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Valley Spirit: November 25, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Increase of the President's Salary
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper comes out against the proposed measure to increase the president's salary to $100,000 a year. The paper supports raising the president's salary and believes presidents should make enough to retire on, but is against the timing of the move. They believe it is a Radical offer to Grant that would not have been proposed had Seymour been elected.

Why Does Grant Keep Quiet?
(Column 02)

Summary: Comments on the lack of political talk lately and attributes it to Grant's total silence. Describes several incidents where Grant does not speak at the public occasions he attends. Explains the reason for this is that Grant has no policy and so cannot say anything to an anxious nation.

Full Text of Article:

There is a lull in politics. Men have ceased to discuss on the street-corners and in places of business, the questions involved in the late contest. Why? Radicals will say because the triumph of the Radical party settled these questions. But this is not so. There never was a time when a stronger feeling of unrest and disquiet existed among the people than that which now exists. Men who voted the Radical ticket are not fully satisfied. There is a vague apprehension of danger ahead. They do not know, and are afraid to predict, what is to come next. They do not feel any certainty within their breasts that the election of Grant is a guarantee of peace and prosperity during the next four years. It is this very feeling of uncertainty as to the future--this knowledge of the fact that nothing of the future policy of the government has been settled definitely by Grant's election--that has caused, and now continues, this lull in politics.

The Radical press insists that the election of Grant was an endorsement of the Congressional Reconstruction policy. Grant smokes his cigar complacently, and refuses to say anything.

Wendell Philips and John W. Forney clamor for negro suffrage. Grant smokes his cigar, and says nothing.

Anna Dickinson writes a book in which she shows the blessings of miscegenation and the intermarriage of blacks and whites. Grants smokes his cigar, smiles and keeps silent.

At Harrisburg, Bergner and his crew get up a demonstration to do honor to the Chief. Grant gets up from the dinner table, lights his cigar, advances to the balcony of the Lochiel bows his acknowledgments, and "opens not his mouth."

The Radical Mayor and black citizens of Washington call upon him and tender him a grand reception. Grant puffs away at his cigar and declines the proffered honor.

He goes to New York and the Union League prays the privilege of throwing open its doors to do him reverence. Grant calls for a fresh cigar, and says he would rather not.

Bonner drives Pocahontas around, and again Dexter, takes the silent man into his machine, whirls him around the Central Park and back again to the Metropolitan. Grant, all the while, smokes his cigar, admires "the points" of the magnificent horses, enjoys himself hugely, but says nothing.

Edwards Pierrepont, who gave his check for $20,000 to aid in Grant's election, invites him to tea, exhibits all his silver plate, talks glibly on matters of state, but Grant puffs away at Pierrepont's cigars, and "talks horses."

A splendid dinner is given in Attorney General Evarts while the President elect is in New York. Charles O'Connor Esq presides and Grant and Evarts sit upon his right and left hand. All the members of the New York Bar are in attendance. A toast is drunk to the President-elect. He rises to his feet, cigar in hand, says that there is no other community he would rather receive praises from than the New York people, resumes his seat and the weed, and on matters of state utters not a word.

Is it any wonder that there is a lull? When the people of the whole Union are waiting anxiously to hear something as to the policy of the next administration, is it any wonder that they are keeping quiet so that they may hear? Is it not rather more strange that, having such a quiet, attentive, anxious and immense audience, Grant refuses to speak a word for the encouragement and hope of the country? The secret of his reticence is to be found in the fact announced by himself, that he has no policy. And this is the secret of the quiet disquiet of the American people.

Naturalization and Voting
(Column 02)

Summary: The article points out that naturalization and voting rights are not linked, as many believe. Naturalization is regulated by the Federal Government, suffrage by the states, so it is possible to be naturalized but disfranchised, or have voting rights and not be a naturalized citizen. The paper is in favor of immediate naturalization for all white immigrants, and attacks the 5-year waiting periods now in effect.

Origin of Article: New York Dem

Letting Grant Slide
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper prints a rumor that some Radical Republicans in the electoral college, worried about Grant's political views, intend to cast votes for Schuyler Colfax instead. It is thought that he will lead a harsher reconstruction policy.

Co-operation
(Column 04)

Summary: A commentary from an anonymous worker calling for more pro-labor measures. He advocates co-operatives, ten hour laws, etc., and the enforcement of such laws. Accuses both parties of only striving to win office rather than help their constituents. Even says a monarch would be less of a burden on the country than a President in some cases.

Full Text of Article:

CHAMBERSBURG, Nov. 23, 1868.

