Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1896-12-16
Hazel Glen.


controlled.
A report is current in this section
that a panther is prowling about
the forests. Whether it is the truth
or not we cannot say, but several per-
son have seen an animal while out at
night, they could not tell what it was
on account of the darkness. One young
man of Irondale, and two of this conf
munity have been in close proximity
to the beast, and from what we Can
learn they manifested asdesire to get
away is quick as possible. We hope
that the next person it meets will
have his nerve along, and tarry long
enough to.dnd out what it is.
Mr.. J.-Norsel, of St. Louis, is visit
ing his parents at this place.
A few years ago, before Washington
county had been redeemed, and when.
it was in the bad habit of giving ma
jorities favorable to the Democratic
party, the Republicans accepted the
verdict as honest and'faced defeat like
men. causing the people no expense
by contesting for office which they
had conferred on Others. Honor as
we'll as pride prevailed on them not to
try to subyert the will of majority
of the voters by taking advantage of
legal technicalities, and subordinate
ing principle to greed and honor to
ambition. They did not want office
that belonged to others who had re-
ceived majority Of votes. They
appreciated the moral as we'll as the
political considerations involved in
what constitutes justice; they looked
not with covetous eyes on what others
had honestly won, nor filled the air with
forlorn howfings of irregularities in
voting precincts where Democrats
were in the majority. They had no
desire to frustrate by questionable
methods the expressed desire of the
county, and met defeat without COM
plaint year after year. and continued
assisting in the development of its
resources, the upbuildsng Of it's pros
perity and the advancement Of it's
interests in every way. This was
Enthusiastically Republican. 1t was
in harmony with Republican princi-
pies and precedents, and was the only
way Republicans would act. Honor
was esteemed higher and had more
influence with them than political
ambition.
We all know the story Of their
struggles for supremacy with ballots
for weapons, know how great was the
discouragement Of successive defeat,
but through it all, calumny and .ridi-
cule, they retained their political
convictions, true to the cause of the
party, honest, economical administra-
tion of the government, and ever
loyal to the banner of the country.
Their patriotism controlled their
politics. Their desire was to see the
country prosper, and to strike down
those who would lift a hand against
it,. They had thorough appreciation
of the advantages OF this land OF free
dom, and wanted the beneficence of
Republican administration not only
in the national but in the state and
county governments. And with such
grand objects in view it is no wonder
though few in. numbers, that each
campaigns found; the old veterans in
line mady for the fray. Such unwaver-
ing zeal and perseverance could not
golong unrewarded. Each succeeding
election they found new forces rallying
to their support. The time when
township meetings consisted of five or
six soon passed away. Victory was
plainly discernible in the distance.
The battle became more spirited, the
the Democratic majorities kept wan
ing; prospects OF success crowning
their achievements in the near future
grew brighter and brighter, and in
1894 rallying their forces, determined
to win, the old veterans in the hottest
of the fight, they unitcAy and enthu-
SiaStically
With banners waving made stand,
Andgained victory great and grand.
Democracy was defeated, it's breast
works stormed, its guns spiked and its
adherents cl,agrined at what had been
accomplished Tbe hopes of the pio-
neer veterans who had borne the
epittnts and vituperatiye rain upon
the party in its early days were at last
realized. The gloom OF defeat was
changed to sunshine of victory. The
discouragements Of the past were for
gotten in the grand achievements of
the present. The couuty's redemption
seemed complete, but just two years
after victory had turned smiling
face, for no reason, strange thing
occurred. Many Republican voters
tried to improve their chirography by
practicing in the election booths writ
ing certain Democratic appelations
under some scratches which made their