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Valley Spirit: May 11, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

White Men Must Rule America
(Column 01)

Summary: Forcefully supports the continuance of the Democratic Party principle that white men must control the government. Says Radicalism is waning and will soon disappear along with their doctrines. Claims all intelligent men know that whites must run the country and urges Conservatives in the Republican party to break ranks and restore white rule.

Full Text of Article:

Negromania is only the madness of the hour. It will give place eventually to sounder principles. The fanaticism which has fraudulently invested the negro with the right of suffrage, and which is now seeking to place him upon a plane of perfect equality with the white man, will yield ere long to the more quiet, but stronger, conviction which is forcing itself upon the thinking men of the country, that the only safety for free institutions is in keeping the absolute control of them in the hands of the superior race. He would have been denounced as a madman even three years ago, who would then have declared that, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, we would have negroes at the polls, negroes in the jury box, negroes in State Legislatures, negroes appointed to prominent positions of public trust, and a negro in the United States Senate. The march of this fanaticism has been very rapid indeed. And now, the people stand appalled at the terrible mischief which their unfaithful representatives have wrought. They see these same political schemers who have imposed the Fifteenth Amendment upon the country by chicanery and fraud, appealing to these new suffragists to sustain their tottering party. The Radical leaders recognize the fact--too patent to be ignored--that the best men everywhere are disgusted with the doctrine that the negro is the equal of the white man. Hence their frantic appeals to the negroes to "vote solid," to "remember their friends" and to be "true to the great principles of the Republican party."

There is no necessity for this extraordinary zeal. The Democratic party is not bidding for the votes of the negroes. It proposes to adhere to its old-fashioned doctrine that this country is to be governed by white men. It can see no strength to the republic in making a race just released from bondage an element of the governing power. All the foresight, and calm, and deliberate thought of the best minds of the country are needed to keep the machinery of a republic in good running order. With a territory so vast as ours--with so many diverse notions as to measures of public policy--with so many conflicting interests--with thirty-seven wheels running within one great wheel--the wisest statemanship is required to preserve the essence of our republican institutions. And now, if into the class of our rulers, men are to be introduced who are confessedly in a condition of tutelage, and they are to have a controlling voice in the making and administration of the laws, what hope can be entertained for the permanent happiness and prosperity of the nation? Politicians may hoot at this idea, as they certainly will, and go on struggling for the votes of the colored people simply to extend their reign of power, but thoughtful men will see in it an element of weakness which, in after years, may either permanently discover States that are now only jarring and discordant, or that may cause a nation, desponding of the success of republican institutions, to fly to a different form of government. To prevent such disastrous results, the Democratic party insists upon adherence to the doctrine that white men must rule America.

It makes its appeal to the white men of the country. It is high time that Conservative men, heretofore identified with the Republican party, who were always hostile to negro suffrage and who, if an opportunity had been presented them as was pledged to them by their party leaders, would have voted the amendment down by overwhelming majorities--it is high time for such men to sever the leading-strings of party, and cast their votes with the men who are in favor of white men ruling America.

Let the issue be distinctly defined and fairly and squarely fought. Let Democrats disdain to truckle to this policy of procuring negro votes. Let them stand firmly upon the platform which has been their boast and pride for many years, that this government was made by white men for the benefit of white men. Let protection--the utmost protection--be always afforded to the negro in the enjoyment of the rights which properly belong to him under the laws of the land, but let him not be put into positions where he is to govern white men. Democrats, and all who love republican institutions, write high up upon your banners the words, WHITE MEN MUST RULE AMERICA.

For the Legislature
(Column 02)

Summary: Charges the Republican legislators with gross corruption and bribery, claims they only care about private bills rather than bills which will help the state. Also praises Chambersburg's representative and urges the Democratic party to push for his renomination.

Full Text of Article:

From all quarters come wholesale denunciations of the last Legislature. The Philadelphia and Pittsburg papers are filled with damaging comments upon the action of the majority of that body. It is boldly charged that two-thirds, and perhaps four-fifths of its members were open to bribes. It is asserted that there was no chance for the passage of any bill until it was definitely ascertained how much its friends would agree to pay. When it was "pinched" and "squeezed" to the last dollar, some arrangement, satisfactory to both parties, was agreed upon, and the bill passed.

