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Franklin Repository: July 21, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Repository for the Campaign! Geary, Williams and Victory!
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper announces that the Repository will be published at special low rates during the campaign in the interest of supporting the campaign and disseminating the "political truth among the voters of the County." Single copies will go for 60 cents, and deals will also be made on bulk purchases. The editors hope all the clubs in the area will take a copy.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: This editorial rebutts an article in the Spirit, which attacked the new registry law intended to reduce vote fraud and corruption. The Repository argues that while the law helps Radical Republicans and hurts Democrats, it does so simply because the Democrats have used voter fraud and corrupt politics so much more in elections.

Full Text of Article:

Last week the Spirit said:

The Registry act, odious, unjust and unequal as it is, is now the law of the State and must be observed as such until repealed. As soon as a Democratic Legislature is elected it will undoubtedly be wiped out of existence. The simple qualifications of an elector prescribed by our State constitution are all that should be required. But this decision has been rendered in the interest of the Radical party, and, for the time being, is the law. Democrats will, therefore, do well to read the law carefully and study it thoroughly, so as to qualify themselves properly for the exercise of the right of suffrage. In order that they may do this we will publish it in full in our issue of next week.

The Radical leaders are totally unscrupulous and do not hesitate to enact any infamous legislation which will inure to their benefit. Let Democrats be up and doing, meet them on their own ground, prepare for voting, and when the time comes, cast an overwhelming vote for the Democratic candidates and the repeal of this infamous Registry law.

For all this we thank the Spirit. We admit that the Registry law is odious; that it is unjust and unequal we emphatically deny. A law made for the benefit and protection of the good citizens is always odious to him whose violations of the rights of others it restrains and punishes. A law framed to encourage vice and fraud is detrimental to the best interests of society, and odious to every upright, honest man. Hence as long as there are both these classes every law must necessarily be odious to one or other of them. This law is odious to the Democratic party only, at least we have never seen or heard any objections made to it by the Republican party. Why is it odious to the Democratic party? The Spirit says because it was made in the interest of the Radical party. If the Spirit means by this that it deprives or interferes with the right of suffrage of any member of the Democratic party, and is, in that view of the case, made in the interest of the Radicals, we deny it. If it means that it destroys the opportunities for fraudulent and corrupt voting, which existed under the old law, and thereby deprives the Democratic party of a main element of its strength, we admit it, and say, in that view it has been made in the interest of the Radical party.

Now we intend to hold the Spirit to the text in this matter, "that the Registry Law was made in the interest of the Radical or Republican party." We mean to prove by its own declaration, and what it must admit, that the law is advantageous to the Republican party only, because it prevents fraudulent voting in both parties, and thereby weakens the Democratic party by as many votes as it was able to cast fraudulently.

Let us see if we are right. We admit that this law was framed in the interest of the Radical party; the Spirit says so. It is true. But it makes the requirements of all voters the same. A Republican voter must comply with exactly the same conditions, because he can deposit his ballot, that a Democratic voter must; and he has just exactly the same opportunity to do so that a Democratic voter has, no more, no less. This is true of both native and naturalized voters. Now it must be admitted that so far as we have gone, and it covers the whole law, not a single provision gives the Republican voter an advantage over the Democratic voter. It is not in the law proper, then, that we must look for the advantage it gives the Republican party.

The inequality exists in the parties, and not in the law. This is what the Spirit meant. It meant that to the party which advocates and practices an honest ballot, the law gives a preference, over the party which tries to carry elections by corrupt voting. We greatly admire the candor of the Spirit, but protest against treating its party friends with so little courtesy. The Spirit's complaint against the law is that of all rogues against all just laws. The thief says that the law which makes stealing a felony has been framed in the interest of a party to which he is opposed, and is therefore unjust. The murderer says that the law which punishes murder with death discriminates against him, and is therefore made in the interest of those to whom he is opposed. But if the thief and the murderer were virtuous, honest citizens, the law would be their protection and shield instead of their punishment. The inequality is not in the law, but in the parties. Just so in the other case. If the Democratic party puts its trust and hope for success solely in the superiority of its principles over those of the Republican party, and in the clearness and vigor and energy with which it presents them to the people, the Registry Law, which it so much fears and hates, would be as much to its advantage as to that of the Republican party.

