomination ia q custom to return the repre>
sentative second time. What are the facts
as they have appeared already upon the hor-
rizon of this contest? I have no hesitation
in saying that if "Domocrst" was accused of
crime snd aFraigned for trial before iury
OF his countEymen, ead tho Same evil
dencO produced against him that is pro-
duccd in support OF This promise, arrange
mens or agreement. whatever people nav
choose to call il, that ho would BIO convicted
By any jury Of fair minded men, and that,
too, under a rule of evidence, that the Jury
must be convinced of his guilt beyond every
reasonable doubt. That Judge Hoge at Fair
mont was unable to get the nomination in
1880 unless assisted by Mr.. Lucas and his
friends is certain, aud that Mr.. Lucas friends
voted for him cannot be denied. Nearly
every delegate to that convention in this sec,
ton of tho district will tell you and has said,
that no voted for Hogo with tho understand.