We have no reliable information as to the truth or falsity of these several charges. Our own opinion is that there is a great deal of truth in them. We have heard it charged that there was one member of the Legislature who was willing to sell his vote at any time for two dollars and a half. That the most monstrous outrages have been perpetrated upon the people of this Commonwealth by their representatives, none will deny. Huge schemes to enrich private parties at the expense of the Commonwealth have been pushed through both branches of the Legislature. Special legislation has been their constant occupation. The General Laws are very few indeed. They could all have been passed in three weeks, allowing the greatest freedom for discussion. But the time of the Legislature was taken up almost entirely with private bills. The majority of these were jobs set up by certain members and passed out of courtesy to them, when, if the truth were known, they would never have consented to become their champions, if there had not been a large consideration offered for each one of them. It seems to be money, therefore, and not principle that controls the Pennsylvania Legislature.

Of course, there are honorable exceptions to this general rule. It gives us pleasure to bear out testimony, in this particular, to the unselfish services of our own representative, Captain George W. Skinner. He bore, throughout the entire session, a reputation for sterling honesty. His hands are not soiled with bribes. His principles were known of all men. He was always candid in the expression of his opinions, and no selfish considerations ever induced him to swerve from the path which his sense of duty marked out for him. He entertained an earnest and honest desire to serve his constituency by procuring the passage of the Border Claims Bill and to that he devoted all his talents and energy. That the bill failed is not his fault. Perhaps, in his anxiety to serve his constituents in this way, he may have voted for measures which, under other circumstances, he would not have supported, but surely he is not to be blamed for this. There is no member of the last Legislature who was more popular than he, and no one whose character for honesty stood higher.

We have written these words for the reason that we feel it to be the duty of the Democratic County Convention to renominate Captain Skinner. He has been faithful and true, and the Democracy should show their appreciation of his services by tendering him a unanimous renomination. That they will do so, we do not doubt for a moment.

The Income Tax
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper reports that income taxes have been reduced from 5% to 3% and the $1000 exemption retained. The editors applaud this, but argue that the tax should be eliminated altogether. "President Grant in his annual message to Congress recommended that the taxes be kept up to their present high figure, and that this odious income tax be continued. But he does not feel what the people feel. With business depressed, trade languishing, and commerce dead, men of business feel very little like paying the enormous taxes that they used to pay when business of every kind was inflated."

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: A large number of "excellent books for children" have been added to the Sunday School Library of the Central Presbyterian Church.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Rev. Mr. Everett, Pastor of the Lutheran Congregation at Gettysburg, has accepted a position with the Lutheran Church of Greencastle. The $1000 salary played a large role in his decision.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Everett)

Circus
(Column 01)

Summary: Grady's Old Fashioned American Circus will perform in Chambersburg on Friday. They will also perform in Greencastle and Mercersburg.

Chambersburg Enterprise
(Column 01)

Summary: Gelwicks and Burkhart on the Chambersburg Diamond is the largest mercantile house in the Cumberland Valley. They already sold out one immense shipment of goods and are now in New York on a second buying trip.

Prisoners Removed
(Column 02)

Summary: Sheriff Fletcher moved Andrew C. Unger, Henry Gray, Columbus Green, and William Streets to the Eastern Penitentiary. They had all been convicted of larceny.
(Names in announcement: Sheriff Fletcher, Andrew C. Unger, Henry Gray, Columbus Green, William Streets)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Rev. F. Dyson oversees the Franklin County Bible Society Depository on South Second Street near the United Brethren Church. He keeps a regular supply of Bibles and Testaments. The poor receive copies for free. Sabbath Schools may buy them at cost--40 cents for Bibles and 10 cents for testaments. German copies are also available. The society is funded through voluntary contributions, and county churches will take up a collection soon. Donations can be made to Treasurer Jacob Hoke.
(Names in announcement: Rev. F. Dyson, Jacob Hoke)

Horse Thief Arrested
(Column 02)

Summary: Charles Miller, who had been in Franklin posing as a government agent, was arrested in Maryland for horse theft. He is now suspected of stealing the horses of Jacob Strickler and Samuel Lehman of Franklin County. He will be brought to the county to face trial unless Maryland authorities insist on keeping him.
(Names in announcement: Charles Miller, Jacob Strickler, Samuel Lehman)

I. O. O. F.
(Column 02)

Summary: The officers of the Grand Encampment of Odd Fellows of Pennsylvania are visiting subordinate encampments in a number of counties including Franklin. The county's posts have been holding elaborate receptions replete with addresses and processions.
(Names in announcement: Andrew J. White, Dr. Edmond Culbertson, J. N. Snider, B. F. Nead, R. P. Hazelet, Frank Henderson, J. W. Stokes, John S. Heiss, George Bertram, William H. Trinnick, James B. Nicholson, Stokes, Trinnick, Col. F. S. Stumbaugh, White)

