Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-09-02
Ku.KIux at Work i'm Berke-
lev.

[From q Hedgesrile Correspondent
HEDGEsvILLE, w. VA,
August Goth. 1876.
To tie Editors Of the Independent
Saturday last, as you are aware,
was the primary election day of
the republicans in the various dis
tricts of the county. That held
here was presided over by the
Hon. Jacob Ropp, and showed an
attendance increased both in num-
bers and spirit of all similar re-
publican meetings held here since
the war-which was the expert
ence in the other townships SO far
as / have learned.
The special feature of the occa-
sion on Saturday was a speech
from DR.. j. E. Snodgrass, former
ly q resident of this place, near
which, as you are aware, he was
born. 1t was as unexpected as
welcome to his numerous political
friends-and indeed to a number
of the more decent and fair Demo-
Gratis who were attracted by con-
siderations of old acquaintance, to
hear what he might have to say
for he had not come to take part
in the campaign, for which poor
health had evidently left him un-
prepared.
In his speech, although at least
an hour in length, it was noticed
not without pleasure to his friends,
that the Doctor abstained from all
illusions to the personal annoy
ances visited upon him here
in the ante-bellum and anti-slave-
ry agitation times. in which he
took an active part,as was certain
ly his right. He also abstaited
from raking up the sectional is
sues of the past. But yet the ku-
klux element of the party lin the
face of the profesSed desire to
have the past issued buried) was
net happy.In the course ofhis criti-
ciSm upon the claims of Mr.. Til
den to be accepted as "Reformer
par excellence" he handled his
resord unsparingly in the light of
the charge of his fraud upon the
revenue, under which he and his
followers are now squirming, adj
ding his own personal experience
as a longtime resident of New
York, as an inspector of registry
and Judge of elections during the
reign of Tweed, TiIden d Co. ofthe
Tammany school. This was more
than the smouldering embers of
ku-klux malignity could encoun-
ter without a blaze. The conse-
| quence was, unable to refute his
statements, they took to their
facile work of an order to leave
town within a given time. This,
of course, bore no name. But it
commenced by declaring 81 am
authorized to write to you to put
out ofthiS toiOn," &C., followed by
the most coarse and vulgar cpl
thets imagiuable--some of which
| would be too vulgar for publica-
ton had the printing of this ku-
kluX missive been permitted by
the receiver-for while he left a
verbatim copy in the hands of a
prominent republican here, he left
this morning Tor his home at
Washington, in pursuance of pre-
viOus engagements, without Civ
ing his consent for its publication.
1t is also understood that he left
without sending the INDEPEN-
DENT any account of this disgrace
full affair, for which the Democra-
cy will be much more sorry than
DR.. Snodgrass. when they come to
realize the damaging effect of il,
not only here, but wherever else
newspapers in favor Of free speech
from free men. and opposed to the
demon spirit of "ku-kAx democ-
racy' are printed.
There is some hope of DIR. Snod-
grass consenting to return later i'm
the canvass, and 5 the remain
der of the time graclously allowed
him by the ku-klux. to confer In
public addresses or otherwise in
his native county. The phrase
''graciouslW allowed" happens to
he n of the Duclor's own con-
temptu0uS comments on the ''or-
der 10 leave = II ie comes, il will
be on the s0ndiluu (his health
permitting thai the Democrats
shall designate an intellectual foe
man worthy to discuss the issues
of the campaign ia fair and friend
ly spirit, throughout the country.
The shameless occurrence here
seems TO have stirred the old Doc
tors blood considerably, and il Is
not at all unlikely The ku-klux of
Berkeley will hear from him again