The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-16
ss!llIAT! REPUBLICAN Record.
John A. Martin in the Trying Times
of 1866-The Atchison Champion
Endorses President Johnson's Ad-
ministration-Col. Martin Opposed
to Universal Suffrage Treach-
cry to the Union Cause Truth
of History Maintained.

On the morning of the 18th of April,
1865, Abraham LincOln'S life closed
amid the tears and murmurs of a nation
just merging from a bloody war. On
that day Andrew Johnson took the oath
of Office and entered upon the discharge
of the duties of President of the United
States. On the first of January preced-
ing, Col. John A. Martin, fresh from
victorious fields, took charge of his pa
per, the AtchisOn Champion, and pro-
ceeded to take hand in the arts of
peace.
On the Sd of March, 1865, President
Lincoln approved an Act of Congress
establishing a Freedmen's Bureau.
But first, it should be stated that
Col. John A. Martin took charge of the
Atchison post office soon after his re-
turn from the war, with the usual
"pomp and circumstance" And dur
ing the period covered by this review,
pion, and distributed the mail, garden
seeds, and political speeches in the
AtchiSOn post office. 1t will do to know
these facts in the start and to keep them
in mind as we go along.
On the Sd of March, 1866, there was
published in AtchiSOn. Kansas, a news
paper called the Weekly Free Press.
F. A. Root & Co., were the publishers,
and f. e.. Adams, Esq, was the editor.
Mr.. Adams is now Secretary of the
State Historical Society. The Weekly
Free Press may be found among the
historical collections. The Champions
of that period are not among the relics
in Secretary Adams department. But,
to our purpose. In the Free Press, of
March 3, 1866, meeting was held in
| Washington to indOrSe the Presidents
veto of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill
and Andrew Johnson made speech at
that meeting which was read by the
loyal friends of the Union with mingled
grief and Indignation. In the same is
sue of the Free Press this item occurs:
A dispatch from Topeka to the St Louis Demo-
| crat says that the State journal, Topeka Leader
and Atchison Champion are the only papers in
| Kansas that sustain the Presidents Veto
What Col. John a. Martin, just
from wars alarms, with the laurel
wreath of victory resting upon his brow
it is he who sustained the Presidents
veto of the Freedmen'S Bureau Bill,
beneficent act of government in behalf
of the liberated slave? Yes, hero of many
wars; yes, cOlored man and brother, Col.
Martin, candidate for Governor, SuS-
tanned President Johnson's veto of the
Freedmen's Bureau Bill. ''Shake not
thy CORY locks at me ~
The Weekly Free Press of March 10,
1866 contributes this bit to the history
Of that day
'We exchange with nearly every paper published
ms Kansas, and there only two of these that
ju fifty Mr.. JohnsOn's cOurse-the Lawrence Jour
and the Atchison Champion
From the same paper of the 2Sth of
April, 1866, we learn that Colonel Mar
tin opposed universal suffrage, and that
meant at that time what was then
known as NEGRO suffrage" and that in
the Champion of April IS, 1866, Col
John A. Martin said:
San ignorant vote is dangerous to republican
form of government. Such vote can always be |
used and controlled by ambitious demagogucs for |
the accomplishment of their own ends.
These facts are submitted to the vO- |
ters of Kansas, so that they may know |
what manner of man it is that asks |
them to vote for John a. Martin for |
GOvernor-a man who seems to take a
great deal of pride in his own loyalty
and fealty to the republican party. |
How does the Colonel stand on the suf-
frage question? Bidding for ignorant
votes? We desire the people to vote in
diligently for Governor, and not be
bamboOzled by JohnsOnian theories and
Champion humbugs
And we find the Leavenworth Bulle-
tin, of those days, edited by Geo. T.
Anthony, intimating that the editor of
the Champion was supporting President
Johnson's policy. And the Free Press
of April % accuses Col. Martin of
treachery to his professed Republican,
principles. The accusation was true.
The gallant young soldier was sus-
tanning policy at war with the princi-
Piles for which he fought! We some
times think such gallant men do mighty
poor fighting, and manage to dodge the
shot and shell of battle.
The Atchison Daily Free Press of
July q, 1866, says that 1.-THE Randall
DoOlittle Committee has issued a call
for convention to meet in Philadelphia
ON the 14th of August to organize a
party to sustain the Presidents policy:
that circular has been sent out to the
conservatives of the country: and that
in every state these circulars are no
doubt sent to those known to be faith
full and outspOken supporters of the
Presidents policy, such for instance as
the postmaster at Atchison and the
District Attorney for Kansas, both of
whom are vouched for as faithful john s
son men"
The Free Press, of August 4, 1886,
speaking of the National Union Con-
7ention to be held i'll Philadelphia on {
he 4th of the month, says: /
"Eyery man in the state connected with the adj |
ninisratiOn has been invited TO indOrse the con-
entiOn scheme. Those who don [ indOrse will be
urned out. The postmaster at Atchison will be :
urned out. He won't openly indorse. He pub {
ishes newspaper, and must show his hand in | i
'ublc. A quasi milk and water aequescence in
he convention won't do. He was urged to allow
himself TO be chosen delegate to the conven-
ion. He begged off. He had been away too much l.
had made two pilgrimages TO the shrine of the ! =
Ny Policy wOrshippers this year already. He II
ould not leave his newspaper and post Office | e
gain. But he won't be troubled with his post -
flee very long. That will leave him. And he y
ont be troubled with his newspaper very long; o
is subscribers are leaving that. Neither Andy V
ohnson nor the public have any use for men with
eak knees in times like this man must be a "
ian or a mouse in these days. O
What a picture is that? The gal if
mt young SOLDIER monkeying with ly
Andrew JOhnson's policy as he monkeys 81
18th prohibition! Look at it! Turn it al
round. Consider it. The idea of such W
man fixing the standard of party II
,alty, and rebuking the Republicans al
" exercising the rights Of freemenI T
Under the head, 1.-The Dumb Speak m
,h-But Such a Voice ~ the Free tl