The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-03-06
Nebraska Correspondence.
HASTINGS, NEB., Feb. g,


CoL:-If you should be suddenly
transplanted to Hastings, you certainly
would indulge in q good laugh when
remembering those sensational articles
in Eastern journals, to the effect that
Nebraska was located beyond the pale
of civilization where civil law was
unable to afford protection for life and
property to its inhabitants, and as re-
suit thereof our timid Legislature had
recon amended that the posse comitatus
clause re re-established. If this state
of facts actually existed it would resnlt
in ruin and disaster to every interest
of the State. immigration would
cease, and we would sink into utter in
significance, and with our population,
should deserve to.
Hastings is on the B. & M. Railroad,
the COunty-seat of Adams County, and
contains about $500 inhabitants, with
all the modern improvements of a
"down East" town. There are three
Weekly newspapers published here'
which rank as follows: Gazette, Jour-
nal and Central Nebraskian. The for
mer was established in 1871, at Juniata,
then the county-seat, which was trans-
ferred to this town two years ago. Mr..
g. &. Babcock is the editor and pro-
prietor, is genial, good fellow, and L
have no doubt that few years hence,
his paper will rauk first-class among
the journals of the State, but its poll
tics are abominable.
The "rural districts" of Nebraska
not being infested with tramps" feel
indignant at the action taken by some
of the more civilized" States, in re-
establishing the whipping post, for al
though we may not be afflicted with
this particular production ofSherman's
policy, in the not very distant past we
were grievously scourged by horde of
savage tramps whose inhuman brutali-
ty made their name a terror in every
home on this Western frontier. These
inhuman devils were clothed and
armed at the expense of the Govern
ment. They worked not, neither did
they go on foot. They were mounted
upon gaily caparisoned steeds, and
their persons were adorned with savage
finery, the gift of the government.
What they lacked to complete war;
rior's toilet they plundered from the
settlers scattered over the plains; fire.
quently such ornaments as the bleed.
ing scalps of women and children
graced their persons. intersperced with
an occasional war dance around their
shrieking victims, burning at the
stake. These were our "tramp.s''
Then, goaded to desperation by the
monstrous acts of inhumanity, the arm
OF the settler was raised to defend all
that was near and dear to him, and
they would send q few of these "wards
OF the Government" to perdition be-
fore his Satanic majesty had made a
requisition for them in regular form,
every pulpit east of the Missouri river
would send up pious howl about the |
outrage. The journals
would drape their columns in MOURN
ing, and the office devil would chant a |
requiem over their departure.
AeOPuohSoAo tuOuSHG TeSuupVIOu |
would restore the country to prosperity,
but if it has come the laboring poor do
not realize the fact. Nebraska Repub-
licans believe, with the assistance of
the army, crime would be unknown;
men of better judgment know that an
appeal for military assistance is always
attended with danger; that the rights
'f the citizen weighed by army scales.
by army officers, have under
all circumstances proven disastrous to
,he rights of the former. Military SUI
premacy has, in all countries, rendered
he poor abject slaves: and would have
he same result in Nebraska. Let the
.rmy practice with "poor Lo," until
hey have gained q better reputation,
md then if we cannot control our own
elections and arrest our own criminals
We will abandon the country, or call
lpon them for help but in the name
If consistency, say no more about the
poor Indians" until Wisconsin and
ONE other civilized States" abandon
he whipping post for the punishment
u tramps. SALEM PRATT.