Re-Union
(Column 03)

Summary: Reports on the gathering of veterans of the 126th Penn. Infantry and their plans for a reunion in December to remember the battle of Fredericksburg. Lists the names of men selected for different committees and the responsibilities of each.
(Names in announcement: Col. James G. Elder, George W. Welsh, Col. D. W. Rowe, John Stewart, Jere Cook, Mahon, Seiders, Cook, Fletcher, Platt)

Full Text of Article:

In compliance with notice given by a Committee of Invitation and Arrangements, many of the officers of the 126th Regiment, Penna. Infantry Volunteers assembled in the parlor of the National Hotel, in this borough, on Tuesday last, May 3d, 1870, at 10 o'clock A. M. A temporary organization was effected by electing Col. James G. Elder, President; Lieut. Geo. W. Welsh, Secretary. A full discussion of the propriety of forming a permanent organization, and for the best plans for the carrying out of the purpose, was had, entire unanimity of feeling and belief being shown as to both its desirability and practicability. The following committees were appointed: a committee of three to draft a Constitution and set of By-laws for the Society--the committee to report at the next meeting. Lieut. Col. D. W. Rowe and Lieutenants John Stewart and Jere Cook compose the committee. And a committee of five to make arrangements for the proper celebration, by a re-union of the entire regiment, on the anniversary of the great battle of Fredericksburg, December 13th, in which the regiment took an active and distinguished part. The Chairman appointed Sergeants Mahon and Seiders and Lieutenants Cook, Fletcher and Platt to attend to these duties. The business of the meeting having been dispatched, an adjournment was carried until 2 P. M., when the members of the regiment, together with a number of invited guests, sat down to a sumptuous dinner prepared at the National. Ample justice was done the feast by the doughty warriors of the 126th and their friends who had, like them, been trained on many well-stricken fields. The dinner over, a succession of toasts, pledged in most cases in sparkling water, followed but we have not been furnished with the text of the toasts, nor with the addresses of the toaster and responses of the toastees. We presume they were fairly up to the average of after-dinner speeches, as made by Americans and Englishmen when "on their legs." The meeting, throughout, is said by those present to have been a great success and to indicate the possibility of forming a Society which will, year by year, bring great pleasure and much profit to its members. Upon motion the company adjourned to meet again on the 13th of December, 1870, at Chambersburg.

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: David E. Eckenrode and Miss Rebecca Jane Stake, both of Amberson's Valley, Franklin County, were married at the residence of Mrs. Sarah E. McLaughlin on March 19th by the Rev. A. E. Fulton.
(Names in announcement: David E. Eckenrode, Rebecca Jane Stake, Sarah E. McLaughlin, Rev. A. E. Fulton)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Christian Showman and Miss Mary E. Mills, both of Horse Valley, Franklin County, were married at the residence of the bride's mother on March 10th by the Rev. A. E. Fulton.
(Names in announcement: Christian Showman, Mary E. Mills, Rev. A. E. Fulton)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Dr. George W. Burke of Newcastle, Indiana, and Miss Belle Shook, daughter of Jacob Shook of Greencastle, were married on April 28th by the Rev. S. N. Callender.
(Names in announcement: Dr. George W. Burke, Belle Shook, Jacob Shook, Rev. S. N. Callender)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: John S. Woods, Jr., died in Chambersburg on May 8th. He was 5 years old.
(Names in announcement: John S. WoodsJr.)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Thomas Hornibe died at an advanced age in Montgomery on April 24th.
(Names in announcement: Thomas Hornibe)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Mary E. Lightner died in Mercersburg on April 30th. She was 34 years old.
(Names in announcement: Mary E. Lightner)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: John Franklin Ashway Dill, son of Isaac and Fanny Dill, died near St. Thomas on March 23rd. He was 1 year old.
(Names in announcement: John Franklin Ashway Dill, Isaac Dill, Fanny Dill)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: John Vandersmith died at Church Hill on May 2nd. He was 90 years old.
(Names in announcement: John Vandersmith)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Matilda Strike, wife of Solomon Strike, died near Mowersville, Franklin County, on April 21st. She was 29 years old. She was interred in Newburg. She leaves a husband and three children.
(Names in announcement: Matilda Strike, Solomon Strike)