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Valley Spirit: November 16, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Result of the Elections
(Column 01)

Summary: Catalogues the triumphs Democrats experienced all over the country in the recent elections. Believes this is proof that black suffrage was the downfall and not savior of the Republican party. Calls on Conservatives to take heart from the results and work to bring a Democratic president to office in 1872.

Full Text of Article:

On Monday of last week, elections were held in two, and on Tuesday, in eighteen States. It was a general battle and resulted most disastrously to the Radical party. The President, sitting in the White House, may well take time to glance at the political field and study the lesson which these elections teach. The October elections were sufficient to indicate the drift of the tide to him and he was quick enough to discern it. He and his counselors concluded that some more vigorous measures must be taken, and they were accordingly instituted, to prop the fortunes of his tottering administration. Swarms of Deputy Marshals were appointed to watch the polls in the interest of the Radicals, and troops were stationed near by, so that military force might be used, if necessary, to sustain these Marshals. These novel proceedings aroused the indignation of American citizens and, without distinction of party, they resolved to rebuke the man who dared to make these military demonstrations at the polls. The civil power has proved victorious. The ballot has shown itself more potent than the ballet. The common sense and prudence of the American people, have, at least, postponed the conflict which the presence of the bayonet was calculated to provoke and prevented the bloodshed which the inauguration of this despotic proceeding was likely to produce.

From North, South, East and West come the glad tidings of victory for the Democracy and Conservative forces. And where victory was an impossibility, the spectacle is presented of the Radical forces staggering under the fierce onslaughts of their foes, and exclaiming "Another such victory and we are undone."

In New York, Governor Hoffman has been reelected by about thirty thousand majority. The whole Democratic State ticket has been elected. In New York City, A. Oakey Hall, Esq., has been reelected and Tammany makes a clean sweep of all the City offices. In that State we make a gain of four Democratic Congressmen. In the present Congress, the New York delegation stands 19 Radicals, 12 Democrats. In the next, the Democrats will have 16 and the Radicals 15. The Democrats also carry the Legislature.

In Tennessee, the Democrats elect six members of Congress. This is a clear gain of six, the whole delegation in the present Congress being Radical.

In Missouri, a most signal triumph has been achieved over the Administration. McClurg was the Administration candidate for Governor. B. Gratz Brown was the candidate of the opposition. The two United State Senators from that State were divided. Senator Drake supported McClurg whilst Senator Schurz espoused the cause of Brown. During the campaign, the President wrote to the Federal officers in Missouri that loyalty to his Administration would be shown by voting and working for McClurg. It was distinctly announced to the office-holders that their "heads would be in the barrel before moonlight" if they dared to vote for Brown. Notwithstanding these threats, the masses, not having the fear of Grant before their eyes, turned out and defeated the President's favorite by 40,000 majority. This is a glorious commentary upon such unwarranted interference with the rights of the people as that which the President has been guilty of.

With reference to the status of the Missouri Legislature the St. Louis Democrat has the following:

Returns and estimates from ninety-five counties appear to indicate the election to the House of sixty-five Democrats; fifteen members supported by both Democrats and Liberals, sixteen Liberal nominees and nineteen Republicans. There are 126 members of the House and sixty-nine makes a majority. The nineteen counties to hear from divided between the Liberals and the Republicans, and it may be that in consequence of the split some Democrats are elected, either straight-out or on the Fusion tickets. The majority of the Fusion nominees are pledged to Democratic measures. The Democrats, either by themselves or in conjunction with the Liberals, elect at least eighty members of the House, giving a convenient working majority and several to spare.

There are eight Democrats in the Senate holding over, and seven elected on Tuesday as Democrats, making fifteen straight-out Democrats. Seven Fusion candidates, elected by Democratic votes, may properly be added to the foregoing, making twenty-two Senators out of the thirty-four. Some of the Senators holding over are liberals.

Some changes may be made, and probably will be, by the official returns; but not enough to alter the substantial fact that the next Legislature will be Democratic.

In Delaware, the Democracy have done nobly despite the negro vote. Of the result, the Delawarean says:

We take pleasure in laying before our readers this week the result of the election in this State last Tuesday. The victory for our candidates and our principles was won over the Radicals, aided by the whole negro vote and the third party combination called "Independent Democrats" in this county. The contest was a fair and square one. The Democrats raised their standard at the outset, and never lowered it an inch. They held that white men should govern the State of Delaware untrammeled by obligations to an inferior race for patronage or support, and nobly have they conquered.--To the usual congratulations over the victory in Kent and Sussex, we have this year to add the complete triumph of the whole Democratic ticket in New Castle. This result was scarcely expected outside of that county, as the Radicals carried part of their ticket two years ago, and this year voted on their side at least 8,000 negroes. But it seems that for every vote the Radicals gained by the Fifteenth Amendment they lost a white vote and something more.

The legislature is Democratic throughout. The majority for Mr. Ponder, for Governor, is 2,479, and for Mr. Biggs, for Congress, 2,434. Not a single Radical is elected from one end of the State to the other. It is unnecessary to say anything about the tricks resorted to by our adversaries to save themselves from defeat. Let the remembrance of them tinge the cheeks of their authors with shame. We have the satisfaction of knowing that they proved unavailing.

"Maryland, my Maryland," has retained her full delegation of Democrats. By the enfranchisement of the negroes, the Radicals expected to carry the Fourth and Fifth Districts at least. To give our readers an idea of the marvelous change that has been wrought in that State we refer briefly to the figures in the Fourth District. It is composed of the counties of Allegheny, Washington, Frederick and Carroll. Two years ago, the Democratic candidate for Congress had a majority of 565. Since then 3,300 negroes have been enfranchised, and were registered prior to the election, in that District. They all voted for Mr. Smith, the Radical candidate, and yet, Mr. Ritchie, the Democratic candidate, has a majority of 1,837. The aggregate Democratic majority in Maryland is 13,502.

