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Franklin Repository: June 08, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Antrim All Right
(Column 01)

Summary: This editorial assails the arguments of a man who published his thoughts in the Spirit and advocated resistance to freedmen's education.

Full Text of Article:

From Antrim township our neighbor, the Spirit, last week received the first public endorsement of his "white man's party" policy. The endorsement was full and hearty, so emphatically so that it even transcended the Spirit's demands, and called from that journal a mild and gentle qualification as to some of its sentiments. We regret that the entirely of its approval to this communication should have been marred by its conservatism on this question, because we were pleased to believe that in behalf of those Democrats who are just now seeking political offices by deceiving the people the Spirit was prepared to go the whole hog. But our admiration and praise must not be witheld from the writer, who takes care to guard his readers from any error they might fall into as to the kind of animal he might be taken for, by subscribing himself WHITE MAN. It is settled on his own authority that he is a white man, and if the Spirit did not go the whole hog, the same objection does not hold against him. He not only went the whole hog and a pig or two better, but a whole herd of whole hogs. In the extremity of his great concern for the white race it is true he inadvertently disclosed the cause which nerved him to resist the progress of the negro, and though it seems to us that we have seen the same thing before, it does not render as indifferent to his appeal. No man has a right to dispute it when this writer tells us that he fears the advancement of the negro. It may be humiliating, nevertheless true. We are pained to hear it yet we believe him. He feels that in the race for supremacy, since all shackles are broken, and manhood and intellect in a black casket count for as much as these qualities do when bound up in a white epidermis, he is bound to be hopefully distanced; and this is what is the matter. Hence he calls upon all white men to come to his rescue. We entreat them to come.

Though he still has faith in Providence that He will not suffer him to be surpassed by the hated and despised African, it is not that faith which removes mountains. He believes that "the distinction which God and nature have irrevocably fixed between us and them will not so soon give way to the accursed doctrine of training us and our offspring up for the companionship of the sooty African." But if the great God has made it irrevocable, why should it, or how could it, give way at all? Evidently he has not the confidence in the "irrevocable distinction" himself which a true believer ought to have. But from metaphysics he turns to sentiment, and here is he strong, he is in his true sphere. He don't trust Providence, but he knows, what he wants. Says he "we want him below us, or above us, but not with us." How about the irrevocable distinction now? After all, this "want" is not so very unreasonable. It has two tails, either one of which will suit "the subscriber," and if he is just willing to have a little patience natural causes will soon bring it about. In his individual case we have no doubt the negro will be obliging enough to go above him, if he is not already there. There is no danger, my dear, distressed friend, that he will be "with you" very long. "Giving him the ballot," says our white man "is a heavy trend on a tender spot in our body politic." How sweetly and yet with what an injured innocence this is put. It was a regular elephant's tread upon the sorest of Democratic corns, and Oh! how it made the animal howl, and how, he continues to howl in his impotent rage. Though this exquisitely illogical white man had just agreed that the negro might be above him, he now advises the Spirit to pull him down. Says he "we must lend no assistance to radicalism under any guise, by contributing to the education of the freedmen, so called. We must make no clubs to break our own heads with."

Why here is a man to be admired. He feels that the negro is his superior and he is ingenuous enough to say so. He wants to keep the negro below himself, and knowing that it cannot be done by fair means he advises that it be done by foul. He is not any worse than the Spirit to which he writes, but he has less cunning and deception. How simple his plan, if it could not be carried out. "We must not contribute to the education of the negro. We will keep him in ignorance and then we will be able to keep him under us. We must make no clubs to break our own heads with." And this Democracy in the year of our Lord 1870. We send men and money to Europe, Asia and Africa, and to all the islands of the oceans to educate and Christianize the inhabitants thereof, and we are Americans: we live in the land of the free, the home of the brave. But we must not educate the negro, him whom we enslaved for two centuries, and for which sin the God whom this writer dares to charge with having made the negro to be his slaves, has punished us with an awful punishment. And yet we boast of our civilization, we boast of our liberty, and many of us do not forget to pray that they may be extended over the whole world.

But we can pursue this no further. It is true, as put in the polished terms of the writer, that "a learned nigger will be a learned enemy in the hands of radicalism." He will perforce be the enemy of ignorance and bigotry, and so long as the class of which the writer is a fair specimen exists, he is bound to be a club powerful for breaking it in pieces. Alas for the political party which must build its house upon such a foundation as that laid down in the Spirit's communication.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper scoffs at Democratic attempts to woo white Republican voters. "The more hostile Democrats become to the colored voters the more marked is their affection for white Republicans." Still, they never offer them any decision-making power within the party.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper condemns Democrats for withholding education from African Americans in an attempt "to keep the negro down." "If all other marks of distinction fail, Democrats might adopt the wearing of badges marked WHITE MAN. That would always distinguish them from negroes."

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper mocks Democrats for asserting racial inequality while fearing black citizens might "get above them."