Democrats of Franklin county, how do you relish the position in which your organ has put you? Do you admit that you hate and oppose an honest and just Registry Law, which discriminates in favor of neither party, because it prevents fraudulent and corrupt voting? This is what the Spirit assumes to say for you? How do you like it?

How Are You Soldiers?
(Column 02)

Summary: This sardonic article mocks the Democratic convention's resolution professing gratitude to Union veterans as a hollow gesture considering its actions of the past several years.

Full Text of Article:

We are authorized by Capt. Skinner to issue a call for the re-organization of his famous club of White Boys in Blue, and he directs us to say that he is encouraged to do this by the unparalleled magnanimity with which the soldiers were treated by the late Democratic Convention. That Convention actually adopted a resolution professing gratitude "to our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag of our country to victory." Wasn't that a great deal? It is true that its effect was a little marred by the fact that it came from the party which always opposed the soldier's right to vote, and which argued and voted against paying them bounties, and which favored deserters and bounty jumpers. It is true, also, that the chairman of the committee which reported this resolution was the notorious Frank W. Hughes, who aided and encouraged the draft riots in Schuylkill county during the war, and of course his love of the soldiers and sailors inspired it; and that the Honorable Brick Pomeroy, of the New York Democrat, who always said so many sweet things about the soldiers in such a pious way, attended the Convention and lent his influence to the nomination of Packer and to the passage of the resolution professing gratitude. It is also true that the two soldiers whose names were presented to the Convention as candidates for nomination for Governor, Gen. Hancock and Gen. M'Candless, received no support worth mentioning from the Convention, the one being entirely dropped after the first ballot, and the second receiving but seventeen votes on the second ballot, which nominated Packer; but then these are the merest trifles in comparison with the weighty consideration that the Convention resolved that it felt a feeling of gratitude for soldiers and sailors. So the Captain thinks, and if there are any other soldiers who thinks as he does, we invite them to make application for membership in his club of White Boys in Blue. The number is small yet, consisting wholly of Capt. Skinner and himself.

Antedeluvian
(Column 02)

Summary: The Repository points out that while Virginia's Democrats have already accepted universal suffrage, Pennsylvania's Democratic party retains the same platform it has had for many years.

Full Text of Article:

Virginia learns but Pennsylvania does not. When the Democracy of Pennsylvania nominated Woodward as the anti-war candidate for Governor, Virginia stood on the same political plane, and was fighting the battle on the rebellion. Six years have passed, and Virginia has reached the high ground of Universal suffrage and Universal Amnesty, while the Pennsylvania Democrats still grovel in the low and unhealthy places which they held then. Their platform has been dug out of the rubbish of a former defeat and smell awfully stale and musty. To read it is about as interesting as to dig up a skeleton and listen to the wind whistling wailing dirges through its shivering bones. We read that the negroes must not have the right of suffrage, that our finances are in an awful bad way, which was doubtless true when this platform was originally written, many, many years ago, that to make them better the Democrats must finger the money, that the reconstruction policy is all wrong, and, that our taxation is a tyranny.

It was just as well that the Convention didn't rack its brains, if it had any, to get up a new platform. The old one will do just as well for a defeat as any, and the leaders can grease their palms with Packer's bonds and railroad stocks as well as if it had been prepared for this special occasion.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper urges party unity in the upcoming campaign. All grudges and infighting should be put aside in the interest of supporting the entire ticket.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The Repository mocks the Pennsylvania Democrats' refusal to follow the lead of some Southern Democrats and accept universal (male) suffrage as inevitable.