Messrs Editors:--Now that the din and excitement of the Campaign are over, the workingmen of Chambersburg and indeed of the whole Country, ought to turn their attention to more important matters than that of President making. It is all well enough so far as it goes, to have a suitable man at the head of a great nation, but it is of far more consequence to us as a people that we commence building our social and political structure, from the bottom, and not from the top. We cannot improve our social condition much by the election of either Seymour or Grant; but by the adoption of Co-operative Stores, Workshops, and Factories, we can. Society needs remodeling. Instead of taking such an apparent interest in our respective candidates for the Presidency, we ought to take a far deeper interest in our own well being. We foolishly think that our social and moral status depends more upon who is President, than upon our own united and individual efforts to raise ourselves in the social scale. If we ever mean to be anything but "hewers of wood, and drawers of water" we shall find it necessary to unite our little savings and be our own employers.

Co-operation has been tried on a grand scale in England, and has proved a grand success. Co-operative Workshops, Co-operative Stores, and Co-operative Factories dot the whole Island. Were it not for this unity among the lower classes, the "upper ten" would grind them to dust. Poverty then is, and has been, a public educator. The laboring portion of the American people are about taking lessons from the same cruel master. We have always as a people, been killed with vanity and self conceit, but we have nothing to show for it but long hours of labor and a cringing subserviency to employers that has never been surpassed in any country, be it republican or monarchical. It is time then that we stop boasting. Until we have regulated the hours of labor in accordance with the laws of human nature--until we have secured freedom of speech, and of the press--until we cease to carry deadly weapons concealed about our persons with a view to silence argument and discussion--until we get the full benefits of our labor by being our own employers--until we have sufficient self-respect to abandon the filthy use of tobacco, and above all, until we have carried out the Jeffersonian idea of the "greatest possible good to the greatest number," we shall have no reason to boast of the "greatness of our country"--meaning thereby, the social, moral, and intellectual superiority of the American people.

Some of us have seen nations where greater inequality existed as regards riches, but we have never seen a people that submitted so tamely to an employer's dicta, as the "Native born American." Our Legislatures may pass eight or ten hour laws for the workingman's benefit, but they seldom or ever get enforced; and the people look quietly on as though they had no interest in the matter. A law is no law at all if it be not enforced. The law and its enforcement are one. We should not call a human head without body a man; neither should we call a human body without head a man; but when both are united in natural order we then say, he is a complete man. And so it is with a statute law. It does not follow that because our law makers expend much of their time in devising plans and enacting laws for systematizing the hours of labor in Factories and workshops that they have really accomplished any good until they put their laws in force. We have laws for the collection of taxes, but such laws generally get enforced. Our lawmakers know full well that if the tax laws were not carried out they could not pay themselves, and that would never do. They care nothing about Factory operative being injured both in mind and body by the long hour system so general throughout this country. Although a uniform Ten Hour law if rigidly enforced would benefit society more than any law that has ever been devised, yet its importance seems to be unappreciated by the great bulk of the American people. They take more delight in chewing tobacco, talking light headed nonsense, and following their party leaders through thick and thin, than they did in improving their minds, and elevating their social and moral condition.

It is not the President of the United States, be he a Washington, a Lincoln, a Grant, or a Seymour, that will confer these blessings upon us. It will have to be done, if done at all, by our own efforts. We are too apt to attach too much importance to the Presidential Office. Each party labors in behalf of its own chosen candidate as though the weal or woe of the nation were wrought up in him. No wonder that we have so many aspirants to the high office--no wonder that our Presidents sometimes suppose themselves the nation. I am sometimes tempted to think against my mind, that a King, or a Queen, or an Emperor, would be a relief. The British Queen with her 385,000 pounds a year, is not near so costly to Britain, all things considered, as the American President with his petty income of $25,000 is to the United States. The Queen sits upon her throne a lifetime undisturbed by contending factions. She has no fears of being elbowed out of place and power until death puts an end to her existence. This is not the case with an American President. Scarcely has he got over the first two years of his apprenticeship ere the fife and drum commence to announce the "coming man."

Another man has been named by King Horace; but he slightly hints that it is rather too soon yet to commence the campaign. However, his worshipers cannot be appeased. They consider two years out of the four, little enough to make a President of the United States. King Horace's satellites think the same; and thus the two years hubbub has fairly commenced. The whiskey men have heard the news and they drink his health, if he happens to be of their kith and kin. Powder and ball are called into requisition to vindicate their cause. Each party marshals its forces for the fierce contest and the fight begins. Many words of fierce denunciation are uttered by both parties in utter disregard of the truth.--Many blows are struck, and much blood is shed, and some are silenced forever.--Meanwhile the aspirant to the high office either takes a trip to Europe, or crosses the Rocky Mountains in search of fame. He travels in kingly style, although he professes to be a great hater of that class of beings. He makes a little speech at every stopping place, and his attendants make a note of it, correcting slight mistakes. It is then sent home for publication, as though he had said something that had never been said or thought of before. It is in this way that our Presidents and Vice Presidents, with a good deal of help from their particular friends who have an eye upon the crumbs that usually fall from the Presidential table, force themselves into public notice and gain the cravings of a lifetime--the White House.
WORKINGMAN.

