Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-02-25
RECOLLECTIONS OF TWENT y.
EIGHT YEARS AGO.

port, Pa, and edited by Clark Wilson
ESQ. lie remarks:
/ In the year 1882, the Sr. editor ol
this paper found himself anchored in
the beautiful town of Clearfeld, Clear.
field county, Pa, as one of the editors
and proprlctors Of the Clcarfeld RE,
PUBLICAN, the organ OF tho Democracy
of that staunch and reliable Democratic
county. Republican might strike
the reader Of the present day as a
strange namo for n Democratic paper
-. n'~ans" as it WAY app-a- tLa Pc
per was thoroughly Democratic from
beginning to end This was some
years previous TO the reign of Grant
and other Presidents of like anti.Re.
publican proclivitles. Up to this time
corruption and fraud on the part OF
public officers had been the exception
and not the rule-honesty was re.
garded as the best policy-oilicers
were elected to protect the people
not to rob them--whisby rings were
unknown a just and equal system of
taxation prevailed The system had
not yet been adopted of electing one
man to office and counting in another.
The majority ruled, and in the broad.
est acceptation of the word this was
truly Republican Government. This
was before the opposition party had
adopted their present name--it was
then known as the Wing party-hence
the name at that time was n very ap.
propriate one for Democratic paper.
The name must still be regarded by
the present owner, George B. Good.
lander, ESQ., as an appropriate one, as
it remains unchanged up. to the pres.
ent time and the paper is regarded as
one of the most thoroughly Democratic
sheets in the State.
Clearfeld be it known, is the home
Of Ex-Governor Bigler. Hon. George r,
Barrett, Senator Wallace and others
Of distinguished ability.
In 1852, the 18th Senatorial District
was composed of the counties of Clear.
field, Jefferson, Potter, Tioga, Mexican
and Elk. Byron d. Hamlin, Esq,
was nominated by the Democracy as
their candidate for State Senator. The
opposition, the Wing party, failed to
nominate a candidate against him and
of course he was elected. We find by
reference to files OF our paper, that
previous TO the day Of the election, we
spoke OF our candidate as follows
byron D. Hamlin, ESQ is the gentleman Sc.
lected by the District Convention as the Demo
cratic candidate to represent the 18th Senatorial
District In the State Senate. Mr.. Ilamlin is .
citizen and member Of the bar Of Mexican county,
and although quite young, Is gentleman Of ex-
celent character and superior talents; and as
Democrat he possesses the entire conf dence Of
] the party In that county. We have no doubt Mr..
II. will faithfully discharge his duties as SEN
htOr." -
b. d. Hamlin, Esq, proved faithful
TO the trust reposed III him. Wespoke
of Mr.. Hamlin in the above extract as
a young man. We are now anchored
in Smethport, nearly opposite the Of
flee and residence Of b. d. Hamlin,
ESQ, and cannot fail tc note the
changes Of twenty.eight years. lie
is at this time old enough for any po-
sition. He is the father Of a grown.up
family-all married--and during pleas,
ant days in the Summer, numerous
grandchildren, some of them hall
grown, may be seen amusing them
selves in and about bis premises.
This Representative district in 1852
was composed of the counties of Clear
field, Elk and Mexican, A. s. Arnold,
of Mexican county, was the candidate
nominated and elected by the Democ-
racy. Like our candidate for Senator
he had an easy race for the ofice-the
opposition not deeming ii worth while
to put candidate in the field against
him. A. $. Arnold proved faithful
Representative, was nominated by the
Democracy OF Elk and Mexican for O
second term. Elk and Mexican out.
numbered Clearfeld with delegates in
the Convention, two to one, while
Clearfeld polled more votes than Blk
and McKean combined, The Democ
, racy Of Clearfeld seeing that then
neighboring counties had the power tC
! beat them in the Convention every
time, conceived the idea that it wa'
their intention to do so--they eonse
: quently refused to aequiesce in the re
nomination of A. $. Arnold, brought
out ex.Shcriif Caldwell, and ran and
elected him as q volunteer candidate
They gained nothing by this opera
tion, however, for about this time
Know. Nothingism, the most disgrace
, ful party that ever existed-tho party
, which prescribed men and women fol
Their religious opinions and on accoun
of their birth place, was about bud
, ding into existence. Thisorganizatiol
} showed its hand az the next session o
, the Legislature, and the surprize an,
, indignation of the Democracy Of Clear
! field county was unboundcd whei
: they beheld their member elected L
the Legislature voting and actin!
5 with this band Of proscriptionists.
+. A. S. Arnold and Alexander Cald
Z well bavc both ceased 10 cXist-thci
, earthly careers have been terminated
. The latter lived and died near th,
! town OF Clearfcld, the former in Por
, Allcgany, this county, where scvera
r of his highly respectable relative
= continue to reside. + II. Arnold, on
: of Port Alleganys most energetic citi
: zens, we understand, is son Of on
= former Representative.
0 In 1852, Franklin Pierce, of New
5 Hampshire, was our candidate 70
J President, aud William r. King, Q
= Alabama, the candidate for Vice Pres
b ident, they were elected over Genera
{ Scott, the standard bearer Of the Viii
}. party by an overwhelming majority
5 Scott carried only four States, all th
$ others going for Pierce and King b,
; large maiorties,
3 This Congressional district 10 1852
i was composed of the counties Of ClaI
!, ion, ClearGeld, Elk, Jefferson, Mckear
1 Vennngo and Warren Carlton b. Cui
4 tis, Esq., the Democratic nominee, wa
!, elected over Mr.. Kerr, Wing, by a ms
d lority Of 1895.
y In 1862, George w Woodward wa
3 the Democratic candidate for Suprcm
c Judge, and William Hopkins was th
d Democratic candidate for Canal Con
Is missioner They were both elected b
!. handsome mnjorities
d CARELEss.-T. r. Hoover, Of Sprin
8 township, Perry county, was loading b
}. gun TO shoot hawk but the nippl
Is being filed up it would not prime. II
?. then drew out the load of shot an
Ie fixed the priming, and again loade
t. the gun. lie was in the act Of ham
'c ing the gun on the hooks he kept e
N that nnrnose. when il was disoharge