Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-09-07
aancaster fntelllgenrer.
TUESDAY EVENING. SEPT. 2. 1880.
Why will They Lief

The editor of the Carlisle Herald, who
gave currency to the statement that Con-
gresham Beltzhoover had written to one
of his constituents that he could not get
his pension through Congress because the
Southern members were opposed to in
creasing the pension list, declares that
such letter exists in Mr.. BeltzhoOver's
handwriting, Notwithstanding that gen.
tleman's emphatic denial that he ever
wrote it. But the name Of the
most respectable citizen of the
Cumberland Valley" who received
it, is not yet given which is very SUE
piciOus circumstance. Obviously it would
be very easy for any one to get up such
q letter on the House of Representatives
note paper on which it is said to be writ
ten, and in the similitude of Mr.. Beltz-
hOOver's handwriting. But it would be
difficult to get a respectable citizen to
father the forgery, if it is one, and to
take his fair chance of going to Jail for it..
So that until the man who has the letter
uncovers himself, We need not trouble
ourselves greatly with the question of
its authenticity.
A good many persons think it would
be important if it was true that Mr..
BeltzhOOver wrote such a letter. We
hardly see why it should be. Suppose we
even admit that the Southern members
Of Congress are opposed to the granting
of pensions. That fact, we suppose,
would damage them in the judgment
of the comparatively few voters
who are applicants for pensions,
but it would equally recommend them to
the great majority of people who have
the fun of contributing to pay the pen
sions. We presume that every one will
admit that the pension laws are liberal !;
and that those who cannot find relief in
them are not likely to merit it. 1t sOnly
those to whom the general law does not
award pension who apply to Congress
for it; and the strlcter Congress is in
dealing with these applications for the
bounty the better it will be for the treas.
ury and for the citizens whose money goes
to fill it.
This Beltzhoover case is significant as
showing the mean and foolish devices to
which Republican Eartisans are resort
ing, in the absence of better electiOneer-
ing arguments, to forward their cause.
1t is not an effective way Of campaign
ing, but it is the best that can be done
when there is no other. There is SO little
reason to he found for asking the people
to prefer Garfield to Hancock that we
cannot he surprised that the Republican
plan should be to confuse the real
issues of the canvass and to hide
its candidates behind the smoke
raised anyhow, SO that it is raised.
Prejudice against the Southern people
has been so deeply inculcated into the
Republican voter that it still remains
the most effective Republican weapon
against the Democracy that the
. solid South" is with it, nOtwith-
standing it is impossible to accuse
either the South or the Democracy of
present disloyalty i'll the face of the loyal
general who is their candidate. 1t seems,
however, that it is crime enough to be a
Southerner to in1lame the Republican
hearts against their fellow countlymen
But surely it is obvious to intelligent
citizens that such spirit ought not to
dwell amonga common and united peo-
pie; and it will cause them to forswear
Republcanism for Democracy.