The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-07-24
CUMBERLAND VALLEY, July 20, 1868

CUMBERLAND VALLEY, July 20, 1868
Mr. MEYERS:
You will pardon me, for | am not in the
habit of writing letters, but as we both belong
ed to the same party and were old friends be-
fore this war, thought few lines in explana-
tion of the position of our new party, would be
interesting and satisfactory.
Sir, goodly number of us thought the Dem
ocratic party was broken up and there would
be no chance to be elected to Office by it any
longer, so we wanted new party. We are
now about establishing this new party. 1t is
to be composed of ''loyar al-sorts. We have
already gained like fury. We number some 20
in all, old Republicans and sold line Democrats"
Chats what we call ourselves) but don't know
how it will be in the end am afraid we may
be Il little disappointed, for your party appears
to be making up in other places what we are
taking from it here. Did you notice those arti-
cles in our paper from Cumberland Valley?
Them's what we call ''Prize Stories" When
one OF our party does any thing contrary to our
platform, he is compelled to write an article for
u fellow by the. name of Wheelba,roec, and if it
is published, we know he considers it prize
roorback. This penance re-instates the Offend
ing member in good standing. Well, one of our
longest members failed to attend great Union
meeting, after being told some half dozen
times Of it. Q don't know whether you heard
OF this Union meeting. 1t was held at Centre
vile some time since, by Wheel5arow and
certain candidate, by the name of Householder
Their speeches were so affecting that when the
members were called upon to cheer for the speak
ers and the Union, we could not open our
mouths to holloaD Now, our absent friend had
to write the first of those articles, signed ''Old
Line Democrat" simply for non-attendance at
the meeting; and as he had never written for
any other paper except the Centreville Clipper,
he was terribly scared, and in his fright forgot
to tell the truth. This fellow is a queer fish.
For instance, because some one said at club
meeting that old Abe is the chief of the nation,
he imagincs that we are all Indians, and calls
every body by Indian names
Sir, we have very good Union man here for
Post Master, and to satisfy us of his loyalty he
had posted up quite number of small Ameri-
can flags in his office But when those 'tJohn-
ny Rebs'' made their appearance in Cumberland,
our patriotic p. NJ, desiring to be with the side
which seemed TO be uppemost, turned rebel at
once and tore down and tramped under foot
the American flags. Well, some of our party
then accused him with being 'Secessionist;"
so he had TO write the other article to which |
refer. These articles are considered the best
that have been produced in this region We
are getting up some leather medals to present to
the authors at our next meeting.
Sir, the Republicans told US that we are ''the
leaders," and if we came over and joined this
new party the balance of the Democrats would
ri Rut for. hut gsu
leaders" have come and when the Democrats
had their delegate election at Centreville, be-
hold you! the very men we were depending up
on, voted for and with these sly Copperheads.
You see, old esq Loonoy," and tet0 others
are in our way. We have tried to persuade
them over, but have failed. So now, we will
see what hard and ugly names will do. There
has been hard faeliag hefwaen US leaders and
Esq. Looney for some time, and wchave pledg-
ed ourselves to try to get htm ont Of tile aray.
Sir, believe that the Democratic Delegate
Election was not fair. 1t was too open and
public. am in favor of holding such elections
as we did ours Our plan was this: When the |
time for holding the election arrived, we placed
our Post Master out on platform from which
he could see his Office and the election house at
the same time; well, when one of us would come
he would say to u.s. 81 think there is something
in the office for you." Then, we would go up
and vote! by telling him we guessed as how AL. |
Smith and John Deremore would do, for Wheel
barrow and Householder had told us they would. |
If anything happens hereabouts, we will have
it published, for that is the proper way to set
tie all small difficulties, and it is SO interesting
to other parties who are not acquainted with
the particulars. Yours in haste, !
OLD LINE DEMOCRAT, No. 9.
N. b. Do you know of any other new par
ties besides ours?
z. S. Please send our p. Nj. several copies |
of last weeks Inquirer. He has carried his pa
per around until it is worn out and hasn't got
quite around yet.