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Franklin Repository: February 24, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Self Preservation
(Column 01)

Summary: This editorial vehemently attacks the actions of the School Directors of St. Thomas, who took action against a black girl who excelled above her white classmates in a free school.

Full Text of Article:

Last week's REPOSITORY contained a communication detailing the action of the Democratic Board of School Directors of St. Thomas township towards a little colored girl, who was attending one of the free schools. Strange as it may seem, the writer actually thought, and didn't hesitate to say, that their action in the premises was unjust, arbitrary and without warrant of law. Evidently honest in his convictions, we cannot help expressing unmeasured surprise at his mistake. The gentleman is without doubt the victim of uncontrollable prejudice in favor of the "nigger," else how could he write as he did?

This little girl, a negro girl, the offspring of a "degraded race," perhaps nearly white, but still belonging to "Canaan's accursed race," had the audacity, the boldness, the insolence to stand at the head of all her classes, to trap down all her white school mates, and kept them down. What right had she to be smarter than white children, she with her tawny skin and adultered blood? Did she have no respect for the superiority of the proud Anglo-Saxon race, that she must spell better, and read better, than her white class-mates? Had she lost all sense of inferiority? Did she no longer feel instinctively low in the presence of her betters? It seems not. She actually dared to have brains, and use them, to compete with white children in the struggle for learning, and to surpass them. Think of it, O ye Democratic fathers, that in your very strong hold, in St. Thomas township, with a full Democratic board of Directors, such a thing could be ? that here, of all places, your favorite theory of negro inferiority should be challenged. Why, in the name of their degraded inferiority, you had enslaved them, and bought them, and starved them, and were you going to allow a little "nigger" to prove that it had all been false? Never, if it took a whole Democratic School board to keep her down. Your own children might be stupid intellectual blanks, through whose impenetrable skulls an idea never could reach unless they were trepanned, but it should not be said that a "nigger" was smarter than they.

Hence; we say that the Democratic School Board of St. Thomas township was right, when, in solemn council, it resolved that Joe Winter's little girl should be kept at the foot of her classes. It was not only right, it was heroic. Like brave men they threw themselves into the breach and fought back the assaults of the negro upon the Democratic citadel. Oh it was a chivalrous deed, and deserves to be cherished in grateful recollection by the Democratic party. Six men, clothed with the authority of School Directors, waged an unequal warfare with a little colored girl and came off victorious. Six men rose in their official might and rescued their children from the shame and infamy that the "despised race" was inflicting upon them; and bravely did they do their work. It reminds us of the old story -

"Father and Mother and me and twelve good soldiers more,

Beat an old woman stone blind who had never seen before."

Doubtless those brave fathers went back to their homes and looked fondly, proudly, on their children. Hadn't they crushed the ambitions to excel out of the little colored girl? Hadn't they taught her that she belonged to the "despised race?" that the sublime declaration "that all men are born equal" only meant white men? They certainly had, and they deserve, and doubtless will receive, and hearty approval of the liberal minded Democracy.

Now, how does this conduct address itself to those who believe that "of one blood created, He all the nations of the earth?" We have no doubt that the thing in itself is a matter of trifling moment, and so far as it affected the little girl, might be permitted to pass without comment. But as an evidence of the spirit of narrow minded bigotry, ignorance and prejudice, which inspired the men who have charge of the educational interests of St. Thomas township, it deserves to be held up to the scorn and contempt of all liberal minded human beings, be they white or black. These fellows should know that this community despises them for what they have done. If there ever was a time, among us, when such unjust discrimination could be made against colored children, and we do not believe there ever was, it cannot be done now. Democrats as well as Republicans, we hope, desire to be fair and just to the colored race, and mean to give it encouragement and help, instead of injustice and insult.

But these School Directors do not represent their township. They have brought shame and odium upon it, which should only attach to themselves. It would be but just to themselves if the citizens openly disavowed their action, and declared themselves in favor of the golden rule, even in the case of a person so insignificant as this little colored girl.

Exit Moses
(Column 01)

Summary: One week before President Johnson leaves office, the editor unleashes one more attack against him and his time in office.

