Centre Democrat. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, June 02, 1881, Image 1

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    oTljc (Centre (Stb tlrmocntt.
NHUUERT \ FOBBTKR, Edltom.
VOL. 3.
Wilt Crntrc § rowctat.
Terms 51.50 per Annum, in Advance.
8. T. BHUGERT snd R. H. FORSTER, Editors.
Thursday Morning, June 2, 1881.
WHO wrote tho Morey letter?
Every one accused has been vindica
ted except President Garfield. If
Conkling kuows he ought to tell and
definitely settle the question. The
senior Senator should not prevent any
pent up Utica from overflowing in
the interest of truth.
THE committee of one hundred in
Philadelphia is now addressing itself
to the question of reform in street
car fares. Five cents is the ultimutuni
of the reformers ami the car com
panies would do well to read the his
tory of the past few months intelli
gently. If they do they will concede
the reduction and save themselves in
finite trouble. Its bound to come.
THE President of the United States
is popularly supposed to lie -James A.
Garfield of Ohio. This is a mistake,
-James G. Blaine of Maiue is the Pres
ident, Secretary of State and jigger
boss generally. He has the Mentor
statesman by the throat and runs the
present Administration in the iutcrest
of revenge. He has laid a heavy
hand on Conkling and the end is not
yet. Cincinnati aud Chicago are two
Waterloos thatjMr. Blaine proposes to
wipe out, and in pursuing this purpose
he will not stop short of party dis
ruption. Blaine is brilliant, audacious
aud unscrupulous and is potent now
for much mischief.
THE diguity of the United States
Senate, if that l>ody still posesses
claim to the distinction since the ad
mission of Don Cameron, Kellogg and
Mahone, is sadly discounted by tlicir
presiding officer, who appears at Al
bauy in the character of aw ard huck
ster in the Republican fight. To be the
second officer of the United States
Government, and the presidiug digni
tary of its highest legislative assem
bly, was at one time believed to lend
dignity and propriety to the incum
bent, but all this influence seems to
have been lost on Arthur. He takes
to slum work naturally, and is now
running a campaign in the interest of
spoils-grabbers.
HOME interesting developments are
lieiug made in the Treasury Depart
ment, at Washington, which arc not
calculated to inspire respect for the
integrity and watchful care over the
public finances that ought to be ex
pected from men in high positions of
trust. looseness in the disbursements
of the contingent fund, in which prom
inent officials have largely profited
in personal wealth, will probably call
for explanations from ex-Secretary
Sherman to screen many of his trust
ed subordinates, if not himself, from
very discreditable appropriations of
the public means to private use. It
begins to be apparent, that if the cov
ering is stripped off the Hayes admin
istration, its postal frauds and embez
zlements will be quite up to the whis
key frauds and other irregularities
and steals of the Grant regime.
THE chances of Conkling and Piatt
for re-election to the Senate are various
ly estiroateiJ. Conkling is confident
of success and has taken the personal
management of the canvass at Al
bany. His known ability and power
to command the New York Republi
cans, make him an opponent which
the Federal Administration with all
its patronage will find difficult to sub
due or defeat. His opponents, how
% ever, are equally defiant and stern,
and as yet, shdkr no signs of weaken
ing. The result will probably be a pro
tracted struggle and dead-lock of fac
tions, and may eventuate in dividing
the Senatorial representation of the
State between the Republicans and
Democrats, as it was before the elec
tion of I'latt, who only entered the
Senate on the fourth of March last.
" EQL'AI. AND KXACT JUSTICB TO ALL MEN, OF WHATHVKH STATK OH I'KRHUASION, KKLIOIOL'H OH POLITICAL. "—MTWIOU.
That Morev Letter.
There is something singular if not
suspicious, remarks tho Harrisburg
Patriot, about the abandonment of the
search for the author of the Morey
letter. The boasted determination of
the Republican National Committee
under the injunction of Mr. Garfield,
"to hunt tho rascal down," hus sud
denly yielded to a "want of funds," as
if the office-holders could not be as
sessed as readily for the smnll amount
required for the prosecution of the
search as for the immense sums col
lected from them for campaign pur
poses. There would lie no trouble at
all in raising the necessary sum to
can ' on the investigation if Mr. -lew
ell, the chairman of the Republican
uational committee, really meant to
prosecute the matter in good faith.
