The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-09-14
We had hoped the asperities Of Politi-

bdA hOlfNA NAN g.
cal life had been softencd--that the bick-
erings aud personal abuse which in times
past characterized political warfare had
ceased, and that in future, politicians
would at least eadeaUor TO be gentlemen.
We had supposed that hereafter the con-
tests Of politicians would be for principle
and not for the purpose of dctraeiion, a
buse, and slander. The time was, when
the puresi men encountered the most foul
abuse That time we thought had pas
sed away, and new and better era COM
menced. We were mistaken. There
are still some persons, it would seem,
who delight in assailing the regulations of
their neighbors--in engendering bitter and
malignant feelings amongst those who
should, al least, be personal friends. and
in destroying the harmony of the social
circle, in which through the courtesy of
the public, they are permitted 10 move.
We have been impelled 10 these re-
marks from having read in the last avis
itor,'' resolution, purporting 10 have
been passed at the meeting of the friends
of Mr.. Polk, held during Court week,
and by the perusal Of long editorial in
the same paper, in which vile attack is
made upon Jonathan Row, Esq, the can
tlidate of the Wing party for County
Treasurer OF this county, The resolu-
lion of which we have spoken together
with the editorial article in question,
dooms this gentleman to an Immortality
of infamy for having taken the benefit of
the Bankrupt Law, and by implication
calls upon the honest farmers OF this coun-
ty TO refuse to vote for Mr.. Row for that
reason. This personal attack is entirely
without excuse and exhibits the malignitv
of its purpose, when the fact is remem-
bered that Mr.. Row has no competitor for
the Office OF County Treasurer. but its
baseness can only be understood by ac-
quainting the public with all the circum-
stances under which Mr.. Row availed
himself OF the benefit OF that law. We
proceed TO give the public history of
that business.
In 1929 or thereabouts Mr.. Row be-
came extensively engaged in the Mercan-
tile business, and from that time up 10
1882, prosecuted bis calling with all the
vigor Of an active business man, but un-
fortunately in the latter year ne was
threatened with an entire loss of sight
from disease Of the eye. and was COM
PEELED to leave his business in the hands
Of others, and put himself under the care
of an eminent oculst in the city of Pitts
burgh, under whose treatment he remain
ed for several years. During all this
time he was rendered totally incapable Of
experimenting his own business on ac-
count Of the af1licton with which he had
been visited, and, as is the case with al
most every one who entrusts his business
10 others, that business soon became de-
ranged, and as a natural consequence Mr..
Row became involved. As an honest
man would do, Mr.. Row gave up every
dollars worth of property he had in the
world. and almost blind as he was, sup
ported a large family for year by the
labor of his hands, part Of which labor
consisted in breaking stone upon the turn
pike. Subsequently Gov. Ritner, who
knew the sterling integrity of his charac-
ter, appointed him Register and Recor-
der of Westmoreland county, and he held
that Office during Gov. RS A AImihistra-
lion. In that time every dollar of his
earnings over and above the necessary
support Of his family was applied TO the
payment Of his debts, and they were re-
duced some $500. After his term Of Of
fec had expired, some kind friends in
Westmoreland county, bought the. mate
rials foF printing office and rented them
to Mr.. Row, hoping thereby to give him
che means of support for his family-but
before he was able to realize any thing
out of his new business, some Of his old
creditors proceeded against him for fhe
purpose of realising their claims out of
the printing establishment. The friends
who had assisted Mr.. Row, (amongst
whom were some of the heaviest OF Mr..
Rows remaining creditors seeing that he
would not be permitted 10 remain unmo-
Tested in any business that would enable
-. a;.I,o- % IL. chn nrno Lie dehts or sun