Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-11-30


greatly prides itself upon its sharpness
was completely deceived, and wrote an
article four columns in length, which was
published in the Leader of this city,
wherein he proceeded with the utmost
gravity to refute seriatim the propositions
laid down in this book. Under these au-
spices 90 Miscegenation was published
Is was a decided hit A copy came into
the possession of Mr. Charles Congdon.
one of the cleverest writers in the editorial
staff of the New York Tribune, who was
so impressed with the theory advanced by
the book that ne wrote two or three arti-
cles, which were published in that paper,
squinting very strongly at Z" Miscegena-
ton" He declared that the preiudics
existing between white women and black
men was no stronger and no less unjust
than that formerly obtaining between
Christians and Jews The Ant-.S2auevJ
Standard, leading Abolition newspaper,
published laboriously written editorial
of column in length in review of tie
pamphlet, accepting it as "pioneer of a
more glorious civilization" The Indepen-
dent, edited by Henry Ward Beecher and
Theodore 1flton, gave place to leading
articles in commendation of the book,
praising the author for his boidness and
manliness," and approving, so far as it
dared, the principle laid down by him
The bulk of the Republican party, how
ever, composed as it is of very shrewd
politicians constantly on the alert for traps
of that sort, whether innocently set by
their own radical brethren or by the wick
ed copperheads,' saw that whether the
book was to be viewed with distrust or
not, and however consistent its doctrines
might be with their record and character.
its public endorsement would kill them
politically, and Sd they very wisely said
little about the matter.
Miscegenation was introduced In
Congress through the dextrous manipula-
tions of the authors, and Hon. ). S. Cox,
4 representative from Ohio, an acknowi-
edged leader of the Democracy, made
brilliant and forcible speech against the
theory. The book had its run in New
York, and was the &c sensation" for
month or more. Edition after edition was
sold, and it was finally, as have said,
reprinled in England. Of course it was
an admirable political weapon 10 use
against the Republicans, and the Demo
Gratis were not slow to avail themselves of
it, But it deceived both Democrats and
Republicans. No one suspects that it was
written by people who abhor the doctrine
it sets forth, and that it is not the bona
Gde argument of Republican. 1t was
constructed with so much tact and clever
ness that 1t L" swindles" " everybody and
N1rhn hue II
States it will be the first that will have
beenmade regarding the matter. One of
the most famous swindles in the literary
way that ever excited comment here was
the work setting forth what is now known
rs the "Moon hoax" written by J.
Locke, Immediately after the completion
of Lord Roses great telescope. But
Mscegenation throws the "Moon
hoax" completely In the shade. 1t Is
very likely that the writers of the book
will never be discovered, but like the au-
thor of the world famous "Junius's Let
tiers ~ will remain unkn nown to fame, a
puzzle to American biographers as the
Letters have been and are to the
shrewdest minds of England. s'hIisce-
gcnation forms one of the most amusing
chapters of the present political campaign.
The Westminster ReuIetc and other Eng
lish journals and magazines which dis
cusscd the merits of the pamphlets seri-
ously, must own up, as a Yankee would
say, to being very decidedly "sold."
Whatever good or evil the authors of
''Miscegenation" may have done in a
political way, they have achieved sort
of reflected fame in the coming of two or
three new words-at least one of which
is destined to be incorporated into the
language. Speakers and writers of Eng
lisf will gladly accept the word "misce-
genation - in the place of the word ANAL
gamation; for the latter literally and pro-
perly relates to the combination of mer-
curry with other metals while the former
is etymologicaily correct, and can be used
in no other connection than regarding the
mixing of races.