Full Text of Article:

The Democrats of Pennsylvania at their late Convention, wisely concluded not to rejoice over the Virginia election. The leaders of the Democratic P-a-r-t-y dare not tell their deluded followers, that their Southern allies are in favor of negro suffrage and that every negro who voted with them was rewarded for this betrayal of his race, with a suitable present of land or money. Such is the case, and that is why no reference was made to this victory of Democratic rebels, and Democratic negroes. The man who believes that by voting with the opposition he will prevent the final passage of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution would follow the man who would attempt to take Fort Gibraltar, by shelling it with coriander seeds, and with the same hopes of success. How would a Democratic white voter of this Congressional District treat a Democratic negro voter of Virginia, who believed in all his political dogmas and ideas? Gentlemen of the Democratic party, your Southern friends have stolen your thunder, and you dare not put yourselves in opposition to them. They are your masters, they own you, soul and body, and you must submit to their commands.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The Repository attacks what it sees as an antiquated and fractured message coming from the Democratic State Convention.

Full Text of Article:

The Democratic State Convention, last week, resolved that they "do emphatically deny that their is any right or power in Congress or elsewhere to impose negro suffrage upon the people of this State in opposition to their will." That is to say, if all the States except Pennsylvania ratified the amendment establishing impartial Suffrage, and Pennsylvania should vote against it, she would have a right to nullify that part of the constitution within her limits. Is that what the resolution means? Mr. Spirit. If not what does it mean? To us it looks very much like wearing the gray. Is it possible, gentlemen of the Convention, that you didn't perceive the absurdity into which you were tumbling? This is the lovely party that talks of "ameliorating the condition of the laboring men," and declares that "our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag of our country to victory must be gratefully remembered." What a muddle; declare themselves in favor of disloyalty, and in the same breath speak of gratefully remembering the soldiers and sailors who put down disloyalty.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper suggests that Packer, Democratic candidate for governor, was nominated because of his vast wealth.

County Treasurer
(Column 05)

Summary: "An Old Republican" writes to support the nomination of Jacob N. Flinder for County Treasurer. He cites his service to party and as auditor of the Quarter Master's department.
(Names in announcement: Jacob N. Flinder)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports on the defeat of Capt. G. W. Skinner of Franklin in his efforts to get the Franklin delegation to vote for Cass at the Democratic convention. The editors imply that a number of prominent Franklin Democrats, including William M'Lellan, J. M'D Sharpe, and T. B. Kennedy, defected to Packer in hope of securing lucrative patronage and offices should he be elected.
(Names in announcement: Capt. G. W. Skinner, William M'Lellan, J. M'D Sharpe, T. B. Kennedy)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: A recent rainstorm has brought great benefit to the crops of Franklin County. Some areas of Amberson's Valley reported hail, however, where it did damage to the unmown meadows of William D. Funston, Simon Stewart, and William Piper.
(Names in announcement: Solomon Piper, William D. Funston, Simon Stewart, Wilson Piper)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports that Greencastle is constructing a town hall. The new building will be invaluable in attracting speakers and events to the town.

Railroad Meeting
(Column 02)

Summary: Some citiznes of Newville, Bedford, and Burnt Cabins are calling for a railroad meeting at Burnt Cabins to discuss construction of a railroad from the Pennsylvania Railroad at Mt. Union to the Cumberland Valley Railroad. The paper urges Chambersburg residents to attend.
(Names in announcement: D. V. Ahl, O. E. Shannon, James Kelley)

Franklin County Horticultural Society
(Column 02)

Summary: The society met on July 6th at the seed store. Several members exhibited fruits and vegetables and J. S. Nixon read a paper on agricultural chemistry.
(Names in announcement: J. S. Nixon, Dr. Boyle, B. L. Ryder, Jenkins)

Picnic
(Column 02)

