The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-09-06
Three Big Meetings.
Democratic-BLACK AND AFRICA.
Republican BEAVER AND STONE.
Independent : STEWART AND DUFF.


The past week was busy and exciting
one for old Mother Somerset and her citi.
zens. Ia addition TO the largest criminal
court tha: has ever been held in the county,
1 the two great political parties of the State
and faction Of the greater, each held their
opening meeting, and fired the first gun of a
campaign tia; bids fair to be the most inter
es;ing, exciting and hotiy contested that has
ever been witnessed wiihip the broad bor-
I ,lers of the Commonwealth. The meetings
were all well attended, and were address
ed by prominent men Of the different par
ties.
MONDAY NIGHT
The unterrified led the charge on Monday
night. The meeting was called 20 order by
Chairman Fisher. who then nominated
Hon. A. H. Collroth for chairman, and as
that corpulent gentleman waddled up and
took his seat, 4 sigh of relief went up from
the brethren present and it was felt that the
heavy work of the meeting was over and
that the campaign had fairly begun.
! The usual complement Of vice presidents
and secretaries were elected, after which the
! president introduced mild-mannered gen
tlernan by the name Of J. Simpson Africa,
who spoke in terms Of highest praise of the
recent Democratic convention and Of the
men whom it had nominated Tor the yari-
Gus State offices. lie closed his very trief
remarks by introducing to the audience,
which, by the way, was a large one, COM
posed principally of half breeds and kepub-
licans. with here and there sprinkling OF
Democrats, the good looking and genial
( Young candidate for Lieatenant-G Governor
on the Democratic side,
NR. cHAuNcY Y. BLACK.
! Nr. Black at once impressed his audience
with the fact thar he was cultured gentle
man, If not an able political debater. He
( expressed great joy ut once more being per-
4 mitted to visi: the place Of his nativity, and
pleasure a, meeting with so many of his old
/ friends and acquainianees. He then pro-
ceedei to pronounce a most glowing eulogy
upon one T. jefferson, lately deceased, and
! informed his hearers that this talk of JEFF
( lerson's being dead was all a mistake; that
he was still living and was running for office
+ this year ON the Democratic ticket in Penn
/ svlyania. The incredulous and dubious ex-
/ preseion that came across the countensnces
of the stolid Bourbons present when he
made this astonishing announcement dis
concerted him considerably, and he took his
seat whilst the greatest silence prevailed,
many OF his auditors doubtless momentarily
expecting to see the lamented T. ]. walk
into the room in full life and being.
I AHcr the Somerset Silver Cornet Band
/ had RECALLED the assemblage with one of their
choicest pieces of music. a few weak voices
piped ColIroth. CofFroth but the genial Cen
eral appeared not 70 hear. The silence was
I fast becoming oppressive. and Just as one of
the more r.ligiously inclined was about to
lead in prayer. Mr. Fisher, the indcfatigable
county chairman, sprang 10 his feet and an
nounoed that live Democrats were wanted
up front, rs none Of that character put
In appearance. he went among the audience
in search Of them. He espied Mr. McNam-
ara. one of the editors OF the Bedford Gu
r,fe. who showed some slight signs of ami
mation. but be refused to talk. Dr. Enfield.
the Sheriff of Bedford county, was next
seen. but dissolution had long since taken
place and the disappointed chairman in n
move an adjournment. The chairman at
/ first refused to entertain the motion, and it
had To be made several times before Il was
finally put. declared carried. and the first
Dem ocratic meeting Of the campaign stood
adjourned. II was tame, spiritless affair,
respectable IN numbers and the character of
the men who attempted to address 1t. at
wouldn't work; we will have to help the
Independents whoop her mp wednesday
night to pay up for this, was the general re-
mark Of the unwashed as they slowly and
solemnly wended their wav homeward.
TUEsDAY NIGHT
Long before the time announced for the
opening Of the meeting Tuesday night
steady stream of Somerset county's honest
yeonanry began 10 pour into the court
house, and long before an organization could
be effected the old court room was crowded
a. it had never been crowded before.
Benches and chairs were brought in and
were eagerly seized and occupied; aisles,
gallery. windows. and every inch Of avail
able standing room was soon taken up, the
immense crowd surging up 10 the desks in
81 .fr-
leaving sufficient space ;0r the speakers to
stand Hnndreds of disappointed people
were unable TO gain adniiitauce to the room
and rerretfully turned away. What was
the meaning Of this vas: assemblsge OF calm
and determined men, this immense gather
ing OF honest lab0rers and farmers, mer-
chants and mechanics, many Of whom had
come from the faTthermoSt ends OF the
county. on foot and on horseback in wagons,
carriages and car, to De present at this
meeiing. There were no special trains, no
free excursions 20 bring them here. There
was not among their number paid attor-
ney of great railroad corporation, who by
q wave Of his magic wand could have a spe-
cial train run from different points loaded
with howlers and cisckers, the price of
whose transportation was to be paid by them
in applause Of not only the attorney. bu' all
who should speak from the same rostrIm
with him. There was none OF this and
none was needed. Was not the peoples
idol. the heroic one-leegcd soldier, him
whom they hal unanimously cao,en to l'e
their standard bearer in this grca, e..iupaign
10 address them. was not the grand old Re-
publican PARTY AhDrlt 90 ~far. forward to an
other victory wpr,. there upt traitors. sl,ie-
ana sesrrte-~ ia i.s.- camp. and sas II no. fl
and proper that the Is-orl- shonid turn out
in their majesty and in their might 80 thai
the weak and erriBg could see that they
were terribly in earnest in this matter, and
that party which bad put down slave
holders rebellion and had given 20 the
country a Lincoln and Garfield was still
the party of the People, and that after purg-
ins itself Of the crSy-n~ who had proven
.e-reant 70 their trust Il wcpid march on
g-ander and pure- and abler than hereto
s,re. The meeting vas called to order By
Chairman Pile, who called upon Judge j.
r. McNillen to preside over the delibera-
tions of this vskt audience. The following
named gentlemen were unanimously elect |
cd 10 serve rs vice presidents: Wm. g.
wslkcr. of Bro.hersvalley, W.n. Berkey. OF
Quenahonins. Matthew Shafer, OF Centre
lille borough. Thomas kyler. Of Confluence,
Iohn II. Davis. OF Elklick. Allen VIII. Of