The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-08-04

u general, miscellaneous, 2romiscuOus scramble |
for the little county offices. or to be represent
HiVes In the great powow, or council Of the |
province. Ever so many men are acknowledge
ed aspirants for few little petty county offices;
and still they come. 1t is truly wonderful how
many men feel themselves qualified to represent
the country in the Grand Council. Old aspi-
rants claim that the oil citizens should be rep.
resented by persons Jf corresponding age, and
seek TO be made the representatives. Middle
nged aspirants do the same for the middle aged
citizens. and the young memo, yes 1.-The young
men--musi he represented by young men, and
mere striplihgs are really to assume all the
responsibilities of such representation. The
boys, too. mus, be represented by boys and
forthwith little Teddie Snfe. who made such
pretty speech at the examination of Prof.
Fitznoodles school, is announced. (By the
way" said my friend. pnrenthetically the silli.
est defamation recited by child at school,
| is dignifed with the name of speech Every
teacher OF the masculine gender is dubbed Pro-
lessor, aud nearly every man is Captain. Colonel,
Major Lieutenant Corporal or Scoundrel.")
But what is the evil, asked Of men seeking
ofhce in free country like yours?
The evil he replied, lis various and wide
spread. In the first place it exerts n dcmoraliz.
ing influence upon the Office seekers themselves.
Seeking office with US. implies powerful con-
test in which each Office seeker is brought un-
der powerful pressure. Men of weak chnrnc-
Ter cannot we'll sustain this pressure, and conse.
quently resort to the various tricks, shifts and
expedients of the most corrupt demagngues
Among these tricks and expedents." said he,
lis notably that OF trying to brihe voters. or
rather trying to buy votes indirectly by treating
to liquor cider, barbecued dinners and the like
Moreover. said he. few things. in G,y judgment,
are more demoralizing to the people at large
than office seeking. 1t would not be so bad, il
the majority of our people were sufficiently level
healed not to be influenced and cal riei away
by trihes. But the human mind naturally
| lnro asL.
our c'tizens have the mems Cfa ihte eresing them
| selves at home: hence, said he, when the office
| seekers begin 20 appear .hick and fast, il sets
| everybody in huzz Of excitement. They fool
away ever so much time goingto public places,
for no other purpose than to talk about the
coming elections. And at church, on the
street. everywhere. nothing is talked Of for
| months but the coming election. As the nll. i'm
portant lime approaches, the excitement reaches
| fever heat. The .soveregns' now meet often
| and continue long; discuss and rediscuss the
| merits Of their respective ftvories bet. drink
curse. swear and make fools Of themselves gen
orally After all, what good? Is anybody
wiser, or better? Not in the least. but the re.
| verse.
Soon after this. thought found myself some.
where in great crowd. Every body seemed to
he there. the ringstrenked, and stripei and
speckled. white, black. yellow, all were there.
IL seemed TO he n festival of some kind for
| there was ever so much meat cooking. aus pended
over trenches Of Goals by sticks thrust through
u. rough looking man. was mopping il with
| some kind Of wash and swearing occasionally Mt
| some negroes. who turned it aud kept up the
| fire. thought the day was hot and these cooks
ping u k sia s hQsssi % tbs sweat drop
o"fcu IT, fu5frfc rrrrvu--,.. 80. ~. WY
| were cocks fighting. The enclosure was sur
| roudned by molly crowd who were hurrahine
betting. splitting. cnrsing swearing and making
themselves themselves interesting generally. Fo, two or
.nree hundred yards before reaching this place.
might be seen various groups Of negroes snd
whites, IN fence corners and in clumps of bu hes
| aniety manipulating pieces of paper. Not far
on L thought, were group witnessing test of
speed between some horses and betting on one
! and another of the animals. Scattered among
these various groups, thought were about thirty
seven men, who. with most ben; ;gnani smiles and
| cordial handshakes. seemed to he particularlyin-
terested in the general welfare of the crowd.
ABOUT this time Thought saw rather we'll
made. bouncing looking man coming into the
crowd with a smile that was per 'ectly bewitch-
ing. and with n demeanor and greeting go warm
and so cordial that made everybody feel good -
Abont this time. thonght this most agreeable
looking man. was discovered by n rather doubt.
ful looking individual, a little uncertain in his
gait, who. ut sight Of the agreeable looking
man. l thought sung out: '.Hurrah for
brother Blatherskiie." In another minute, 7
thought the two were almost embracing. so ar.
IDENTIFY did they shake hands AMI enquire after
each others general welfare "Brother Blnther-
skite! I'm so glad to see ye." thought the
| fellow said. 81 want you to come to our meetin
ana preesh for US. We want more relishion-
more rellshion. Sir; want n repular-old
fashioned revyal-s mighty shaking O. the drv
bones in the vally-and-brorhe her Blatherskite
you are the man to-to-to-stir us up
.Brother Blatherskite," the fellow said. in an
under tone. "Pve-Pve taken q dram-but know
WHAT'S what don't mean-any harm
-lin / do A fonu
sions as this ere-gits egszited -and-fore he
knows it-he's got-too much"
80. OF course, Of course sail the very nffabIe
gentleman. ''we all linhle to err sometimes
but II don't matter so much the hearts right.
You know Abraham and Lot and some of thcsu
other good old men took little TOO much bpt
they were all right at heart"
"Ahl my dear BROTHER sail the fellow, anil
grabbing the other by the hand. Now YOU re
talking my sort of talk, prezactly."
But let us change the conversation q little. |
brother Happy Jack" said the pleasant looking
man. I'll feel that may safely count on y ,ur su D.
port" Ah you've got that mighty righ my
brother, 1 thought The fellow said. "And
brother Happy Jack. the pleasant IL nm went on.
81 hone you will exert your influence among
your brethren and friends for me. | am sure
to be elected, but l want 10 make o big
rum"
"Bet your bottom dollar on that, the fellow
replied. ''Our church will 90 for ye to n man
'ceptin old deacon Siealfast. He is--he is
ah-hang IT. he is down agin pre- .ch ers-voi
know You mean that he is prejudiced against
preachers seeking secular Offices 2"
That's ii That's it Jess so!
"But. said the pleasant man, 1--WE must allow
for the weakness and peculiar notions Of good. |
but eccentric men. How wonld il do f,r me TO |
nave nm app infmeni at Jour church for, say
wednesday week. and if | should preach one II |
my best aud warmesi re mons. aud then have n |
private talk with The deacon. don't you think he |
might come round p
'Buiiy! BullyF thought the fellow re-
piled.