Summary: Gilmore Lodge No. 358, I.O.G.T., will hold a basket picnic in Fayetteville on July 31st. M'Murray Lodge of Chambersburg has also been invited. The Fayetteville band will play.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: George E. Jones of Fannettsburg won the Latin Salutatory at Lafayette College. Jones has been offered the position of English teacher at a Spanish boarding school on the island of Curacoa, South America.
(Names in announcement: George E. Jones)

Festival
(Column 02)

Summary: The ladies of Fayetteville will hold an ice cream festival on July 31st.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Jeremiah Rodgers of Mercersburg attempted to commit suicide but was discovered in time to prevent injury. The attempt is ascribed to family difficulties.
(Names in announcement: Jeremiah Rodgers)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Josiah D. Detrich of Waynesboro graduated from Franklin and Marshall College on July 1st. he gave a commencement oration on "Pleasures of Art."
(Names in announcement: Josiah D. Detrich)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Major D. R. B. Nevin, formerly of Chambersburg, has been propmoted to chief of the division of receipts and expenditures in the register's office in Washington D.C.
(Names in announcement: Maj. D. R. B. Nevin)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The sociable of the Falling Spring Presbyterian Church will meet on the grounds of William McLellan on July 22nd.
(Names in announcement: William McLellan)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: A. B. Shively of Fayetteville recently returned from a trip through the western states and territories.
(Names in announcement: A. B. Shively)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: J. H. Noble, formerly of Chambersburg but now of Buckingham County, Va., was "triumphantly" elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
(Names in announcement: J. H. Noble)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Rev. J. A. Crawford will preach in the Falling Spring Presbyterian Church on Sunday.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J. A. Crawford)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: D. Z. Shook of Greencastle has been appointed telegraph operator at Monterey Springs.
(Names in announcement: D. Z. Shook)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The town hall of Waynesboro has been recently repaired.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Greencastle has ordered a town clock.

Democratic Platform
(Column 04)

Summary: This article lists without comment the officially published Democratic platform.

Full Text of Article:

The Democracy of Pennsylvania in convention met, do unanimously declare -

1. That the federal government is limited to the grants contained in the Federal Constitution; that the exercise of doubtful constitutional powers is dangerous to the stability of the government and the safety of the people, and the Democratic party will never consent that the State of Pennsylvania shall surrender her great right of local self-government.

2. That the attempted ratification of the proposed fifteenth amendment to the Federal Constitution by the radical members of the last Legislature, and their refusal to submit the same to a vote of the people, was a deliberate breach of their official duty and an outrage upon every citizen of the State, and the resolution making such ratification should be promptly repealed and the amendment submitted to the people at the polls for acceptance or rejection.

3. That the democratic party of Pennsylvania is opposed to conferring upon the negro the right to vote, and we do emphatically deny that there is any right or power in Congress or elsewhere to impose negro suffrage upon the people of this State in opposition to their will.

4. That reform in the administration of the federal and State governments, in the management of their financial affairs is imperatively demanded.

5. That the movements now being made for the amelioration of the condition of the laboring man have our most cordial co-operation.

6. That the legislation of the late Republican Congress outside of the Constitution, the disregard of the majority therein of the will of the people and sanctity of the ballot box, in the exclusion from their seats in Congress of representatives clearly elected, the establishment of military governments in States in the Union and the overthrow of all civil governments therein, are acts of tyranny and usurpation that tend directly to the destruction of all republican government and the creation of the worst forms of despotism.

7. That our soldiers and sailors, who carried the flag of our country to victory, must be gratefully remembered, and the guaranties given in their favor must be faithfully carried into execution.

8. Equal rights and protection for naturalized and native-born citizens of home and abroad; the assertion of American nationality which shall command the respect of foreign powers and furnish an example of encouragement to people struggling for national integrity, constitutional liberty and individual rights.

9. That the present internal revenue and taxing system of the government is grossly unjust, and means ought at once to be adopted to cause a modification thereof.