The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-07-20
Personal RecOllectiOns.
BY d. MACKLEY.

Personal Recollections.
BYD. MAcKLEY.
1t is said. by some, that since the
enactment of a law requiring school
teachers to be examined in United
States history, teachers show much
ignorance of the history of the coun-
try. Much more can be learned by
personal recollection than from read
ing, and when both are combined,
much can be known. Perhaps there
are now young men who are old
enough to vote, who have an idea
that the Republican party at its Or
ganization, twenty-six years ago, held
the same principles that it does now.
Nothing can be farther from the
facts Of the case. In the year 1848 I
voted for Martin Van Buren for
President. He was the candidate on
the Buffalo Platform. John Camp
bell, Of Ironton, was a delegate to the
Buffalo convention. That platform
only went so far as to oppose the ex-
tension of slavery, and, perhaps, to
abolish it in the District of Colum-
bia, and other places where Congress
had exclusive jurisdiction. The Re
publican platforms prior to and dur
ing the war, were the same. l be-
lieve that had the Republican party
taken the ground it now occupies,
that the people would have sustained
it. There is kind Of inherent love
of justice and right in the American
people that will assert itself when put
to the test. The present temperance
question reminds me very much of
the anti-slavery question quarter Of
a century ago. Then the great ques-
ton seemed to be, how best to re-
strict, regulate and tamper with this
sum Of all villainies, and but very few
were bold enough to advocate the
only way out Of the dificulty-to
stamp abolish, the accursed
thing. Now we hear good, honest
temperance men urging the restric-
ton, even license, of the liquor traffic.
It will amount to nothing. Total
prohibition, abolition, can only wipe
out this twin relic Of diabolism.
But to the recollections Of the year
1856. As Isaid before, I took an ac-
tive part in that campaign. Mr..
Mathews, then owner Of the STAN
DARD, urged me to aid him, and I
wrote a political leader for his paper
each week, signing it with star {*).
I also took an active part in speaking.
take the following from the Gallia
Republican, then published at Vinton
Gallia county, by the late Gen. An
selm T. Holcomb:
''On Saturday meeting was held
at Centreville, which was addressed
by Messrs. Hoffman and Mackley
This meeting did not pass off without
some interruption, caused by the
tight condition of few; much credit
however, is due to the citizens of the
place generally, especially the Welsh
population, for their kindness and
hospitality. We were here met by
the jackson Glee Club" which sang
several good songs which tended t(
quiet any bad feeling and delight the
many. After partaking of an excel
lent supper prepared by Mr.. Camp
bell, and listening to several songs by
the jackson Glee Club" we separ
ated for our respective homes"
The interruption referred to tool
place while I was speaking. The lat'
Thomas Evans, father Of Senate
John Fl. Evans, sold goods in Centre
vile, on the Main street, and spok'
upon the steps in front Of the store
and the people stood in a crowt
around, some sitting on the steps. 4
lot of drunken Democrats got piec'
Of bear-skin and fastened it to flag
staff, and paraded up and down tn
street, cursing and damning the mig
GER" and the abolitionists. The lat
DIR. Orlando G. Miller was there. II,
was as brave a man as ever lived
After the hoodlums had passed bacl
and forth for time or two, Mile,
concluded it ought to be stopped. HI
got up, and 1 saw he was terribly il
earnest, and just as the gang got il
front of the place where / was speak
ing, the DR.. went for them. He
seized their flagstaff, tore the bear.
skin from it and trampled it in the
street. The rufians sneaked off. This
was their wisest course, as Miller was
not man to be fooled with, and he
had plenty of friends to aid him..
Speaking of the Jackson Glee Club
reminds me Of their fine singing.
Among them 1 remember R. w.
Caldwell, Loren, Jesse and Lucien
Osborn, Geo. w. Miller, Dan. Hoff-
man, and many others. They went