Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1878 — LET THEBE BE HARMONY. [ARTICLE]

LET THEBE BE HARMONY.

A shooting affray occurred at Remington, Monday afternoon, between Charles McCully and R. R. Pettit, in which revolvers and shot guns were used, mid both parties received slight wounds. The story is a long one, being tho history of a family feud. McCully is Pettit’s son-in-law, but his wife procured a divorce from him. This )» the third encounter of the men with deadly weapons. McCully had just been released from jail where he was confined a year in default of bail to keep the peace with Pettit, lie is said to have commenced tho assault on sight without provocation. lie is in arrest.

Hon. Daniel \V. Voorhees’ admirers in this neck of timber will hold a public meeting in'the court house, Saturday afternoon at two o’clock, to denounce the legislation of the Republican party; demand the remonetization and unlimited coinage of silver, the unconditional repeal of the resumption act, the abolition of the national banks and the substitution fortheir circulation of treasury notes, and the reception by the government for all dues gold, silver and greenbacks indiscriminately. They all do it. And Republicans irrespective of party are pressingly invited to attend and help make a little capital for the Democratic “people.”

Rumor softly whispers that some capitalist talks of founding a Republican newspaper office in Rensselaer. Hope it’s true. Would like to see one of those things. Wonder if it would bo for or against the light running silver dollar, for or against civil service reform’, for or against resumption in 1879. In short we are curious to gaze on an orthodox Republican organ—or for that matter, a Democratic organ either. Wont some scientific expert please catch a specimen, bring it avouml ar.d explain its characteristic peculiarities? We’ll, pay for the hall, insure a full house, and give a letter of introduction to the geologist who is collecting a cabinet of rare curiosities.

The disguised Democratic paper at Remington don’t like the manner Cap. Edmunds, Ira W. Yeoman and tiieir half dozen oonfriers run its party caiicusses. Listen, what a squeal: A democratic caucus was held at Rensselaer January 2d, ami delegates appointed to the state convention to be held February 20th, at Indianapolis. The following gentlemen were chosen: John G. Culp,* Henry A. Barkley, O. B. Mclntire and Janies Yeoman. The democrats of this end of the county were not consulted at all, aiiTT are soincwhat pu t out ty'tiffs star chamber way of doing business.

The Times and its friends may as well make up their minds to put up with the star chamber way ot doing business as best they may, for an ex-army officer and ex-republi-can will furnish the brains for Jasper count}’ Democrats this year of grace eighteen hundred and seven-ty-eight, or signs don’t count, and he is not the kind of man to put up with mossy back Bourbon foolishness. Carpenter township Democrats are -enough irogd for greenback bait, they can be relied upon every time to vote sick Republicans into office, but what i« the use of wasting time to “consult” that kind ot people? Theirs »<>t to reason why. Theirs but to vole Noble one hundred!

Notice is given ot a meeting ot the stockholders of the J asper county agricultural and mechanical association, to be held at the court house Saturday, 26th insiant, for election of a board of directors. If wisdom guides their deliberations the result will be thfe choice of men who will be'above the display of petty discrimination arising from political bias; who will be too honorable to swindle poor men ouj of their just dues for work contracted for Attd. fftithfu 11y <1 uiw£ who tviTF aonrn ln arty themaelves with miun-~ biers, blacklegs, pimps and thieves to the scandal of community, the outrage of public morals and cora-ffTon-deeencVt io tha Tiolation of law and the infraction of order; mid from among whom a full board the selection of any whose unfortunate habits incapacitate them tor transacting business. In the event of their being able to do this, the association ougjit to prosper and

be fostered by the people; otherwise, the sooner honest mon withdraw from it and it dies, the better for the public now and the generation which is to succeed it.

The cheapest country paper in the state of Indiana is the Rensselaer Union. Price Si a yenr, 50 cents for six months, or three months for only a quarter of a dollar.