The acquittal of I'hilp, the writer of
the article in Truth sustaining the
genuineness of the letter, will go far
toward convincing the public that the
Republican national committee never
ha<l any good grouud for pronouncing
the article a forgery. Not a scintilla
of testimony has been produced to
show that the signature of Mr. Gar
field to that letter is not in his own
proper handwriting. His own asser
tion to the contrary made in the midst
of a heated campaign and viewed in
the light of his discredited statements
in the Credit Mobilirr matter goes for
little. Experts in chirogaphy ditbr
as to whether the signature to the let
ter is the handwriting of Garfield, but
not a few of them, after making --are
ful microscope examination, have pro
nounced the autograph genuine. Still
the letter may have been forged. It
is due to the public that every effort
should be made by the committees*
representing the two great political
parties to discover the fact of the mat
ter. The Democratic national com
mittee circulated copies of the letter
believing it to be genuine. The Re
publican national committee made
capital of the Democratic committee's
action by denouncing it as the basest
of crimes. It is certainly the interest
of one if not both of these committees
to ascertain the truth and having as
certained it to give it to the public.
Sometime ago it was reported that Mr.
Ahram 8 Hewitt, of the Democratic
national committee, had proffered Mr.
-Jewell pecuuiary assistance in his ef
forts to discover the author of the let
ter. Mr. Rarnum would no doubt also
lend a helping hand if he did not know
that Mr. -Jewell has given up the hunt.
Legally considered the case now stands
against the Republican committee-
Their charge of forgery is unsupport
ed by proof aud they have not indict
ed nor even indicated the criminal.
On the other hand the editor who
libeled Garfield if the letter was not
genuine has been acquitted on the
charge of criminal libel instituted
against him. There is a mystery con
nected with the matter which must lie
cleared up if public opinion is to set
tle down finally against the authentic
ity of the letter.
TIIK Mahone Rcadjusters arc work
ing valiantly to effect a thorough co
alition with the Republican party of
\ irginia before the meeting of their
-State convention which is to come off
shortly. The Republicans of the
State, however, do not take kindly to
ratifying the bargains of Mahone. lie
is now appealing to the President for
the influence of the Federal Adminis
tration to perfect the coalition in the
State in order to raise the corrupt con
tracting parties from the slough of
despond in which their failure in
Washington has enveloped them. But
Mahone, being now a dead dog, is of no
value to Garfield and Blaine, and his
appeals are received coldly. Amidst
the discordant complications with
members of their own party, these as
tute political chiefs are not disposed
to burden themselvea with the care of
a putrid carcass. Mahone will have
to stand alone and bear the conse
quences of his political treachery. It
BELLEFONTE, I'A., THURSDAY, JUNE 2, IHHI.
is now naitl that as a last desperate
struggle to maintain his piebald party
and to secure an apparent endorse
ment from his State, Mahone will
have himself placed at the head of his
ticket as a candidate for Governor.
THE absorbing question of pay
which has so excited tho members of
tho legislature during tho present
session is to he settled by the passage
of a section in the general Appropria
tion hill providing SISOO for each
member and directing the State Treas
urer to pay the same. With the adop
tion of this section, Ruddimau will
doubtless drop his wild hunt after the
"motives" of the Attorney General
and accept his SISOO with thanks.
The people may consider this very
lilwral pay for wasted time, and the
amount and quality of the work per
formed. But as little was expected
from a Republican Legislature, con
trolled and operated by the Philadel
phia roosters, disappointment will not
produce any serious sensation.
