Click Here to Return To Milestones
Freedom, Pa.. November 3, 1876 - As the Campaign draws to a close in Beaver County both parties are making strenuous efforts and meetings are held nightly. The Democrats held a rousing meeting at Independence, Hopewell Township, last night. A heavy rain fell, lasting from five o'clock till eight o'clock P.M., yet despite rain and storm the attendance was very large. The Clinton marching club was present, coming in on horseback 125 strong. They present a splendid appearance, being all full grown men, and number 218 when there is a full turnout. The addresses were delivered in a large grist-mill. The speakers being Hon. Samuel B. Wilson, of Beaver, and Tobias Hetchie of Freedom. Betting is quite lively, and Democrats feel confident and take all bets high or low on New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Indiana and the general result. We hear of one Rochester man who offers to bet five thousand dollars that Governor Tilden will be elected president; of another, in Beaver who offers to put up a $2,500 farm on the same terms. The congressional fight waxes, warm; the Republicans charge the Democratic and independent nominee, Mr. McComb, with being the Whig, know-nothing, Republican, labor reform, greenback candidate and altogether a nauseating dish of crow for Democrats to swallow, and also that he is a spendthrift. The democrats charge Mr. Shallenberger with being a second edition of Schuyler Colfax, a temperance man, a signer of remonstrances against licenses, and yet furnishing the wherewith to supply beer, etc., to supporters at the taverns and also with being a politician entirely subservient to ring interests. There, you have the worst said on either side, and can take your choice; the fight promises to be a close one, as both men are popular, As far as our observation goes the Democrats will support McComb; the feeling is well expressed by a Democrat named Conier, who was a delegate to the county convention, and opposed any affiliation whatever with any party airing the convention with him. After the conferences met and nominated McComb, a different feeling began to prevail, and at a meeting held subsequently Mr. Conier said: "Well gentlemen, I was opposed to it all along, but if my wife cooks crow and puts in on the table, I'm going to eat it!" All depends on the laborreform movement and the personal popularity of Captain Shallenberger, the Republicans of Freedom are making preparations for the reception of all the marching clubs of the county in final parade on Monday evening next; Speakers are to be present to address the people. A Democratic meeting is also announced at Baden for Saturday evening with J.H. McCreery as speaker. We see that the large ministerial thumb and finger is holding a line, well stretched and taut, over the Sunday Leaderman's head, ready to drop it at any moment and decapitate him. How on earth it starts from Sewickley, and winds its crooked length along to Indiana, getting around from furnaces, glass, houses, railroad trains, streetcars, carriages, turkey and chicken dinners, etc., and then suspends itself over so small an object as the Leaderman's head - no insult intended - is a mystery to us. Don't it beat all, too that, almost to a single man, the preachers around here are Republicans? Still they all at one time agreed that slavery was about right (see "Greeley's American Conflict") and we know that "Ev'n ministers, they have been kenn'd in holy rapture; A rousing wind at times to Vend, And nail'd wi' scripture." Look out, gentlemen! The "unterrified" are looming up. Divide yourselves a little, or we'll move for a reduction of salaries.
Cousin Jed. Ed.