Search the Newspapers Browse Newspapers by Date Articles Indexed by Topic About the Newspapers Valley of the Shadow Home

Franklin Repository: March 31, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

New Railroad Enterprise
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports that the citizens of Mercersburg are working to have a railroad constructed through their town, thereby allowing nearby speculative iron ore to be mined and the city to rebound in size and importance. The Repository is in favor of the project.

Full Text of Article:

The citizens of Mercersburg are again agitating the question of a railroad, to connect their exquisitely dull old town with the live world. The present project has for its object, as our informant tells us, the construction of a railroad from Mercersburg to Marion, about six miles South of Chambersburg, where it will form a junction with the Franklin road. It is thought that there are some valuable iron ore lands in the vicinity of Mercersburg, and large tracts have been leased by capitalists, who propose to develop them, and make the ore available by constructing this road would be twelve or fifteen miles long, running through a valuable portion of the county all the way, and adding greatly to its material wealth and prosperity. The citizens of Mercersburg, and those along the line of the projected road, are asked to subscribe one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to ward its construction, and are assured by the capitalists that if this be done, they will proceed at once to build it. If the statements furnished us are correct, and we believe they are, this is a splendid chance to rescue Mercersburg, which is a dear old town, and has warm friends scattered all over the country, in spite of the lawlessness to which it has of late been subjected, from the threatening danger of oblivion. Mercersburg is moss-grown and venerable looking now, but a railroad and iron furnaces would put new life into its body, and activity and prosperity into its trade. We earnestly urge that there be no lukewarmness or indifference in this matter, if there be a possibility of accomplishing anything. There is little doubt that if the road were once constructed, it would not be long before it formed a part in an important line of railroads.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Valley Spirit recently issued an editorial blaming the recent rape of three white men by a black man on Radical Republicanism's insistence on equal rights. The Repository here rebuts this editorial.

Full Text of Article:

The Spirit last week made the following editorial comments in relation to the horrible outrages which a black man committed on the persons of three white women, an account of which was published in last week's paper:

It is difficult, of course to ascertain the motive which prompted him to commit these deeds of violence. But we can not believe that these outrages were committed for the mere gratification of his lust. There must have been something more than this. The arrested man is a resident of that sink of iniquity called "Wolffstown." He is one of its shrewdest and most abandoned inhabitants. The Free-loveism which prevails there is notorious. There was no necessity for him to go out of its immediate precincts. This was not the impelling motive.

This negro, as we have said, is one of the shrewdest and sharpest of his race. He has been through the streets of Chambersburg and heard Radicalism decant upon the rights of the negro. He has listened to the recital of the long list of imaginary grievances which the poor negro has suffered at the hands of the whites. He has been told what a base thing it is to deprive any of "God's creatures of their inalienable rights on account of the color of his skin." All this blessed doctrine has kindled an enmity in his heart against the whites and he has wreaked his vengeance upon unprotected white women.

To such outrages as these are the progressive ideas of the Radicals leading us. So roll on the ball. Let this degraded, ignorant, bestial race to an equality with the whites, and - "let us have peace."

The spirit that inspired these remarks so often finds expression in the columns of that journal, that it rarely excites a comment, and seldom is worthy an expression. But the intense horror and indignation always aroused in the minds of the people on the perpetration of a fiendish act, is in this instance seized and used as an instrument to excite and arouse the prejudices and passions of the ignorant and narrow minded, not against the criminal himself, which would be natural, but against the Republican party. It is on this account that we condescend to notice it. Of course the person who penned these infamous lies does not undertake seriously to reason that this horrible crime is the result of an act of right and justice towards the colored race, but it is not to the reasoning part of the community that this miserable sophistry is addressed.