Vi H< ll N l \ READJUSTEES arc grow
ing des|>erate. Mahone apjH-als to
Boh Itigersoll to use his influence with
the Garfield administration to favor
the coalition of the Republicans with
the Readjuster party. 1-ate events
admonish them that some powerful
influence is needed, und must be had,
to -nve the piebald party froin utter
destruction under the well-directed
und aggressive blows of the Democ
racy. The elections throughout the
State have been carried by the Demo
crats, many of the straight-out Repub
licans voting with them, intent tqion
burying the dead aud offensive car
ta-* of Mahoncism and Repudiation
out of sight.
THE Washington National Ilrpubli
ean referring to the service of decor
uting the graves of our dead heroes,
indulges in the following doleful strain
over the failure to properly apply the
results of their achievements :
"They [>recrved the Nation, but we
have not preserve-! Liberty. We have
elevated ('ant, Hypocrisy, and Greed,
over Patriotism, Truth and Liberty.
Let us repent and do o no more."
If this is a dyspeptic view of the
situation, it is also a truthful one, and
repentance is not inappropriate.
"< ant and hypocrisy and greed over
patriotism," have ruled supreme under
Republican domination, ever since
the war. They were prominently rep
resented in the administrations of
Grant and Hayes,and, if Conkling is
to be relied upon as a witness, we may
expect no improvement under that of
Garfield.
Tn E investigation of the Star route
swindler is still progressing under the
searching eyes of Postmaster James
nnd Attorney General MacVeagh.
They have already uncovered suffi
cient crookedness to know that stu
pendous frnuds were committed against
the Government, and will soon have
the principal thieves under indict
ment, with evidence to show the
amount stolen ami to whom it was
|mid. Strong efforts it is said were
made to induce the President to ar
rest the investigation and prevent
prosecutions. Too late for this. The
President has load enough to carry
without bearing him down with the
odium of protecting villains like
Dorsey A Co.
THE Ohio Republican Htate Con
vention will meet on Wednesday next
to nominnte a Htate ticket. The pres
ent Governor, Charles Foster, it is be
lieve!! will be nominated for re-elec
tion. His treachery to John Sherman
in the Chicago convention, may not
prove a winning card in the cam
paign. It is said that ''curses like
chickens, come home to roost," and
Charles may realize the truthfulness
of the adage.
THE I/)ck Haven Daily Journal,
reached us on Tuesday evening in an
enlarged and otherwise improved con
dition. We like the Journal, and
with great pleasure notice its present
signs of prosperity.
Tho Loslalaturo
Both houses of the Pennsylvania
legislature have agreed to the resolu
tion fixing the time for a filial adjourn
ment on Thursday, the !Uh instant,
which is one week from to-day. Upon
the whole, this long session has not
been a very beneficial one to the peo
ple of the State. It is probable, how
ever, that the benefits—if there he
any—will be found to consist more in
the prevention of had legislation than
in anything else. One of the crown
ing faults to le charged against the
session has been the failure to effect the
repeal of several had laws passed at
former sessions that are oppressive and
obnoxious to the people of Philadel
phia. They have appealed in vain to
have these enactments, under the
cover of which a venal ami corrupt
ring of politicians have been able to
plunder them as audaciously and
as ruthlessly as highway-men, strick
en from the statute hooks, hut their
appeals have received as little atten
tion as though an ordinary citizen
had no rights which a Pennsylvania
legislature was bound to respect
The corrupt roosters have tliu- far
been able to prevent any thing that
savored of salutary legislation or re
form measures from reaching final
consideration. It is through the pres
ent system of public plunder in Phil
adelphia that thev keep themselves in
jwiwer aud it is hard for them to give
up their flesh-pots.
An end, however, is lound to come
to this lamentable condition of public
affair* in our Htatc. An aroused pub
lic sentiment will cum|>e] a change,
aud in due time the voice of the |>cop!e
will be heeded. The responsibility for
all that is vile and vicious in the pres
ent course of legislation at the Slate
Capitol must rest with the prepondcr
nting political majority which controls
the organization and dictates the action
ofboth branches. The Democratic mi
nority is helpless in the hands of that
unscrupulous majority. It ran be
-aid to the credit of the minority—
aud in this connection we take sjie
cial pride in pointing to the rec
ords of our Centre county representa
tives —that, with few exceptions, all
measures looking to the reform of
abuses; to a lessening of the burdens
that rest upon the citizens of Philadel
phia ; to just and honest legislation
for the benefit of all; to the breaking
up of corrupt ring* ami the re-tstab
lishment of houc*t parliamentary
methods, have received the earnest
and unwavering support of that mi
nority. This is a matter of just pride
to the Democracy of Pennsylvania.