The Housum Zouaves
(Column 01)

Summary: The Housom Zouaves Militia Company plan to travel to Greencastle on Thanksgiving day to receive a flag presented by Senator-elect C. M. Duncan. Capt. George W. Skinner will accept the gift on behalf of the company.
(Names in announcement: C. M. Duncan, Capt. George W. Skinner)

Thanksgiving Services
(Column 01)

Summary: An inter-faith religious service will be held for all of Chambersburg's denominations in the German Reformed Church on Thanksgiving Day. The Rev. Samuel Barnes of the Methodist Church will give the sermon. A collection for the Ladies' Visiting Sick Society will be taken up. "The afternoon of Thanksgiving day will, doubtless, be spent in eating turkeys and other good things." An evening concert will be held in Repository Hall to benefit the Monumental Association.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Samuel Barnes)

Chambersburg Building Association
(Column 01)

Summary: The Chambersburg Building Association issued its final report. The organization took in $19,496.07 in dues and premiums and spent $19,321.53 on printing, rent, stationery and salaries. $26.00 is currently paid on each share and they are worth $38.46. Assets over liabilities stand at $19,233.09.

Installation of a New Pastor
(Column 01)

Summary: The Rev. I. N. Hays will be installed next week as pastor of the Central Presbyterian Congregation that currently meets in the Court House. The Rev. Thomas Creigh of Mercersburg, Rev. S. S. Mitchell of Harrisburg, and Rev. J. W. Wightman of Greencastle, all from the Carlisle Presbytery, will conduct the services.
(Names in announcement: Rev. I. N. Hays, Rev. Thomas Creigh, Rev. S. S. Mitchell, Rev. J. W. Wightman)

Proceedings of the Franklin County Teachers' Institute
(Column 02)

Summary: The Franklin County Teacher's Institute met in the Chambersburg Court House on the 16th. The conference involved prayers, conversations on professional topics, and demonstrations of teaching methods in an array of subjects.
(Names in announcement: P. M. Shoemaker, Rev. Barnes, W. H. Hockenberry, B. A. Cormany, Lyman S. Clark, Samuel Gelwix, Prof. Boyd, J. B. Gaff, I. Y. Atherton, W. H. Hockenberry, Prof. Brewer, J. W. Coble, D. H. Sollenberger, L. W. Detrick, Eckert, W. C. McLellan, Prof. Burk, Maud Muller, T. Enterline, W. C. McLedan, A. McElwain, Prof. Congdon, Richards, Ward, O. C. Bowers, Rev. P. S. Davis, A. H. Dehaven, Prof. Shumaker, Rev. Keeler, Ecker, Miss S. A. Reynolds, Miss L. A. Brewer, S. H. Eby, G. H. Cook, Prof. McKeehen, Prof. Houck, Zook, Prof. Jack, Bender, J. H. Thomas, Stine, Rev. Benjamin Hoover, A. B. Stoner, J. C. Wickersham)

Dead
(Column 03)

Summary: Miss Nancy McCullough died at the Chambersburg residence of her nephew, William M'Lellan on Wednesday. She was 85 years old. She was known "to our entire community as a most estimable lady and constant Christian, and her sudden demise though not unexpected will be mourned by her many friends."
(Names in announcement: Nancy McCullough, William M'Lellan)

Origin of Article: Valley Echo

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Michael W. Doss of Guilford and Miss Margaret Lehman of Hamilton were married on November 19th by the Rev. J. Keller Miller at his residence.
(Names in announcement: Michael W. Doss, Margaret Lehman, Rev. J. Keller Miller)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: J. H. Raffensperger and Miss Mary C. Ritcherson were married on November 19th by the Rev. J. Keller Miller.
(Names in announcement: J. H. Raffensperger, Mary C. Ritcherson, J. Keller Miller)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Joseph W. Michaels and Miss Anna M. Zarger, both of Chambersburg, were married on November 19th by the Rev. F. Dyson.
(Names in announcement: Joseph W. Michaels, Anna M. Zarger, Rev. F. Dyson)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: John Plasterer and Mrs. Anna R. McKee, both from near Shippensburg, were married in Shippensburg on November 10th by the Rev. J. Hassler.
(Names in announcement: John Plasterer, Anna R. McKee, Rev. J. Hassler)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: John Spoonhour died in Green Township on September 28th. He was 84 years old.
(Names in announcement: John Spoonhour)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Mrs. Rosanna Spoonhour, widow of John Spoonhour, died on October 28th. She was 74 years old.
(Names in announcement: Rosanna Spoonhour, John Spoonhour)