Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-11-09
APoLITICAL MEETING.
LETTER FROM PILGRIM.


Pilgrim does not profess to be a politician.
He claims the privilege of doing Justice to
all, of loving every body and of standing
upon his own platform, Having familiarized
himself with the past history of our country,
and with the maneuvreing Of party tactcians
for some years-the instincts of patriotism,
Of morality and of virtue E, prompt him to be
true to the flag of our country, aud to affiliate
With the men who adhere to the principles of
democratic representative government as
taught by our revolutionary fathers, and pro
mulgated by Washington, Jefferson, the
Adams, Webster, and the gallant Harry Clay
in the pamy days which are past. Hence
Pilgrim shrinks from Secession, Treason and
Rebel rule as from the blighting simoom of
the desert or the death -distilling shades of
the upas tree Let not the readers of the
INQUIRER be alarmed 1t is not the writer's
object to bore them with dull and prosy
article upon the abstract questions Of Govern
ment, State Rights, and Constitutional pow
ers. He simply designs to relate an incident
or two, and then take his staff and hasten on
his pilgrimage. During the late canvas in
the good old Keystone State, he CHANGED to
be in a small village, not one hundred miles
distant from the celebrated Bedford Springs
The dim twilight of calm autumnal evening
had spread its magic charm over valley and
mountai n. The usually quiet village was a
stir ! "My Policy men-a small division
of the bread and butter-b brigade were to have
meeting in the dingy dilapidated old school
house on the outskirts of the village. Pill
grim was caught in the motley stream of min
ged humanity flowing toward the place Of
meeting. 1t seemed as though the Prince of
Paudemonium had given holiday. Oaths
and inprecatiOaS burdened the Uery air. Had
any pure spirits been lowering round, they
certainly spread their bright pinions, and
scared away from that scene of darkness and
of sin. Reaching the school house, he did
not realize what he had anticipated, "a feast
of reason, and flow of soul. The young
orator might possibly have done better with
a better cause He stated that the NEGRO
tvas the issue, :" but beyond that point he ven
tured not. Pilgrim was satisfied that party,
not patriotism, was his motive power. An
exploring expedition on the coast of Africa,
would doubtless be of advantage to his rising
genius The next speaker was a plain man,
said to be from the county-towu. He looked
as though he had seen better days, aud min
gled in better society. In his opening re-
marks he informed the audience that he had
formerly been an "old-line whig." We al
most involuntary exclaimed, "Poor sinner,
he has fallen from grace, and is in back
slidden state :" What sad sight to see a
former follower of the gallant Clay affiliating
with the clan of political non-descripts, who
stood not firmly by the flag of their country
during the dark days of sorrow and trial.
The inexperienced speaker soon encountered
the ghost ofSambo. Nervousness succeeded
confusion was worse confounded, and the
crest-falle orator took his seat, apparently
overwhelmed with an unpleasant conscious
ness of having made a splendid failure.
Leaving the place, and passing through the
swearing believing crowds we iuwardly
said Alas for :'My Policy ~ and resolved to
stand by Geary, Congress and the Unioni
Nov. 8, 1866 PILGRIM,
n. B. Pilgrim hasjust learned from the
Gazette, the gratifying fact that a literary
comet has made its appearance just above the
horizon in the New State ofSouthamptoEr
We bespeak for ''HoNEsPUE' akind recep-
ton in-in refined circles. Proper allowance
should be made for his uncouthaess. He may
improve by application. His undue nervous
ness Is much to be regretted As South
ampton has no resident physician, we would
suggest in his case, Rhubarb and mandrake,
to be taken in small quantities, as occasion
may require. Should symptoms of le
eGeryescence manifest themselves,
cold applications may be used to advantage.
Prompted by pure sympathy, we give medical
advice gratis.
p.