The Indianapolis Journal’s Life of Oliver P. Morton is an excellent wofk. Every person ought to read it. If there is a fault about it, it is in being too concise. Il is not full enough. It does not tell enough about the greatest statesman Indiana has yet produced—one of the towering patriots of the civil war times.

Thk friendly fence county is not a good place to house a twenty-five dollar plow or a one hundred and fifty dollar mower. Notwithstanding all that has been said about hard times and the impossibility of some farmers will leave their implements out in the fence corner from summer to spring and then curse their luck because they can’t pay their debts.

Vick’s Illustrated Monthly Magazine is an aesthetical gem, if it is not unlawful to coin such a term. It was conceived, designed and perfected in beauty. It treats of a genus of the highest, purest and most interesting type of beauty. It is a beauty; and everybody would become better, more refined and beautified by reading it. Only one dollar and twenty-five cents a year. Published by James Vick,Rochester, New York.

Judge Van’t Woud of Keener township, county commissioner, shed the effulgent rays of his honest 2 countenance, yesterday, upon the editor weary at work in the Union office. He, too, hits pored o’er the paper blank and dreary; scrawled the page with sentence weary; tried to feel content and cheery, with the sheriff at the door; when his assets summed up nothing —or but little more; here, a bankrupt owes a dollar; there, another’s charg’d with ten; turn the leaves—those that follow are accounts with just such men; take the lot and buy acoli - bye, Sheriff, call again.

It is stated by the Rochester Spy that after its present owner bought the office of Mr. W. H. Mattingly, several years ago, in clearing out accumulated rubbish he discovered a letter from General Jasper Packard, then representing this dist rict in congress, which was addressed to Mr. Mattingly. As the latter had been a fierce opponent of the General’s renomination in the Plymouth convention and afterwards suddenly became a ve hement advocate of his election, and as the postmark of the letter corresponded with the date of those events, curiosity impelled Major Bitters to read the missive. He says that after a review of the difference between Inmself and Mr. Mattingly General Packard closed his letter with this significant request: “Please find enclosed SIOO for campaign purposes.” In the last number of the Rochester Independent, Mr. Mattingly occupies a column denying the receipt from General Packard of more than SSO all told for the expenses of three campaigns. Were we to venture an opinion on the subject it would be that Major Bitters is mistaken. This conclusion is based on two reasons, either of which is quite

sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt with us. They are, first, because while General Packard 'may have been unscrupulous and cor-' rupt enough to bribe a man’s influence he was so small and stingy that he never would have given Sioo forjeampaign purposes when he knew he had a dead sure thing of an election; secondly, because we Jo not believe Mr. Mattingly could be bribed. If Major Bitters has that dooumoot let him produce >t; Ts he has lost or destroyed it, it had been wise never to have alluded

Mr. Charles Boroughs one of the best citizens of the county is arranging to move to Kansas, lie designs to start about the last of February.

Li the issue of the Kentland Gazette dated January 3. Hon. Andrew Hall occupies nearly a column and a half of space with an article advocating the remonetization of silver upon a basis which will re. store to circulation, with their legal tender quality increased, the coins that in flippant parlance arc called the “dollar of the daddies.” If we do not mistake his argument he would have congress repeal the act of 1873, which stopped the coinage of silver dollars of 412| grains, and restore the metal io its former use. Next, he would make silver dollars a legal tender, in unlimited sums, for the payment of all debts, public and private, and receivable for duties and imports. Still farther: his scheme contemplates making these silver coins a full and lawful tender, at their face value, by the government, in payment of the existing bonded indebtedness, both principal ami interest, (where not otherwise expressly provided by law), and all other existing public indebtedness.