Appointment of Assessor
(Column 03)

Summary: This letter asserts that the Democratic board of commissioners followed precedent in appointing Republican George Foreman to take the place of departing Republican Capt. John Doebler. Republican controlled bodies did the same in Montgomery, Waynesboro, Guilford, and Southampton when appointing James B. Robison, John M'Laughlin, George Morganthal, H. C. Sowers, and Max Kennedy to replace Democrats.
(Names in announcement: George Foreman, Capt. John Doebler, James B. Robison, John M'Laughlin, George Morganthal, H. C. Sowers, Max Kennedy)

Interesting Masonic Dedication Ceremonies
(Column 01)

Summary: Col. G. W. Brawor attended ceremonies in Carlisle for dedicating a new Masonic Lodge in that town. He was appointed Grand Steward of the event.
(Names in announcement: Col. G. W. Brawor)

Memorial Day in Greenvillage
(Column 02)

Summary: A correspondent reports on the Memorial (Decoration) Day ceremonies in Greenvillage.
(Names in announcement: Sue Maner, Sallie Embich, Sallie Howe, Lizzie Wallace, Ditzler, Prof. A. J. Miller, Abram G. Oyer, Sgt. Lewis Rinehart, Foster, Immell)

Full Text of Article:

A correspondent furnishes the following:

The afternoon of the 30th of May was spent by our ladies in making wreaths of evergreen and gathering flowers to decorate the graves of our noble dead, who sleep in the old Methodist grave yard in this place. The hour of meeting, 6 o'clock, P.M., was announced by the ringing of the bell, when the citizens repaired to the grave yard. A requiem.

"Toll the bell, the brave are sleeping."
was sung in very fine style by Misses Sue Maner, Sallie Embich, Sallie Howe and Lizzie Wallace assisted by Messrs Ditzler, Miller and Wallace. During the singing, beautiful wreaths of evergreen wild flowers, and laurel, were hung upon the tombstone of each soldier's grave, and a small flag fastened to the wreath, there to wave and keep a lonely vigil over the sleeping warrior, as he lies "taking his rest." After these solemnities were ended, for they required some time, some of the graves being literally covered with bouquets and flowers, Prof. J. A. Miller delivered a very fine and appropriate address. After which the spectators slowly retired.

Left to our own meditation, we thought of the dear ones who took part with us in like solemnities just one year ago, whose hands planted some of those little flags that still wave above the grass. We turned to see them once again, and we heard the mournful echoes say, "passed away!" "passed away!" The tuneful voice of our dear old Preacher is no longer heard in the closing benediction, while among the tombs we dropped a tear to the memory of Lieut. Abram G. Over, Sergt. Lewis Rinehart, Foster and Immell, whose forms are mouldering into dust in some unknown spot, where no friend, can scatter flowers, or drop a tear of sympathy over their lonely graves.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Chambersburg was teeming with street performers last week, including a remarkable mathematician, two organ grinders, and a man dispensing candy.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: A game of baseball was played on May 30th between the Athletic and Printer's Nines of Chambersburg. Athletic won, and also defeated a team from Guilford in a second match.
(Names in announcement: Flack, Atherton, Kreichbaum, Burnett, Shuckman, Peiffer, Hutz, Henninger, Kurtz, McCleary, Britch, Heefner, Grier, Skinner, Seibert, Washington, Fuller, Wetzel)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: J. H. Cruzen of the American Tract Society is visiting the towns along the Cumberland Valley Railroad to furnish Sunday Schools with books and publications. The society offers publications to students, pastors, and schools at a 10% discount. The paper provides a schedule of his appearances throughout Franklin.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Lt. Col. Henry C. Hodges, Quartermaster of the U.S. Army, is soliciting information relative to the graves of Union officers and soldiers burried throughout Pennsylvania. Franklin County citizens are urged to help.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: An agent of the Franklin County Bible Society visited Chambersburg during May. He met with 481 families and found 47 destitute of bibles. One hotel needed 15 bibles for its rooms. He found 67 families not connected with any church, and their names were forwarded to ministers in the area.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Rev. P. S. Davis will read an essay on flowers at the Horticultural Festival in Repository Hall on Friday. The lecture has received high praise in the past.
(Names in announcement: Rev. P. S. Davis)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The Ladies' Improvement Society of the First M. E. Church held a successful festival in Repository Hall on Friday. The event raised $227.

Meeting of the County Committee
(Column 03)

Summary: The Republican County Committee met on Saturday. The date of the county convention was set for the first Tuesday in August.

Internal Revenue
(Column 03)

Summary: George J. Balsley, Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for Franklin, will receive taxes on annual income and special taxes on business and professions in Chambersburg between June 14th and 18th. All licenses must be paid at this time as well.
(Names in announcement: George J. Balsley)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Edward and Merrick Stoner, two young boys whose father died during the war, led the procession as part of decoration ceremonies in M'Connellsburg. One played the fife and the other the drum.
(Names in announcement: Edward Stoner, Merrick Stoner)

Anniversary
(Column 03)

Summary: Kearney Lodge No. 159, Knights of Pythias, will celebrate their first anniversary on Thursday.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Prof. J. T. Wright has returned to Chambersburg and will be offering classes in vocal and instrumental music. He is staying at the residence of Rev. W. G. Hawkins.
(Names in announcement: Prof. J. T. Wright, Rev. W. G. Hawkins)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: Elias Rosenbery and Miss Lizzie Carter, both of Horse Valley, were married on May 26th at the residence of Benjamin Rosenbery by the Rev. A. E. Fulton.
(Names in announcement: Elias Rosenbery, Lizzie Carter, Rev. A. E. Fulton, Benjamin Rosenbery)