Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-12-08
"sATAN REPRoV1NG SIN, ;,

to be present at the centennial celebration of
the capture of Fort Duquesne, recently held |
at Pittsburgh. 1t exhibits the fact that the
superannuated, and his memory growing trea-
cherous. In the paragraph alluded to he says:
81 shall assume the privilege of advancing
years in referring to another growing and dam
gerous evil. In the last age, although our
fathers, like ourselves, were divided into polit-
ical parties, which often had severe conflicts
with each other, yet We never heard, until
within recent period, of the employment of
money to carry elections Should this prac-
tice increase until the voters and their repre-
sentatives in the State and National Legisla-
ture shall become infected, the foundation of
free government will then be poisoned at its
source, and we must end, as history proves, in
military despotism. A democratic republic,
all agree, cannot long survive unless sustain
ed by public virtue. When this is corrupted
and the people become vcnal, there is a can
ker at the root of the Tree of Liberty which
must cause it to wither and die.''
If that isn't decidedly cool, we should like
| to know what constitutes frigidty. After all
the money that was spent to carry his own e.
| lection, to defeat Blair in Missouri, and to re-
| elect Lecomptontes in New York and Penn
sylvania, the past fall-after all the corruption
in Congress to carry the Lecompton Bill-in
the Land Office TO feather the nests of ssdistin-
| guished DemocratS'-in the sale of forts and
| the purchase of new sites-in fat army con-
| tracts-all designed to reward political favor
| ites,-after all this, it seems strange that Mr..
Buchanan should have "neyer heard, until
within recent period of the employment of
money to carry elections,' or that "public
virtue is corrupted.' He is pretty speci-
men, indeed, to talk OF sspeople becoming We
nal, Of the ssfoundation of free government
being poisoned at its source,'' and our Repub-
lie in danger OF sending in military despot-
| ISM" But as the President has made so i'm
portant discovery, we think he should in
| form the public who is responsible for these
direful premonitions-whose election was car
ried in the way he intimates-whose ssmoney
was employed" and under whose Admnistra-
| tiOn such disreputable s.practice'' prevailed.
He ought to tell. He evidently knows, or he
would scarcely have mentioned the matter.
The 'sevils'' he complains of are dangerous
| they are, indeed, ga canker at the root Of the
| Tree of Liberty some of the patriotic
individuals who shouted SO loud in 1856 ought
speedily to adopt some efficient means to sup
press them, and once more sssave the Union"
|
| RUSSIA SHEET IRoS.-It is a popular notion
that the process of manufacturing the tena-
cious and glossy s.Russia sheet ROM is a pro-
found secret, and that the vigilance of the
Russian government and the Russian manufac-
turers has hitherto successfully prevented all
foreigners from obtairing the slightest infor-
\ g. H. ~
sioner of Patents, in his last report, also al
| ludes to the manufacture of this article as one
of the great unsolved problems in science,
which the industrial interests of the country
require should be explained. Mr.. Wells, in
his recent work, ssPrinciples and Applications
| of Chemistry states that this current belief
| has no foundation in fact, and that the method
of preparing the iron in question is perfectly
well known. According to the authority quo
ted, s'Russia sheet iron is in the first instance
avery pure article rendered exceedingly tough
and flexible by refining and annealing. Its
bright, glossy surface is partially silicate,
and partially oxyd of iron, and is produced by
passing the hot sheet, moistened with solu-
tion of wood ashes, through polished steel
| rollers" Another mythical bubble is thus
punctured, and the wonderful story of guard
ed founderies and ever-watchful officials as
| connected with Russia sheet iron, will take
rank with the account of ssSymmes Hole,''
and the barncles which turn to Scion geese
|
| The special Congressional election in Berks
county, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
resignation of Judas CLANCY Jones, resulted
| in the success Of Cen Wm TT Eeim fbo
Peoples candidate, by majority of 1863. The
vote stood, Keim 6156, Warner 56S7. The e.
] lection of Gen. Keim is a decided victory of
| the friends of American Industry and it is said
has put matters sadly out of joint at Washing
| ton, throwing Mr.. Buchanan into a worse hu-
NOR than he was in at the defeat of Clancy.
1t is a defiant reply to the Presidents rebuke
of her former disloyalty. 1t shows that the
| day of Executive dictation is past-that the
people are free, and that party ties are not
| strong enough to fetter the Independent spirit
OF free voters even in famous old Berks.
We understand that few individuals in our
town are perverting and finding fault with
what we said in our last paper concerning the
removal of the county seat. We wrote that
article with the intention ard design of taking
! no part with either side, as the matter then
| stood. Those of either party who see fit to find
fault with the article, have perfect right to do
so; but we can assure them that we intend to
exercise the same privilege they enjoy-that
OF withholding or expressing any opin-
ION we please and this We shall do regard
/ less OF the frowns, denunciations, or menaces