One by one, the States which have been cursed with the rule of carpet-baggers in the South are throwing off the yoke which Radical Congresses have imposed and joining hands with the Democracy to rid the country of the baneful influence of Radicalism.

Florida has wheeled into line, the Conservatives electing a Congressman, Lieutenant-Governor, and both Houses of the Legislature.

In Alabama the Democrats elect three members of Congress and a majority of the State Legislature. In the present Congress the delegation stands 4 Radicals to 2 Democrats, so that there is a Democratic gain of one.

Little Delaware has covered herself with glory, electing a Democratic Governor by about 2,500 majority, a Democratic Congressman and a Legislature unanimously Democratic. With the aid of the negro vote, the Radicals confidently expected to whirl Delaware into the Radical ranks.

Large Democratic gains are reported in Illinois. The smoke has not cleared away sufficiently to show the actual gain of Congressmen for the Democracy but it is said to be three, and perhaps four.

The indications are that a perfect tornado swept over Arkansas and that the Democrats have elected the entire Congressional delegation.

Nevada, for the first time since its admission as a State, has been carried by the Democracy.

New Jersey has done badly. The Radicals there have carried the Legislature and gained one Congressman. At this writing we can not say to what this result is attributable unless it was owing to local feuds in the Democratic ranks. It is certainly not due to the enfranchisement of the negroes, for everywhere else the negro vote has been a tower of strength to the Democracy.

Democrats and Conservatives everywhere should draw inspiration from the general result of these elections to urge them on to further conquests. The Presidency is within their grasp in 1872. The discontent of the people with the Grant administration is growing greater day by day. The masses are becoming thoroughly disgusted with the corruption that prevails in high places, exhibiting itself in reckless extravagance and dabbling in immense jobs, as well as with the tendency towards centralization which finds vent in the employment of the military forces to control elections. Let our organizations be kept up and, if possible, be made more thorough, so that Pennsylvania may give a large majority for the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1872.

Who Shall the Democrats Nominate for Speaker of the Next House of Representatives?
(Column 02)

Summary: Article calling on Democrats to choose Capt. G. W. Skinner their representative to the Republican caucus for speaker of the State House of Representatives.
(Names in announcement: Capt. G. W. Skinner)

Improvements in St. Thomas
(Column 01)

Summary: John F. Walter had a house built in St. Thomas and Col. W. D. Dixon recently painted his.
(Names in announcement: John F. Walter, Col. W. D. Dixon)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Sheriff Fletcher moved John and William Thomas, both black men convicted of stealing the horse of John S. Holsinger and the buggy of William C. Sharp, to the penitentiary.
(Names in announcement: Sheriff Fletcher, William Thomas, John Thomas, John S. Holsinger, William C. Sharp)

Lyceum
(Column 01)

Summary: The following were elected to the St. Thomas Lyceum: Jacob Sackman, president; W. Rush Gillan, vice president; John C. Detrich, secretary; Cyrus C. Gelwicks, treasurer.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Sackman, W. Rush Gillan, John C. Detrich, Cyrus C. Gelwicks)

Off in the Country
(Column 01)

Summary: Major Hershberger, Franklin County's renowned artist, is staying in Fulton County and is working hard on several nature paintings.
(Names in announcement: Maj. Hershberger)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Two religious revivals are underway in Letterkenny, one in Strasburg and one in Karper's Church.

Gone to Europe
(Column 02)

Summary: Dr. John L. Blair of Mercersburg is on a trip to Europe to visit the Medical University at Edinburg, Scotland. "The Dr. is a self-made man. His medical education was obtained through his own exertions." He attended the University of Maryland and graduated with high honors. "The Dr. certainly deserves credit for his persistent energy in endeavoring to become master of such a science as that of medicine, and we wish for him that his efforts may be abundantly crowned with success." He is known to the community for his prosecution of William Davis for the rape of a young girl named Mary Snyder.
(Names in announcement: Dr. John L. Blair, William Davis, Mary Snyder)

Teacher's Institute
(Column 02)

Summary: The Franklin County Teacher's Institute will meet in Chambersburg on November 21st. A number of well-known teachers will address the convention.
(Names in announcement: Prof. Kidd, Prof. A. N. Raub, Prof. J. H. Shumaker, H. Houck, Prof. A. Sheely)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Thomas S. Grier and Miss Minnie R. Fetter, both of Chambersburg, were married on November 3rd by the Rev. I. N. Hays, assisted by the Rev. James F. Kennedy.
(Names in announcement: Thomas S. Grier, Minnie R. Fetter, Rev. I. N. Hays, Rev. James F. Kennedy)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Dr. T. C. Robinson of Westmoreland County and Miss Mollie J. Skinner of Chambersburg were married on November 10th by the Rev. James F. Kennedy, assisted by the Rev. Gracy Ferguson.
(Names in announcement: Dr. T. C. Robinson, Mollie J. Skinner, Rev. James F. Kennedy, Rev. Gracy Ferguson)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Franklin D. Royer and Miss Jennie Taylor, both of Franklin Furnace, were married on November 10th by the Rev. James F. Kennedy.
(Names in announcement: Franklin D. Royer, Jennie Taylor, Rev. James F. Kennedy)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Thomas Donovan and Miss Mary Osterman, both of Chambersburg, were married on November 15th in the Catholic Church by Father Stenzel.
(Names in announcement: Thomas Donovan, Mary Osterman, Father Stenzel)

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: Emma J. Stahl, daughter of George and Catharine Stahl, died near Scotland on October 19th of consumption.
(Names in announcement: Emma J. Stahl, George Stahl, Catharine Stahl)