Let us see how much sense there is in it? The first distinct statement is that the outrages were not committed for the mere gratification of lust. On the face of them there appears to be no other reason apparent, and it becomes necessary for the writer to find one; which he proceeds to do, with what ingenuity and skill, as well as with what honesty of purpose, we leave our readers to judge. This negro he says, is one of the sharpest and shrewdest of his race. He has been told what a base thing it is to deprive any of "God's creatures of their inalienable rights on account of color of his skin." This kindled enmity in his heart against the whites and caused him to wreak his vengeance upon unprotected women. Then comes the conclusion of this most sapient spiritual philosopher. "To such outrages as these do the progressive ideas of the Radicals lead us." It might be objected to this extraordinary conclusion that common sense, as well as the experience of all mankind, proves that the performance of an act of justice and right never leads to the perpetration of crime, but to its prevention. It is such an universal principle that our laws are founded upon it, and society exists by virtue of it. But common sense was nor invoked when this lying-article was penned, else, instead of finding its way into the columns of the Spirit, it would still be only a figment of the false but fertile brain of its editor.

Says the Spirit, this black demon was one of the shrewdest of his race. It also says that he committed these crimes to wreak his vengeance upon the white race; having been told that all men were entitled to equal rights. How does the history of these outrages fit in with the declaration of the shrewdness and sharpness of the perpetrator? An elaborate statement was published in the columns of this same journal, last week, so full that not even the names of the unfortunate victims were suppressed. From it we learn that the negro went in broad day into a thickly settled neighborhood, only a mile or two from Chambersburg, and entered a house where he violated a little girl. Thence he started, going without attempt at concealment and seen by various persons, until he meets another girl, or young woman, near to a dwelling house, and by force and threats again effects his fiendish purpose. Still by frequented ways, and in daylight, he does on; until he meets a third victim, and within a short distance of a dwelling house, and with persons working in the fields around, he assails and overcomes and ruins her. Then at the approach of night he returns to town, goes to one store at least, and to his home, where the officers arrest him.

There never were more horrible crimes more stupidly, more bunglingly executed. The perpetrator was clearly a beast possessed only with the demon of lust. Regardless of humanity, and ignorant or indifferent is the punishment that must follow, he did not even attempt concealment of his crimes. It is absolutely impossible to gather from the whole sickening story a single motive save only the gratification of his infernal lust. Where then is the sharpness and shrewdness which the Spirit deemed necessary in order to give it political significance? We are in favor of equal rights because God made it impossible for us to be otherwise, but if there are any who can be deceived by such miserable sophistry as that of the Spirit, it would be enough to stagger our conviction as to the universality of even this principle.

We admonish our neighbors to modify their theory. Enmity and a desire to wreak vengeance upon one human being, or upon a community or a race, is not inconsistent with extreme ignorance and stupidity, any more than a desire to subvert the passions and prejudices of the ignorant to corrupt political purposes is inconsistent with the intelligence, the shrewdness and sharpness of the editors of the Spirit.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper advocates repeal of the Tenure of Office Act, that it holds is getting in the way of the business of Congress. The editors hold that its original purpose was to prevent abuse of power by a bad president. Now that a good president has been elected, it is no longer needed.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper announces the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment in the State House of Representatives in a strictly party-line vote.

Full Text of Article:

The Legislature, on Thursday last, completed the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution by passing it in the House. A week was spent, we can scarcely say usefully, in making stump speeches, after which every Democrat voted against it and every Republican for it. Inasmuch as the vote resulted just as it would have done if it had been taken at once, we fail to see what good was accomplished by these interminable speeches, unless to show that the Democracy, even in the best of schools are incapable of learning. Even such a forcible teacher as the late war has failed to teach them that the colored race is wrongfully excluded from the right of citizenship. Whether this amendment becomes a part of the constitution at this time or not, it is sure to come soon; and when it does bring citizenship to the colored race, and the Democratic party seeks to lure its votes, as it will do, to the support of the Democratic ticket, let it remember that in Pennsylvania not a single vote of that party was recorded in favor of its freedom. Perhaps the strongest conviction in the minds of the colored race is that Lincoln was the apostle of their freedom. It should be as clearly seen and as strongly felt that the Democracy have ever been pledged to retaining them in a state servitude and ignorance and degradation, and that whatever has been done towards establishing their rights, has been done by the Republican party. Whenever the colored man is allowed to vote this will, of course, be denied by the Democracy, who will crook the hinges of the knee to a black ballot as readily as to a white one. Then let the negroes remember who were their sworn enemies.