Let us hope that it is the harbinger of
better days in Pennsylvania legisla
tion. (Jf days when a I>emocratic
majority will give voice to the wishes
of the people they represent; when
purity, honesty and a just regard for the
honor and dignity of our great Com
monwealth will be the prevailing mo
tives that actuate the representatives
of our citizenship, instead of the sordid,
groveling and loathsome rule that at
present sways our destinies.
THAT able and reliable Democratic
newspaper, the Clinton Democrat, came
to us last week in a clean, new dress
presenting a neat and artistic appear
ance. With an editor of large expe
rience ami eminent ability, the Dem
ocracy of Clinton county have an or
gan iu which they may well feel an
honest pride. We offer our sincere
congratulations to our excelleut neigh
bor.
Tii K Conk ling vindication accord
ing to the latest reports does not pre
sent a promising aspect. A separate
ballot was taken on Tuesday in both
Houses of the New York Legislature
for Heuators. Mr. Conkling received
thirty-five votes in the two houses,
nine in the Henate and twenty-six in
the House, and Piatt had twenty-nine
votes, eight in the Senate and twenty
one in the The Democratic
vote was cast swdly for Francis J.
Kern an and John C. Jacob*, and the
: Republican vote Hcattm*! between
(.oakling, I'lutt iiml Borne fifteen half*
breed*. ut the oj>joncntn of Conkling
are fumiliurly called. It i* believed that
the ex-Senator* will improve their
vote materially, but whether sufficient
| to overcome the patronage and power
i of the Administration brought to the
j aid of the opposing faction, is doubt
ful.
m ♦
ADDITIONAL LOCALS.
i Snow Shok, —We tre under obligations
to our friend, J. ii. Holt, Khj., for s copy
"f Col. James Gilliland't "Historical
Sketches of the Snow Shoe Region," re
; cently published in pamphlet form. "We
have read this excellent little work with
great pleasure and interest. It opens with
un account of the "early surveys and own-
ers of land in the region of which it
i treats, in 177-i. Then there is an exceed
ingly interesting sketch of the "first set
tlers," beginning with John Betcbtol, who
in the year lk|h became the first perma
; iK-nt resident. John Hctchlol was follow
ed in the same year by Samuel Askey,
who was a famous woodsman and hunter.
I he am dotos related by Col. 'iiliiland of
Samuel As key' hunting adventures are
w<dl told and interesting. Mr. Askeydied
in the year Ik.'>7 in his eighty-first year,
leasing twelve children, forty-two grand
1 children and five great grand children.
Mrs. Austin liinlon, one of his daugh
ters, and a number of his grand and
great-children are at the present lime resi
dents of Snow Shoo.
After iletchlol and Askey, came John
llolt The sketch of the Holt family is so
interns ting that we cannot forbear to give
it in full We therefore take the follow.
extra< t from tho chapter uj>on the "first
settlers .
"There was no further settlement until
the spring of 1*22, when John Holt. Esq ,
fr<>m Itald Ragle Valley, located about a
mi lee <pjjdisianl from Iletchtol and Askey.
