The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-11-01
Il Republican Opinion Of Cofroth.

The following letter, which we copy
from the Pittsburgh Post Of Saturday, is,
as that paper claims, voluntary testimo-
NAL from leading Republican of Johns
town to the honesty, integrity aud life-long
devotion of Hon. A. H. Coffrotb to the in
terests Of the poor aud unfriended, aud is
also, we may add, befitting tIibute to a
gentleman who has been most basely ma
lgned by the Jobnstown Tribune and its
perjured witness, Lilley:
SoHNsTOwN, PA, October %. Is7s.-The Tri-
buR6 of this place mas been quite busy pro-
! mitigating slanderOus articles calculated 10 in
I HIence ana mIsleac the voters or this Con
gressional district against the Hon. a. II. CoT-
/ froih OF Somerset, As u lair minded mau and
} AN Independent Republican desire through
3 your columns to testify in hehHli OF the geI-
! IIeman grossly misreprcscnted.
? In reference to the charges Of the pa per mem
T TONED. | Will Ou'y say that Gen. COffrotn ;
/ clear and convincing refutaliOn is sufficient,
: even to those VINO DO not know him. Among
, his friends and ucQuSintancrS nothing was re-
! quired. The reaction has already set ir,, end
B huudreOS OF many, independent Republicans
VII cast their vote FOR the gentleman in No
vember.
arst became acquainted with General CoTroth
in 1868 and the incidents mentioned occurred
under his personal observation The General
was al ardent Union man, possessed tae conf
dence and friendship of the martyred Lincoln.
friend.
During his first year in Congress, in passing
I M the White House stems 10 a interview win
the President, he noticed two lonely women IN
tears, with infants in their arms, awaiting ad-
mission to the building. His generous heart
was touched at the sieht, and crossing over. he
kindly inquired their trouble. They replied
we are from SchuyfkilI county. Pa have
been in this country only a few years; our
husbands were drafted and we, with large,
helpiesS families viii starVe."
Have you seen the member of Congress
from your districr?" said Mr.. {.
They answered. Yes: but he can do nothing
The women were told TO remain there until
After completing his business with Mr.. Lin
ne fDta THTf nF Iris
men sitting on the steps outside, pleading 50
earnestly in their behalf that The President ac-
corded them an immediate interview, ana a
ter listening tOtheir sOrrowrul tale, exclaimed,
With tears rolling down his checks, Would to
God L could end this cruel war and send all the
husbands, fathers ana sons to their love ones"
\ n order for the discharge of the TWO men
saw ii carried OUT and the now happy families
on the train for their homes.
An honest mechanic Of Tyrone, Blair county,
resp OHded to the call for volunteers early i'm
1861, ana served his country as Il patriotic sol
dier.
In the beginning of 1884 while his regiment
was IN camp, he received a letter from home
announcing the serious illness OF his wife.
Ehoh ne hud not sHen Tor nearly three years.
He cNerted every Effort TO Obtain n short leave
OF absence to s"e his sick wife and Iittle ones
out was refused. He took French leave, was
absent ten days at mis- home in Tyrone. report
, 90 lot uu,y "SS urea by court martial, and
sentenced 10 "A loss OF back pay aud bounty
amounting to 500, and to do double duty for a
period OF sixty days.
The poor fellow knew not what to do. His
member OF Congress WIS written to. but as il
usually the case with Il citizen possessing little
or no influence nothing came OF it. One of his
cpmrddes from Somerset county. recommend
ca ultn TO write To Congressman COffrOth.
lie did So, and TO his surprise a the end OF
HNc days an order was received " "A IuesspD.r-r
direct from ashiHgTos. setting aside the ind
Ings OF the Court, ana restoring the SOLDIER 20
ms former post o. honor, with all back puy,
bounty, etc. The party named iS now a useful
ana respected citizen OF Tyrone, no viii bear
testimony t. the above facts.
Many similar can bo cited or the dirfDterpSt-
ca aUeciion and friendship for tue poor and
unfOrtUnafc.
The Pcttcurd affair, wherein n widowed
E'ther and an only sister frCm Cham 1erstilIrg
the tovode II after, when II wa ywari sons life
was saved through his noble efforts.
The writer had occasion TO seek a favor from
the Secretaries of the War and Naval Depart
inents IN lhE1- Through his friends he sought
the assistance OF Senators Buckuiryv. of Penn
~ wanna, and ReV VeTdy johnson. of MurvIaut
ne SesdiSilnguI> he'd gentlemen wrote long let
terS in behalf or the desired object. Weeks
passed by ond nothing was accomplished. An
piIcdtion was then L4afe to Gen. CeTroth in th,
morning. and the sumo evening ali WINS com
but thc matter, Hsi in All ffi. cases mentioned
received the personal attention of Mr.. Conruth
himself.
. Now, Mr. Editor. I. nor none o. nv friends
nave an axe TO grind, or any advantage to bt
gained by my statements IN the matter MIR.
'ouFoth has not been consulted, uud is not
aware nf the writer : intentions
II conclusion, would most earnestly recon-
mend al honest, rigbt- minded, uuSeltish voters
- r"intn bcr tac soldiers ana sullOTs' friend in
NOFIuloer- ours, truly, }. y. G.