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Valley Spirit: May 18, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Words for White Men
(Column 01)

Summary: Quotes from local townsmen as proof that black voting does not carry any support from the people of Franklin County. Claims flocks of Radicals are swarming to the Democratic banner to keep white men in power. Promises that the Democracy will never waver from that pledge.

Full Text of Article:

Democrats are united in sentiment as to the negro vote. From all parts of the County we have words of cheer as to our position. Men who never voted the Democratic ticket in their lives send us greeting and say, "we intend to vote the white man's ticket." The disgust with the Radical party is profound.

A soldier said to us the other day, "I fought three years to free the negro, and I do not regret it. I would have fought three more, if necessary, for the same end. But I can not consent to see them take part in the affairs of the government. You are right. They ought never to be allowed to hold office, and make laws for white men." Such, we doubt not, is the sentiment of the white soldiers of Franklin County. They would have spurned from their presence, during the war, the man who would have seriously proposed to give the negro the ballot. And now, they will grind to powder the party which has abused their confidence by forcing this odious doctrine upon them against their will.

A mechanic called into our office last week and subscribed for our paper. Said he, "I want it because it is the white man's paper. I go for a white man's ticket. I read your article on 'white men must rule America,' as I stood at my bench. One of my companions had handed it to me. I turned to him and said, I have voted the Radical ticket for the last time. Consider me a member of the white man's party."

Such is the feeling which is taking hold of the people. They are becoming alarmed at the terrible extreme to which this negro equality doctrine has been pushed. They have foresight to see to what still further extremes it is likely to be pushed. And they have resolved to stop it if they can.

Laboring men, mechanics, merchants, farmers, all ranks and conditions of life, are becoming imbued with the idea that one grand, overwhelming effort must be made to save our institutions from the perils which environ them by reason of this dangerous power which has been lodged in the hands of irresponsible negroes. This state of mind makes action with the old Democratic white men's party a necessity.

The Democracy always hang their banner on the outer wall. In the coming campaign, our motto will be, "white men must rule America." Let all the people who favor that doctrine join hands with us at once, so that we may win a signal triumph over the Radical conspirators who procured a fraudulent ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment, and who are now pandering to the negro vote, simply to enable them to share still more largely in the public plunder.

Another Push for the Negro
(Column 01)

Summary: Denounces Sumner's plan to prohibit racial discrimination in public places. Tries to make people believe it will be taken to the extreme of letting blacks do whatever they want at the expense of the rights of whites. Urges voters to turn out the Radicals and vote in Democrats who will reign in the power of the Federal Government and restore total control to whites.

Full Text of Article:

Senator Sumner has introduced a bill into the United States Senate, for the purpose of preventing any distinction from being made in theatres and all places of public amusement, hotels, railway carriages, steamboats, institutions of learning, churches and cemeteries throughout the United States, on account of race or color. To-day if a negro enters the Continental Hotel of the Girard House in Philadelphia, he is not allowed to register his name and have a room assigned to him. It is the same in New York City. Sumner has resolved to break down this odious barrier. He has determined that equality for the negro before the law means that he shall be allowed to go without lot or hindrance wherever the white man is allowed to go. If the negro desires to occupy a room, or even a bed at a hotel in company with a white man, he must be permitted to do it, no matter how many protests may be entered by the white man against such an arrangement. Not to grant his request would be a discrimination on account of race or color.

The negro must be allowed to go into any car he prefers, and sit on any seat he chooses. He must have any berth on a steamboat that he desires. He must be taught in the same classes with the whites in the public schools, and no private institutions of learning are to be allowed to close their doors against him. There must be no schools exclusively for whites. A white boy at college must not dare to protest against having a colored boy for his roommate. That would be a discrimination on account of race or color.

In the churches, negroes must be allowed to sit in the same pews with the whites. If you have a pew that you imagine is your own because you pay rent for it, you must not, on that account, presume to refuse a black man admission to it, alongside of your wife and daughter, because that would be a discrimination on account of race or color.

In the cemeteries, the black man must be buried by the side of the white man. Family lots will have to be surrendered as being too exclusive. As in life, so in death, there must be no discrimination on account of race or color.

If a white man desires a private box at a theatre to accommodate himself, and some ladies and gentlemen of his acquaintance, he can have it, but if a negro wishes to sit in that same box, he is to have that privilege, no matter how distasteful it may be to the white ladies and gentlemen. If it is too much crowded to admit another person, some one of the whites can retire so as to make room for the negro. There must be no discrimination in anything on account of race or color. This fanaticism will run to such a terrible extreme that, in a short time, a white man dare not say no to a negro who solicits the hands of his daughter in marriage, because it will be a discrimination on account of race, or color.

