Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-10-05
From the Johnstown Tribune.
Our Next Congressman.

We desire this week to call the especial attention of
the Union voters of this Congressional district to the
importance OF beng represented in the Councils Of
the Salon by one VINO Is the friend and the foe of
J the National AdmInstTation-the opponent and NOT
! the apologist of Treason.
! Such man ls ABRAIMM A. BARKER. of Eheu sburcr
From the day when the echo Of the guns which fired
| upon Fort Sumter reached the mountains of Little
! Cambria MT Barker has manifested zeal and ener-
~ in support of the Government and in defense of
! the old flag which have been productive of the most
beneficial results to the good cause and which have
elected the admiration of all true friends of the
! Union who have observed his course Through his
| exertions. many willing volunteers have been fiir
nshed to the army from the frosty sons, who dwell
IN the central and northern parts of Cambria county,
been greatly lessened, many an undivided family
viii cheeriully testify. And the interest he has con
stanty taken IN the physical welfare of the men who
have gone into the service through his Influence or
uom among ms neighbOrs, the pride he has always
et IN ther company organizations, and the vigilance
with winch he has invariably guarded their rights
VINO tttt mas belonged to those organizations
| forgett We speak knowingly of these things. and
not from hearsay. We personally cogniZant of
MI barker GAeTtons IN TINS direction, and of
pecunlary and other sacrifices he has made and have
been amazed alike at the unselfsh patriotism of the
man ana the wonderful energy which inspired. Few
men during this terrible crisis in couutrys fate
have done more for that country within the limited
sphere of private life than Mr. Barker
But 1t Is not alone in his efforts fill up the army
and IN his almost fatherly care those who have
gone 10 uie 'front.' rom among his neighbOrs and
friends that Mr.. Barker has manifested the posses
sion OF patriotism rare even in day. As the ed
ltor of the AlleghenIaa from the commencement of
hOsties up to the present time. he has been unfal-
terng professional devotion the great work of
restoring the Union and 1t is not too nfilch 10 saw
that the vigOr and grace of his editorials have maer
ally aided in educating public sentiment IN to the
highest stand ard ofloyaty and patriotism Not many
newspapers have been more in the uniform
advocacy of vigorous prosecution of the war than
the Ebensburg Aleghenau. And in the discussion of
the difficult questions growing out Of the war the ed
tor of that paper has shown acquaintance with the
principles underlying the framework of our insttu-
uonS an insight into the best methods to be employed
IN restoring the Union, and abiding faith in the
justice Of our and the courage of our people
which have not been exceeded in our legislative halls
and winch have certainly been without parallel in the
columns of some more influential and more widely
circulated Administration Journals. All honor to the
EDITOR who' IN the dark days that are now passing
away. has never despared of the Repubic-never al
lowed the thought of dishonorabie peace to drop
| from his pen.
But 1t is not only because Mr. Barker is loyal and
patriotic Cambrian, who has abundantly proved his
faith by his works that urge his election upon the
voters of the district. He is. in addition in every
sense of the word, good citizen. His solid worth is
attested by the esteem which he is held bY those
who know him. His popularity is of that kind which
Is based upon the possession of real merit and not
upon the arts of the pretender politician. Its ex-
! tent may be inferred from the admission of many
frank opponents, that in his own home. where he is
vote An analysis of his popularity would perhaps
show that it is mainly due to the energy enterprise
and nhexibe honesty which he has manifested in the
conduct of his business from the day when he be-
came a resident of our county. The man who makes
two blades of grass to grow where grew before is
public benefactor and generally meets his reward
in the affection and gratitude Of those he benefits.
Mr. Barker has made many wilderness in Cambria
9
ment aud good wages TO hundreds and thousands of
laborng men. who, but for him, would have dragged
out miserable existence on our bleak hltops else
been compelled to leave the county for more hospi
table locality. And not of these men has ever
been cheated out of farthng. Indeed, the families
of many of them have been kept from want by Mr..
Barker more than one occasion when the yicissl-
tudes of the war had rendered the prosecution of his
business uhpFohtable ana hazardous. FOR these
things he is popular. And he who makes good cIti-
zen-such citizen the subject of this article has
proven himself 10 be-not only deserves all the hon
that may be heaped upon him. but will be sure TO
make a good legislator, vigilant and honest.
We urge Mr.. Barker's election for another reason.
When the Rebellion dies question almost as diff
cult of solution that of the war itself must be met
upon the floors of Congress How shall the Union be
reconstructedl How Shall the priceless blessings of
Peace and Liberty, bought with precious blood and
untold treasure be secured for ourselves and our
children? How shall the schemes of those who
laid low for ali time? Need we tell our readers fiat
the highest craftsmanship the courage and the
most uncompromising devotion to principle will be
required to solve Alright the great problem! That
Mr.. Barker possesses these qualifications in an emf
nen degree, the history of his past life gives ample
assurance. He is neither tyro doughface nor a
temporzer At his hands the authors of the rebellion
and the cause of the rebellion would receive mer-
cy. He is the very advocate such measures as
would If adopted, eectnally prevent the happening
of another such war as this.
We have heard of but one objection other than DO
htical to Mr. Barkers election. 1t is that which Jake
Ogline once urged against the election of promi-
nent Democrat OF Cambria county" h didn't get
himself borned in this country" That is to saw Mr.
Barker is a native of the State of Maine and not of
Pennsylvania, and has resided IN this county only nine
gears 1t might be said, by way of response this
objection, that the political opponents of Mr. Barker
in this county have been in the habit of placing on their
ticket at almost every annual election at least one
person who was open to Jake Ogine's objection, and
didn't even possess the saving merit of having been
born in Name But we won't say anything about this
matter. We will say, however, that if the State of
Maine has furnished Pennsylvania this year with
candidate for Congress in the person of A. Barker
who sure to be elected she only returning favor
done her two years ago by Pennsylvania, when James
Il Blaine, native of the " Down East" Cumberland
valley and resident of Maine less than nine years
Was nominated for Congress by the Union men of the
augusta district and triumphantly elected Why
shouldn't we make these Maine Yankees pay their
honest debts