He raade a judicious selection of land. The
-ituatinn is l- autiful, commanding a pleas
ant and extensive view of the surrounding
country ; land smooth and easily cullival
' ed, producing g<**l crops, with a desirable
home. Ife was a useful and highly re
-te*cted cttixen. For many years he ftlhd
tbe office of justice of the peace, and dis
• bargi-d the duties of other offices of the
i township,, to which he was frequently
called by the people He died at the rest
lence of his daughter, Mrs. Hughv, in the
Stats- of Illinois, while stn a visit, on the
2.U day of November, lWifl. His remains
were brought home and deposited in Snow
Shsse Cemetery,
His great-grandfather wss a son of Sir
Job", Holt, of England, and emigrated to
America and settled in the Cumberland
\ alley before the Revolution. He left
home to go on business to Philadelphia,
and never wa beard of afterwards. It
was supposed that be wa killed by the In
dians He left one son, Thomas, and two
daughters, who, with the Buchanans, were
the first settlers at le-wistown Pennsylva
nia Thomas llolt had four sons and three
daughters. William, the ancestor of Judge
H-'lt. Pi "tm as tor-General during Mr. Iln-
I rhanan * administration, emigrated to
i Kentucky ; James was killed by the In
dian* ; Thomas went to Ohio ; and Col.
John Holt, the father of John Holt, Esq ,
"f Snow Shoe, settled in the Bald Eagle
Valley. nearCurtin's iron works, in 1782.
He was a colonel in the Revolution, and
j was at the battle of Gormantown and in
j several others. He was fond ol bunting,
and it is said was the first while man that
I followed the Indian trail to Snow Shoe to
hunt game. It was his custom to spend a
few weeks during everv fall season hunl
! ing. Samuel Askev, Joseph and Charles
Lucas, and his son John, when a boy, gen
erally accompanied him. He raised a
tamily of four sons—Thomas, James,
I John, and Robert—and four daughters :
Mary, married to Jacob Itarnhart; Eliza
beth, t Henry Hartihart; Jane, to Fred
erick Antis; and Nanov, to James Patter
' -on. Colonel Holt died in the summer of
j IS.II, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.
Mr*. Marv Holt, wife of John Holt,
died on the !>th of July, Iftfi", aged seven
. Tv-two years. She was a woman of more
than ordinary intelligence, highly esteem
ed by her neighbors and by all who knew
her; a devoted Christian, following the
example of her Divine Master, "going
' abroad doing good"; in cases of sickness
nttending upon the humble and the lowly
as well as tho mere favored Mrs. llolt
was the daughter of John Harbison, an
Englishman, and one of the first settler*
of Milesburg, whose descendants are num
erous. including the Hairds, Holts, Swan
ays, McKibhenses, and others.
John Holt's family consisted of two
sons and three daughter*. William, his
oldest son, was killed at the break ing down
of the trestle across Miller's Hollow, when
in the cars, on hi* way to a political meet
ing. He was one of the most enterprising
men of the countrv, a skillful and suocess
ful farmer, and also engaged extensively
in lumber operation*. His death was a
great loss to his family, and was much
lamented by the community. Hi* brother,
J H. Holt, is also a prominent and useful
cltir.en of Snow Shoe, extensively engaged
in the square-limber business and In farm
ing. Mrs. Ilughy * the only daughter
living, resides In the State of Illinois."
These old settlers attracted others and
in a short time came John Mayes, from
Madisonburg, in Miles township, Perry
John Lucas and others mentioned by 001.
Gilliland. The succeeding parts are da
voted to the growth, development and Im
provement of the region. The work should
be in the hands of avery one interested in
Snow Shoe end Burnside township.
TERMS: sliO por Annum, in Advance.
Maui BUKXEP.—WH learn from the
Philiptburg J</umal that the u rnilU re
cently erected at North HouUdale by the
enterpriaing firm of Hoover, Hughe* 4:
Co., were entirely deatroyed by fire on
lart Friday morning. The fire occured
about 3 o'clock in the morning. The
Journal nay# :
"Theae mill* in addition to the regular
machinery reouired for the manufacture
of lumber and thingle*, al*o had a com
plete outfit to manufacture boxe* of all
kind* and nail keg, being all completed in
the mo*t thorough manner, at a co*t of
SIB,OOO. An insurance of $13,11.00 cover*
the haw partially, but the delay caued by
the interruption of the bu.ine*. i much
more eriou than the deficit on the cot of
the building* and machinery. Jut thir
teen month, ago, a new mill ju*t complet
ed and ready for operation on the latne
foundation on which the preaentmll wa*
located, wa destroyed by fire and now the
preaent IOM make* it doubly evere and
diacouraging to tho*e enterprining lumber
operation*. A* w go to pre on Friday
afternoon at one o'clock we are unable to
give a full account of the fire."
