The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-04-09
The Ghost Of Benjamin Franklin.

EdHofS C/ tHe CHiOn-l nOuce 10 your
issue of the I'd of April. an article under
the head of Benjamin Franklin, in which
the writer attempts to appear smart, but
signally fails. After some "reminiscences OF
that honored parsonage, which are oil veil
enough, he says, "The old philosopher
seems 10th to qui. field of such usefulness
as this world. After hearing of last winters
Legislature he actually came on a. mission
ary tour to Kansas. But why he should
locate iu The pious, anti-fraud town of Man
haitian is a mystery" If the writer were
not shamefully ignorant Of the laws which
govern such matters this would be no mys-
tery to him. Does he not know that all
spirits are governed by the law of attrac-
ton? Like attracts like. Finding truly
" pions and anti-fraud" or honest people
in Manhattan, it was not strange that he
was attracted among them rather than
among those of different character in
ueighborng towns. They were like him
and he came. This is plain and simple,
and no mystery. nh
But the writer proceeds: s. 1t is said that
he BENJAMIN Franklin) holds weekly
meetings with 'eircle' Of cracked addle-
pates in our neighboring city," What a
delicate and polite epitbet Cor the writer
to apply to his neighbors Is it not ele-
CANT and scientific, too? And especially
after showing his own Ignorance of one OF
the simplest and pla;nest laws Of attraction
as he has. Surely be is wiseacre, and
well qualified to decide that all are " crack
ed adder pates" who know little more
than he does. "Doubtless he is" one OF
the people, and ''wisdom will die with him.
Let me state fact. When Benjamin
Franklin first manifested himself to this
circle, and gave his name, some one re
marked that 'it was strange that so distin'
guished o Spirit should come to SO small
and insignificant ainircle," when the alpha.
bet being called for, it was spelled out,
wish always to do good" If the writer ol
the article in question had little more Of
his spirit, be would not be so ready to apply
such epithets to his neighbors.
The writer closes bis complimentary arti
Gle by expressing the idea that the State
Lunatic Asylum should De at once "hunted
up and put in running order" since Z" Ben
jamin franklin is hobgobliDg around sucl
cne-horse place as Manhattan" We sup
pose be is so ignorant of such matters that
he thinks the spirit of B. +. ought to be.
and can be, shut up in Lunatic Asylum
if be does any thing which is contrary to
his ideas of propriety. This is what his
language seems to express. And it seems
to be in accordance with the spirit which
he manifests. Surely this writer is pro
dizzy of wisdom, good breeding and good
feeling! thus to designate his neighbors
and thus to stigmatize his honored p.oto
type. %. ..: H.A.N.
Telegraphic.
The cavalry force of the enemy has beer
augmented within a few days, and nov
amounts to about 5000 men, and are en-
camped in the valley at the foot Of Hoci
Based Ridge, from Tennessee Hill to Var
hers Station, and Red Clay, which they
hold. There is also considerable force a'
Nickajack.
Six miles below here their picket line i.
generally within mile of ours, but no dis
position is shown by either party to crowd
There is no reason TO believe Johnson
has been largely reinforced, either from
East Tennessee or Alabama. There are nc
indications that he intends to assume the
offensive His force is estimated at So, 900
| Over 900 deserters came into Chattanoo-
ga during the month Of March. Receipts
have fallen off for few days past.