Clerk of the Courts
(Column 05)

Summary: "Amicus" writes to suggest Mr. Mahon as a candidate for clerk of the courts.

Franklin County Election
(Column 01)Nasby's Lecture
(Column 01)

Summary: Nasby delivered his lecture "Cursed be Canaan" in Repository Hall. Attendane was low, much to the chagrin of the organizers. The reasons posited included the high price of admission, and false rumors that the lecture was "coarse" in nature. The editors praise the humorous and instructive presentation. The lecture gave "an array of facts and logic in favor of the equal rights of the colored race as we have never before seen brought together. The prejudices in which we all intrench ourselves were fairly attacked and fairly battered down, and when sarcasm and humor were employed they were legitimately used to show how unfounded and ridiculous these prejudices are."

Railroad Meeting in Mercersburg
(Column 01)

Summary: The citizens of Mercersburg met to advocate construction of a railroad to their town. A representative of the Caledonia Land, Iron, and Railroad Company told the crowd that they would commit to construction if the people of Mercersburg raise $150,000. $75,000 in stock was immediately raised. The boosters plan to seek aid from Greencastle as well. The paper urges Franklin's citizens to back the project.

Outrageous
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports that the interior of the Fayetteville Union Church was vandalized on Saturday night. The paper calls it "a crime of the most malignant type."

Sabbath School Anniversary
(Column 02)

Summary: The Sabbath School of the Falling Spring Presbyterian Church held an anniversary celebration that featured reports and addresses. The school is flourishing and enrollment growing. The school mourned the loss two members who passed away in the past year, Secretary James H. Reed and "little" George Nixon.
(Names in announcement: Dr. Platt, Rev. E. B. Raffensberger, J. H. Shumaker, James H. Reed, George Nixon)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Rev. E. B. Raffensberger, the new financial agent of the Wilson Female Seminary, has arrived in town.
(Names in announcement: Rev. E. B. Raffensberger)

Graduated
(Column 02)

Summary: Christ. E. Eyster, Charles H. Merklem, and John J. Reynolds, all of Chambersburg, graduated from the Phildelphia College of Pharmacy.
(Names in announcement: Christ. E. Eyster, Charles H. Merklem, John J. Reynolds)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: John Lantz has recently taken control of the Washington House, Chambersburg.
(Names in announcement: John Lantz)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Titus Adams, a resident of Wolfstown who the paper remembers for his "fondness for his neighbor's chickens," died last week. Adams had been a soldier and was burried with the honors of war.
(Names in announcement: Titus Adams)

Talmage's Lecture
(Column 02)

Summary: Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage will lecture in Repository Hall on "The Bright Side of Things" on April 6th.

Religious
(Column 02)

Summary: Rev. M. Valentine, President of Gettysburg College, will preach in the Lutheran Church next Sunday.
(Names in announcement: Rev. M. Valentine)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Rev. David Townsend will preach an introductory sermon at the Church of God on Sunday.
(Names in announcement: Rev. David Townsend)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Albert Hoover and Isabella Brown, both of Funkstown, were married on March 22nd by the Rev. Dr. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: Albert Hoover, Isabella Brown, Rev. Dr. Schneck)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Benjamin F. Kahn of Chambersburg and Lizzie M. Moore of Fannettsburg were married on March 23rd by the Rev. Dr. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: Benjamin F. Kahn, Lizzie M. Moore, Rev. Dr. Schneck)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: George W. Coldsmith and Miss Lydia V. Shively, both of Scotland, were married at the United Brethren Parsonage on March 28th by the Rev. J. G. Shaff.
(Names in announcement: George W. Coldsmith, Lydia V. Shively, Rev. J. G. Shaff)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: John G. Lutz and Miss Ellen Miller were married in Chambersburg on March 25th by the Rev. P. S. Davis.
(Names in announcement: John G. Lutz, Ellen Miller, Rev. P. S. Davis)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: John Dysert and Miss Mary Brown, both of Franklin, were married on February 16th by the Rev. Dr. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: John Dysert, Mary Brown, Rev. Dr. Schneck)