Franklin County: "Myers' War Record," by Unknown, September 20, 1870
Summary: This news article contains several long quotations from B. F. Myers, a prominent Democratic politician, regarding Lincoln. Myers was continually anti-Lincoln, even after Lincoln's assassination.
In March 1865, (see the Bedford Gazette, of March 31, 1865,) B. F. Myers, the Democratic candidate for Congress, encouraged the soldiers of the Republic in the army, and the friends of the Union throughout the land, in the following manner:
"DO THE PEOPLE SUSTAIN THE WAR?-The re-election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency, is regarded by many simple-minded persons as proof positive of the popular approval of the policy of military coercion. Had there been a free and fair election, and had the result proved the same, there might be some ground for this misconceived notion. But even then, under the condition of things that prevails now, there would have been excellent reasons to doubt that the majority expressed their true sentiments in voting for Mr. Lincoln. It is certainly not to be denied that the people, the majority, do no longer voluntarily sustain the war. They do sustain it, but it is upon compulsion. Nobody volunteers now, except for lucre. Nobody goes into the service, unless he cannot keep out of it. The loudest war shriekers pay the highest prices to keep their carcasses clear of "government blue." The most zealous advocates of military coercion, foreswear their own souls, rather than shoulder the musket they are called upon to carry. Nay, there is, now-a-days, not one man in fifty, who from mere motives of patriotism, goes into the ranks of the Federal armies. In short, the people of the loyal states are compelled, against their own will, to support the policy of the administration in continuing the war. If this be not so, why is it that we have a compulsory draft every few weeks? or why is it that every hamlet and cross-roads in the country, is made the rendezvous of a provost guard? No, no, the truth is plain and not to be hidden. The majority of the people do not heartily, or willingly sustain the continuation of the war. Men may dislike the assertion of this truth, but it is truth, nevertheless. It is a fact so self-evident that the most subtle advocate of the war will not attempt to cover it from public discernment. Since such is the state of things, is Mr. Lincoln now obeying the will of the people? That is the question. Let his friends answer it, if they can."
Soon after this publication Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. The manner in which this act was received throughout the country, and the world, did not seem to be pleasing to the present Democratic candidate. It does not appear however to have driven from him the pious frame of mind into which he had previously fallen. The Bedford Gazette, of April 28, 1865, contained the following:
THE IDOLATRY OF THE TIME.-Hero worship is the besetting sin of nations. A successful general, a great ruler, or very frequently a hideous impostor, is made the idol of the people's hearts, until the Almighty Iconoclast strikes out of existence the god created in His stead. Attachment to princes and rulers is eminently right and proper. Due respect for those who administer the laws, should be shown in the deportment of every citizen.-But when mere man comes to be worshipped as a god, when the soul's affections are drawn away from Calvary and fixed upon some fancied earthly hero, when attachment for rulers and respect for those who administer the laws, grow into adoration of their persons and character, idolatry and not christianity becomes the religion of the people. Further removed from heaven than the Hindoo or New Zealander, is he who, in the light of God's revealed truth sets upon his heart, the false god of supposed mortal perfection. Better, far better, to be ignorant of the blessed Gospel of peace, then knowing it, to mock its Divine Author, by the practice of idolatry beneath the very Cross which it reveals. And yet in this very hour and in this very community, men professing to be Christians are guilty of this deadly sin. Nay ministers of the gospel themselves, set their hearers the example in this worship of human idols. The text is no longer "Christ and Him crucified," but Abraham Lincoln and him Assassinated. Nor are their discourses confined to reproof of the spirit which prompted the foul deed of the President's murder, or to efforts to correct the state of the public morals which the circumstances of his death so clearly indicate. In that case there would be but little room for complaint. But their sermons are mere fulsome eulogies and high sounding panegyrics of a man about whose public career people have always differed. They impiously compare him to Moses, styling him "God's anointed," at the same time, like the Pharsee, thanking God that they are "not as other men are," their hearts never having harbored an ill thought of the lamented dead.-Nay, they go further and declare they can have no respect for those who do not regard the memory of the late President as they do, and that such persons cannot be considered as Christians. If the conduct of these preachers be not idolatrous, then the veriest giaour is a believer of the gospel. But the consequences of their stewardship will be upon their own heads, and at their hands will be required the souls of those whom their idolatrous conduct, coupled with their intolerant utterances, have driven from the sanctuary of the living God."
The Philadelphia Inquirer of Sept. 25, 1865, contains the following:
From Bedford, Pa.-Democratic Meeting-Speech of B. F. Myers, candidate for Senator - J. Wilkes Booth Eulogized,
The following dispatch has been received at the office of the Associated Press, and is vouched for as a correct report by the editor of the Bedford Inquirer:
"Bedford, Pa., Sept. 24-At a Democratic Meeting held at the Court House on Saturday evening, the Democratic Candidate for Senator addressed the meeting ... That Switzerland had her Winkleried-Scotland her Bruce, and America her Booth, and that the time would come, when a monument would be erected to Booth, higher than that erected to Lincoln. These sentiments were received without marks of disapprobation."
Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Public Opinion, September 20, 1870, p. 2 col. 2-3