Full Text of Article:

President Johnson has still one week of his Presidential term to live, after which he will retire to private life, the poetical refuge of all great men weighed down by the cares and responsibilities of office. This longing of public men for the quiet and contentment of private life is one of the fictions which has been indulged in so long that many have come to believe it. But there is rarely anything in it. Few persons step down from positions of high and commanding influence with half the alacrity that they exercised in reaching them, and Johnson would love nothing in this world so much as a new lease of the power which he has so outrageously abused. In four short years he has swung around the entire circle of his political friends and enemies. Those who elevated him to the Vice Presidency, believing him to be an incorruptible patriot, his treason, his ingratitude and his debaucheries have converted into his most resolute political enemies; while those whose hostility to the Government and sympathy with traitors made them resist his election, are now his most cherished friends. Traitors, murderers, counterfeiters, forgers and thieves will regret that his term of office has reached its constitutional limit. They have reason for so doing. He always interposed his ill used power between them and justice, and such as he could not wholly screen from the officers of the law he pardoned. The last few months of his term has been wholly devoted to his friends, who have rejoiced in a general jail delivery. It might be inferred from this that he possessed the virtue of forgiveness, but he does not. He is cruel and vindictive in a surprising degree, and hates both Houses of Congress, who have interfered with his nefarious plans, with a perfect hatred. Well, let him go. The country has lived through the dangers he would have brought upon it. He is powerless to harm it now. A wiser and a better takes his place, and he will sink into forgetfulness and oblivion, a fitting punishment to one whose fiercest ambition is power and notoriety. Exit Moses.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper dismisses the "lively" talk and excitment over the Democrat's nomination of a candidate for governor. The editors suggest that the party is irrelevant at the state level. Even if Franklin County Democrats can succeed in nominating their favorite, Judge Packer, he would only go down to defeat.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper opposes the suggestion of "An Old Citizen" that the position of postmaster of Chambersburg be elected rather than appointed. The editors suggest that the number of persons seeking the office is too large to make for an effective election.

Meeting of Damage Claimants
(Column 01)[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The people of Chambersburg celebrated the 22nd with a parade by the Friendship Fire Company and the Silver Cornet Band. The Housum Zouaves, under the direction of Capt. Skinner, Lt. Miles, and Lt. Aughinbaugh gave a military demosntration on the Diamond. The Citizen's Band also played.
(Names in announcement: Capt. Skinner, Lt. Miles, Lt. Aughinbaugh)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: T. A. Creigh, son of Rev. Dr. Creigh of Mercersburg, returned to Chambersburg after a three-year stay in the Montana Territory. "He speaks encouragingly of the increasing wealth and prosperity of the territory, and contemplates returning tither in a few months."
(Names in announcement: T. A. Creigh, Rev. Dr. Creigh)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper encourages readers to buy tickets for John B. Gough's lecture, which are selling quickly. The proceeds will benefit the Ladies' Mite Society of Chambersburg's Central Presbyterian Church. The tickets can be purchased at Curriden's store.

Episcopal Services
(Column 02)

Summary: The Rev. Robert J. Keeling, rector of St. Stevens Church, Lancaster, will preach in the Episcopal Church on February 28th.

Township Meeting
(Column 02)

Summary: The Republicans of Guilford will meet in Lesher's School House on March 6th to nominate candidates for town office.

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Joseph Rook and Miss Susan Emma Oyler, both of Funkstown, were married at the parsonage on February 18th by the Rev. J. Keller Miller.
(Names in announcement: Joseph Rook, Susan Emma Oyler, Rev. J. Keller Miller)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Daniel Strock of Illinois and Mrs. Susan Coble of Chambersburg were married on February 23rd at the residence of the bride by Rev. J. Keller Miller.
(Names in announcement: Daniel Strock, Susan Coble, Rev. J. Keller Miller)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Isaac R. Crouse and Miss Lizzie Boggs, daughter of James Boggs, all from near Spring Run, were married on January 11th by the Rev. William A. West.
(Names in announcement: Isaac R. Crouse, Lizzie Boggs, James Boggs, Rev. William A. West)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: John M. Wingert and Maggie A. Etter, both of Franklin, were married on February 18th by the Rev. B. S. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: John M. Wingert, Maggie A. Etter, Rev. B. S. Schneck)

Died
(Column 03)

Summary: Miss Mary Plummer died in Chambersburg on February 22nd after suffering a lingering illness. She was 54 years old.
(Names in announcement: Mary Plummer)

Died
(Column 03)

Summary: Elizabeth Lewes died in Amberson's Valley on February 9th. She was 68 years old.
(Names in announcement: Elizabeth Lewes)

Died
(Column 03)

Summary: Charles Franklin Etter, son of A. H. and Mary C. Etter, died near Scotland on February 18th. He was 1 year old.
(Names in announcement: Charles Franklin Etter, A. H. Etter, Mary C. Etter)

Died
(Column 03)

Summary: Minnie Myrtle Carper died on February 14th. She was 3 months old. A poem of mourning accompanies the notice.
(Names in announcement: Minnie Myrtle Carper)