Evidently Mr. Hall has given his subject considerable study; and he is able to speak intelligently about the recent history of the coinage and debasement of his favorite metal, both at home and under foreign governments. One statement' that he makes, in answer to the hackneyed cant of the inonometalists about an “honest dollar,” has the merit of plausibility at least; and we have seen it suddenly silence those who had acquired the habit of using that term on every possible occasion. His position is this: The honest dollar is the dollar that was current when the debt or contract was made, whether the material of that dollar was gold, silver, paper or any other substance; and if it was not expressed in the terms of the contract which

kind of dollars payment should be made with, then it remains for the debtor to make the election; Turthennore, for the purpose of pay* Ing debts that dollar Is the honest one which (if metallic) corresponds in weight and fineness with the standard in use nt the time when the obligation was created. In other words, a silver coin of 412| drains weight nine-tenths pure is an honest dollar lor the payment of debts tharwere contraclWprior" to 1873, if no conflicting conditions were attached.

It is not our purpose at’this time to enter upon a discussion of the currency question. The science of finance is of vast proportions; to master it requires a lifetime of careful study, profound thought, and shrewd deduction. Its discussion ought never to be undertaken by the ignorant man, if he is at all modest or sensitive to the opinions of those that are better informed. We frankly confess our inability to grasp the subject with rill its comprehensiveness of detail. But there is a sentence in Mr. Hall’s article wlitch is ambiguous or obscure that we have, a slight curiosity to hear an interpretation of. However, before quoting the sentence referred to let us digress to say that Mr. Hall is a prominent local politician ; he has always acted with the Republican party; he has been clerk of Newton county two terms; last winter he represented Newton and Benton counties in the lower house of the legislature; and since the last state convention of the party he has been the representative of the tenth congressional district on the Republican state committee. Now back to the obscure sentence. After blain-

monetizing silver, and after raising a question upon the wisdom of our Republican president’s southern states policy, lb. Hall says, “It is “the duty of the citizen to make “such political affiliations ns will “lend to determine aright the political questions of most vital “importance at the time.” The explanation desired upon this sentence is whether th* author of it in his official capacity as a member of the state committee pteans to advise silver advocating Republicans to *‘makc political affiliations” the event of the monometalists or gold advocates having a majority in conventions? Perhaps, however, this question Las bcen answered

by Mr. Hall in the concluding sentence of bia article. After premising that the advocate* of * gold standard system will make an effort to control the next state convention of the party, thia gentleman says, “If the convention should bo “captured by thia ring, then one “other duty will remain; and that “is, to defeat overwhelmningly the “ticket which it may place in the “field.”

In all friendliness may wc not ask Mr. Hall if he has not in this instance allowed his zeal to triumph over bis usually excellent judgment? Does ho not have charity to think the monometalist is as honest in his opinions and as conscientious in his convictions as the man who advocates a double standard of commercial measures? Does he not understand that the candidates of a state ticket are powerless to effect the monetary question any more than other individuals of equal ability? The men who are charged with the care of national affairs are the representatives in congress; they are reached through district conventions and state legislatures. Does he not comprehend the deplorable condition of his party, in point of numbers and influence, that be advocates a violent rupture ol its elements? Has not his observation taught that the method of discussion which he has adopted—that of bullying and threatening—always intensifies antagonism, and exasperates and renders intracticable tha elements found with the opposing side of the controversy? Besides this, its effect is bad upon those who are undecided, for they look upon a display of this kind as the result of a mental acknowledgment of weakness and the fear of defeat. As a member of the committee whose misfortune it was that the state gave a decisive adverse majority as a result of their management of a campaign, would it not be intretter taste to adopt a different class of persuasives? And, finally, does not Mr. Hall, and do not the score or more gentlemen who aspire to the leadership of the Republican party of Indiana, ever think that H might be wise for each and all to cease kicking the prostrate party for awhile, and turn their attention to healing its wounds and bruises?

VVith unify of purpose, prudence anlzeal it is possible tor the Republican party to carry the state next fall; or, at least, it. may control the legislature which will give it a United States senator and prevent the threatened gerrymandering of tlie slate by the Democrats; and it-may carry a majority of the congressional districts. But if the disposition, of those who are regarded as leaders is to be dictatorial, acerb and haughty, it were better to imitate the example of our friends in some of the southern states and disband.