Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1885 — THE GOOD OLD TIMES. [ARTICLE]

THE GOOD OLD TIMES.

The Shelbyyille Democrat, in speaking of the re-election of Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees to the United States Senate from Uidiana, pays him the following well-merited compliment: ‘We know of no Democrat who is more enthroned in the hearts of his pary or who is more deserving than the gallant Voorhees. He is the idol of the Democratic masses; they esteem him more highly than they do any of their great leaders. He has never betrayed his constituents or proven false to his friends. He has been as true to both as it was possible to be. His record as a public man is clean and free from all corruptinginfiuences,'notwithstanding the many temptations spread before him. He has Successfully resisted all jobs and every species of corruption. The fact that he is much poorer to-day than when he entered Congress is oroof sufficient that he has been actuated more by love of country than from motives of personal gain. These are facts well known to his friends and to the country, and in them may be found the secret of his great hold on the people. As a Senator he has been able, laborious and energetic and has reflected credit upon his party and the State. He has been equal to every emergenpy and we predict for him, if possible, a more brilliant and useful career in the Senate.’ Every Democrat in Indiana responds a hearty ‘Amen’ to the above.

Of General Mahlon D. Manson, the veteran Democratic soldier of two wars who was chosen Lieutennat-Governor of * ndiana last November, the Slielbyville Democrat says:‘A visitor entering the Senate chamber at once notices the commanding and portly form of that grand old hero, General Manson, in the presiding officer’s chair. There lie sits, honored, respected and loved by every member of that body. At times the equanimity of that Assembly may be somewhat ruffled, but when that grand old man rises from his seat and raps for order, silence at once ensues. It is not necessary that he should be a skilled parliamentarian. The respect that every Senator entertains tor that venerable old statesman and warrior commands attention and insures good conduct. He may not at once recognize the Senator who claims his attention, but a half dozen friendly voices at once aid him in his hesitation. The Senate may have had abler presiding officers, and men better posted in the technicalities of parliamentary law, but a kinder hearted, nobler, more generous, whole-souled old hero and gentleman never sat in the official chair of the Senate of Indiana.’

The old Liberty bell, dow on exhibition at the New Orleans Exposition, was first rung Aug. 27,1753 to call the Pennsylvania Assembly together. On the Bth of July, 1776, it was bing to celebrate the proclamation of the Declaration o f Independence. .The last time it was rung was on the Bth of July, 1835. when the remains of Chief Justice Marshall was carried through Philadelphia, followed by the entire bar of the city on their way to Virginia- It was then that the historic crack was discovered.

Edwin Booth, Lawrence Barrett, and Henry Irving have consented to participate iu the forthcoming exercises of the dedication of the Poe memorial in the Metropolitan museum of art in Buffalo. The dale of the dedication has not been assigned. n

General Grant says the men who fought on both sides at Shiloh ‘were Americans, and united they need not fear any foreign foe.’

jN' lmi.lvH Sui" Journal.J Talk of the good old times. Mrs. C. B. Parker has kindly handed us a bundle of papers printed at Delphi, Ind., from which we glean some correct ideas of the good old times of ’4B and ’49, less than forty years ago. Plank roads were then being built as the cheapest and most available means of communication between cities of larg-u* size near together. The telegraph would soon be completed to St. Louis, while an extension to New Orleans was seriously contemplated By the end of 1849 it was expected that 5000 miles would be in operation. The supreme court cf Texas held its sessions in a ’grocery,’ which in those days meant a saloon. The population of the United States was 2 ! ',748,400. The papers were dull compared with those of to-day Party spirit ran high, and political speeches were printed with whole sentences and par araphs in italics and capitals, by way of calling attention to the points made by the orators. The bank question was a great problem in those days, and the system, or lack of it, one of utter confusion and continual loss. The issue of the Delphi Republican of May 30,1848, contains a letter from Gen. Zachary Taylor defending his official report that the 2d Indiana regiment had fled the field at Buena Vista. It also alludes to the ribing in Ireland and the Polish insurrection. The grand United States circus proudly advertised 150 men and horses, and its chief attraction was the wonderful feat of riding two horses at one timo. It was decided upon the au thoiity of the officers of the army erring in Mexico that Mexican .. liisky was inferior to bourbon, which had already established a reputation. Merchants were even then selling goods below cost, and everything fine was ot foreign brand. Gen. Taylor favored the employment of bloodhounds to trail hostile Indians in Florida. and appioved their employment by the army. John Mitchell, the Irish patriot, was transported to the Bermudas in 1848. His wife died a few days later at her home in Ireland. Many things quaint and curious are to be seen in these old papers, but to attempt an enumeration of them would take too much space. The general impression after going through them is that the good old times were not |so very good after all.