White men, what will you say at the polls to this doctrine of negro equality? Are you willing to aid in clothing the negro with privileges, the exercise of which is an infringement upon your own constitutional rights?

It has been well said that the country is best governed which is governed the least.--But Americans are governed entirely too much. Our Congress seem to be afraid of the people all the time. Instead of legislating for them, they seem bent on enacting laws to limit their privileges and render worthless their dearest rights. If they keep on as they have been doing of late years, a white man will soon have no rights which a negro will be bound to respect.

White men, let us rally in solid column to dislodge this "party of great moral ideas" which seeks to govern white men by the votes of black men.

Nunnery Meeting
(Column 01)

Summary: The Snow Hill Society near Quincy will hold their annual meeting on June 4th.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Hon. C. S. Eyster, U. S. Judge for Colorado, arrived in Chambersburg to pay a visit.
(Names in announcement: C. S. Eyster)

Circus
(Column 01)

Summary: G. G. Grady's circus performed in Chambersburg on Friday afternoon and evening. Few county people attended the afternoon show due to the farmer's busy season, but evening crowds were large. "The conduct of some negro women and men around the circus ground was most disgraceful."

The Cemetery
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper calls for extending cemetery closing hours from 6:00 to 8:00. Citizens "ought to have the privilege of visiting the graves of their kindred and friends during the most pleasant portion of the evening."

Put a Stop to It
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper speaks out against widespread loafing on town street corners. "Lounging has come to be the sole employment for many of our 'young bloods' in the evenings. Ladies complain that they are not only subjected to the annoyance of having their dresses stained with tobacco juice, squirted from juvenile mouths, but they are compelled to hear the most profane and vulgar language from the lips of young men who seem to forget that they have mothers and sisters at home."

Franklin County Horticultural Society
(Column 02)

Summary: The society met on May 3rd. "There was quite a full attendance especially of Ladies." The highlight of the day was Prof. J. H. Shumaker's paper on the tomato. The society will hold a strawberry and floral exhibition in Repository Hall on June 10th and 11th.
(Names in announcement: J. H. Shumaker)

Decoration Day
(Column 02)

Summary: Announces arrangements being made by local veterans for a decoration day for fallen soldiers. Prints the names of people appointed to committees and urges townspeople to attend.
(Names in announcement: Col. J. G. Elder, Jere Cook, Col. Theodore McGowan, T. J. Grimison, G. W. Skinner, T. M. Mahon, J. G. Elder, J. L. P. Deatrich, G. W. Skinner, S. W. Hays, D. F. Lesher, J. A. Selders, T. J. Grimison, S. G. Lane, C. Cressler, G. F. Platte, G. W. Welsh, G. Wampler, H. Strickler, W. Clugston, S. Barnes)

Full Text of Article:

On Monday Evening the 16th instant a meeting of soldiers of Chambersburg and vicinity was held to make provisions for decorating the graves of deceased soldiers on the 30th instant. Col. J.G. Elder presided, and Jere Cook was made Secretary. Col. Theodore McGowan was chosen Marshal for the occasion and instructed to appoint the necessary Assistant Marshals.

T.J. Grimison, G.W. Skinner and T.M. Mahon were appointed a special committee to procure flowers, and were requested to invite the ladies both of Chambersburg and the surrounding neighborhood to join with them for that purpose.

Special invitations were extended to the Housum Zouaves, to the Clergy of the town, and to all citizens to participate in the exercises.

A committee on General arrangements was then appointed, composed of J.G. Elder, J.L.P. Deatrich, G. W. Skinner, S.W. Hays, D.F. Leaher, J.A. Seiders, T.J. Grimison, S. G. Lans, C. Creasler, G. F. Platte, G. W. Welsh, G. Wampler, H. Srickler, W. Clugston and S. Barnes.

The meeting then adjourned to meet at the office of T. J. Grimison on Monday evening next.

It is specially desirable that as many of the old soldiers as can make it convenient will attend on that occasion in order to perfect the necessary arrangements for the exercises of the 30th instant.

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: George F. Deitrich of Altoona and Miss Lizzie S. Butler of Chambersburg were married on May 12th by the Rev. L. A. Gotwald.
(Names in announcement: George F. Deitrcih, Lizzie S. Butler, Rev. L. A. Gotwald)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Benjamin F. Barr and Miss Aime L. Myers, both of Antrim, were married on May 10th by the Rev. H. Lesher.
(Names in announcement: Benjamin F. Barr, Aime L. Myers, Rev. H. Lesher)