READ ASD CONSIDER— -The business
boorn hu caused so many manufactories to
►tart into full operations that hands are
becoming scarce. Men are striking for
higher wages at business centre* ; this
will make harvest hand* scarce. Farmers
should consider the situation in time.
Those who have much wheat to harvest
should provide themselves with self-bind
ing Harvesters. The Osborne is the best—
binds with either twine or wire, the cost of
which is twentv-five to thirty cents per
acre. It is the only Harvester made that
the twine and wire attachments go with
the sarne machine. They are the only
self-binding Harvester* that have been
sold in Centre county this year There is
a twine binder in working order at the
Farmer's Supply Store, of Alexander A
Co., iiellefonte, l*a
—We were greatly grieved to hear of
the death of Samuel Thompson, KM}., an
old and respected cttiaen of Walker town
ship. His death occurred on Sunday and
his funeral took place on Tuesday. Mr.
Thompson was 7* years of age. He filled
the office of Justice of the I'essce for some
years; was a most estimable and useful
citisen, beid in the highest esteem by all
who knew him. and a general sorrow wa
felt in the neighborhood when his death
wa announced. Of him it may be said
that a good man, at a ripe age, has gone to
his reward.
FROM to it Htii.—Tberi> i [icrbi|it no
lonic offered to the people that po**®*** a*
much real intrinsic value *f the Hop Bit
ten. Jut at this season of the year, when
the U>mach need* an appetizer, or the
blood need* purifying, the cheapen and
beat remedy ia Hop Bitten. An ounce of
prevention ia worth a pound of cure, don't
wait until you are prostrated by a disease
that may take month* for you to
in.— Bottom QUA*.
—The Philadelphia Branch atill lead*
all other Bellefonte house* In extra quality
and style* of clothing.
Book Notices.
rtowaae at EIOHT TIME* THEIR WRIGHT
IN HOLD.
The cut-flower business, another phase
of horticulture, i perhaps greater in the
United State* than in any other part of
the world. Certainly the uae of cut-flow
ere in New York, for boqucta, basket*,
and other dcaigna, ia far creator than in
either London or Pari*, and the taate
•bown in their arrangement here ia vaally
auperior. It it eatimated that three mil
lion* of dollar* were paid for cut-flower*
In New York in IW0, one-third of which
wa* for ro*e-bud*. Immense glaa* struct
ure# are erected in the suburb* for tbe
imperial purpoae of growing cut-flower* to
•upply the boquet-maker* of the city. Not
le* than twenty acre* of glaa* surface ia
devoted to the purpoe* of forcing rose*
alone, during the winter month*. At
*ome season* the price* paid for thwe
forced rosebud* are perfectly a*tounding.
One grower, of Madison, New Jersey,
took into New York three hundred bud*
of the crimon rote known a* "General
Jacqueminot," for which be received, at
wholesale, three hundred dollar*, and
which, no doubt, were retailed at a dollar
and fifty cent* to two dollar* each. A
flower-dealer in Fourteenth atreet, a few
day* before Cbrtatma*, received tbe only
four of thia *ame variety of rote that were
offered ia the city, and found a customer
for them at sixty dollar*, or fifteen dollar*
apiece, or eight time* the vela* of their
weight in gold.— /Vfer Rr wdrmoa, u*
"Prtetiral Flonevlhtrt," Strut hn an for
J mm*.
TBI Supreme Court of New York has
granted tbe order to change the name of
the corporation of "Seribnrv Cb." to
"T CiNTt-nr Co."—the order to lake
effect on the Slat of June. The July fa
turn of Sent in KB 'a Monthly and Sr.
Nicholas will have the new corporate
imprint.
NO. 22.