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Valley Spirit: August 12, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Skies are Bright
(Column 01)

Summary: Expresses confidence in a Democratic triumph in the upcoming presidential election. Notes how Kentucky voted overwhelmingly for Seymour. Talks about the issues which Democrats hate about Republicans, especially black equality, military governments, and other "excesses". Insists the voters see eye to eye with Democrats and will vindicate them at the polls.

Full Text of Article:

The drift of the tide is still toward us.--Every day accessions are made to the Democracy. The Radicals are discouraged, despondent, utterly disheartened. From every portion of the country comes condemnation of the nefarious measures of the Radical Congress. The burden of misrule has become so heavy that the people everywhere are moving to shake it off. Here and there, prominent Radical politicians are dropping out of their party ranks and joining the forces of the united, energetic Democracy. The overwhelming defeats which Radicalism has experienced during the last year have convinced the most sagacious among them that the party which grew fat and strong on the blood and tears of the nation is about to receive its final rout at the ballot-box in November. Kentucky ratifies the nomination of Seymour and Blair by the tremendous majority of eighty thousand. With a voice of such terrible volume that its sound will penetrate into the remotest places of the land, she has uttered her withering denunciation of the atrocious measures that have well nigh destroyed the American Republic. All the States in which elections have been held since the last Congress convened have united in proclaiming their impatience at, and their disapproval of, the manner in which Radicalism has ruled the nation.

It was not enough to break the faith so solemnly pledged in the darkest hour of the war. It was not enough to refuse to fulfill the promises made when our people were longing for peace and a restored Union. It was not enough to decline to quench the fires of sectional hatred which burned with such fury during the struggle. No. Radicalism was not content with the Union preserved, slavery abolished and the national honor vindicated. It was not satisfied to go back to the quiet and prosperity which always mark an era of peace. Excitement was necessary to its being. The crusade against slavery gave to it its strength, and it imagined that Americans had become so enamored of the negro, that they would be unwilling to rest until the ignorant African was accorded all the rights of citizenship. Hence they deemed it necessary to blockade the way of return of the Southern States to the Union until the desires of their hearts could be gratified. This has been the fruitful of all our woes. Instead of harmony and unity they have given us discord and disunion. They have not hesitated to commit the most flagrant outrages in order to accomplish their purpose. They have deliberately shut their eyes to the fact of a rapidly increasing debt. They have witnessed the paralysis of trade in its every department and have heard the mutterings of discontented, suffering workingmen who have felt the blight that has fallen upon our industrial interests. They have made no effort to find a remedy for all this. It mattered not to them that business was stagnant so long as State Governments were being ground to powder, and loyal negroes were shaping affairs in the South so as to prolong the rule of the Radical party at Washington.

But the people are getting ready to hold a grand indignation meeting at the polls in November. They have grown weary of uttering feeble protests and seeing them totally disregarded. They have framed an indictment against the Radical Congress, charging it with having committed the most atrocious crimes, and they mean to press it and obtain a verdict of guilty. And after the verdict will come the judgment.

Courage, Democrats. The skies are bright. Radicalism is waning. Sensible men are disgusted with its extreme dogmas. White men feel the pride of their own race aroused within their breasts. The negro exhibits no capacity to rule. In the South, his elevation to office has encouraged him to commit the most frightful excesses. We must meet the question fairly and squarely. White men must rule America.

Our Candidates
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper introduces the Democratic candidates for local office: Francis M. Kimmell for Congress, J. McDowell Sharpe for Associate Law Judge, Calvin M. Duncan for State Senator, Col. B. F. Winger for State Legislature, William S. Stenger for District Attorney, Frederick Zollinger for Sheriff, William S. McAllen for County Commissioner, Jacob H. Smith for Director of the Poor, William D. McKinstry for Auditor, and Hugh Auld for County Surveyor.
(Names in announcement: Francis M. Kimmell, J. McDowell Sharpe, Calvin M. Duncan, Col. B. F. Winger, William S. Stenger, Frederick Zollinger, William S. McAllen, Jacob H. Smith, William D. McKinstry, Hugh Auld)

The Radical Slaughter House
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper gloats over divisions within Franklin County's Republican Party over nominations for candidates for local office.

The Damage Commissioners
(Column 01)

Summary: The war damage claims assessors met at both Greencastle and Chambersburg in the past week. They plan to return and also visit the other towns in Franklin County. They were forced to adjourn in part because of fraud surrounding the process. Swindlers from other counties claiming to be working with the commissioners sold Franklin residents fake damage claim forms. The real commissioners will process claims for free.

Republican Convention
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper prints the proceedings of the Republican County Convention. The following candidates were nominated: Josiah W. Fletcher for Sheriff; John H. Walker for Assembly; E. K. Lehman for Commissioner; John Bowman for Director of the Poor; Capt. Joseph Winger for Auditor; Emanuel Kuhn for Surveyor; Col. W. D. Dixon for State Senate; Col. D. W. Rowe for Additional Law Judge; John Cessna for Congress. Resolutions were passed upholding the Republican National Platform and the nomination of Grant. They also issued a call for thanks and recognition to the soldiers of the republic.
(Names in announcement: Capt. George Cook, Samuel Myers, A. B. Wingerd, Samuel Knisely, Henry Greenawalt, William Adams, Dr. S. G. Lane, John Downey, John Ruthrauff, William Mackey, Col. George B. Wiestling, J. Allison Eyster, Dr. J. L. Suesserott, S. Armstrong Bradley, H. X. Stoner, William S. Keefer, John McMullen, John Walter, Josiah Fletcher, Jacob Kendig, Jacob S. Eby, S. W. Hays, George Chambers, E. J. Bonebrake, Capt. John H. Walker, Col. Theodore McGowan, Lyman S. Clark, E. K. Lehman, R. P. M'Farland, Peter Plough, John Bowman, John Huber, Joseph Winger, Capt. J. C. Patton, John Ruthrauff, Col. D. W. Rowe, Dr. Lane, William Adams, John Cessna, George Eyster, Jere Cook, Col. Gehr)

Daily Prayer Meeting
(Column 03)

Summary: A Union Prayer Meeting will be held daily in the offices of the Young Men's Christian Association.

The Forthcoming Fair
(Column 03)

Summary: Preparations are underway for Franklin County's first fair. Buildings and the "best ever graded" track in the area are under construction. "When we consider the extent and wealth of Franklin county, in agriculture, manufactures, and all that goes to make up a community of thrift and industry, we know we shall have a grand representation of the industry of her citizens, when the time arrives."

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: Harvey Denton Bard, son of Robert and Jennetta Bard, died in Chambersburg on August 2nd. He was 2 years old.
(Names in announcement: Harvey Denton Bard, Robert Bard, Jennetta Bard)

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: Miss Leah Coble, daughter of George Coble, died in St. Thomas on August 5th. She was 20 years old.
(Names in announcement: Leah Coble, George Coble)

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: Jacob Bickley died in Chambersburg on August 3rd. He was 80 years old. "The deceased had been regularly admitted into, and died in full connection with the 'River Brethren' denomination, a fact not known to, and hence not mentioned by either of the speakers on the occasion of the memorial. He was a man of excellent moral character and genuine religious experience, and no doubt died 'in the Lord.'"
(Names in announcement: Jacob Bickley)