The National tribune., 1888-02-23

J k5 David R. Locke, whose
zysA = fame had become world
SsSsg wide on account Of his
S <T~3 Letters of Petroleum
5 V. Nasby." These let
A ><s-$Sa&5s teTs were power in
Zen the days of the war. aud
#N - helped inconeeivably to
- % bring about the ffaal
zyAF-Vt=59 5NSs=Ss triumph The best
I'm \ z VS weapon with which to
M fight bad canse is ridi-
cule and Mr. Ioclse's keen blade brought the
blood every time. Men who had little sympa-
thy with the Union at the outset were driven
from their adherence to the vicious cause of
slavery and secession by the sting Of derisiOn
of its shams, its vulgar pretensions, its wicked
masquerading in the guise of great principles.
Men who upheld the Union had their arms
strengthened and their course made clearer by /
the mercileSS laugh which was turned on their
opponents. Lincoln, Stanton, Sumner Thad |
Stevens aud all the giants of those stormy days |
recognized Retroleum V. Nasty as a worthy t
oadjutor, and lavished unstinted praise upon /
him. No writer received anything like the |
Widespread recognition and popularity. Fre- |
qHently it rose to regular ovation, and the |
fame of his great services followed him to his |
death.
David Ross Locke was born in Yestal, Broome |
Co. n. Y, Sept. 90 1893 His father, who sur !
wives him at the age of 81, was soldier in the |
war Of 1872, and was one of the pioneer Aboli- |
tionists. At the age of 10 young David was
apprenticed to the printing business in Cort- |
land. N. Y. He served his seven years, and |
then began the usual wanderings of a journey |
man printer Of those days. In 1852 he started |
the Advertiser at Plymouth, o.. and while there |
married Miss Martha Boaine, whom he has |
now left widow with three sons. He had a
decidedly literary bent of mind, and even while
an apprentice his writing attracted attention.
He became succes5Ively editor and part or
whole proprietor of the Bucyrus Journal
BeIIefontaine Repe5licaR Mansfield Herald,
and Findlay jefeYS0nian, all in Ohio. He was
owner of the latter paper at the outbreak of the
war, and there wrote the first of the series of
| letters which made him famous. 1t protested
to be written from Wingerts Corners, a locality
| peopled by rank CeppeTheads, who were in
| tenseiy opposed to the war The original of
| the 3" Rev. Petroleum V. Nasby" was an iguo-
rant Hardshel preacher, of type now hap
PLY nearly extinct, who believed in the divine
| character Of slavery; that the eOf liquor was
| sanctioned and commended by the Bible, and
| number Of other tenets that are shocking to the
! Christian sense Of to-day. The letter was as
! follows and it is fair example of the style aud
| sarcasm of those that followed:
THE SECESSION OF WINGERTs CORNERS.
WINGERrs CORNERS o., March q, 1861.
| South Cariiny and sevral other Nv the trooly
| Dimikratic States hevin seeesht-gone orr
may say, onto journey after ther rites-Win-
]
| en- hez EoiieTed scot.
meetin' wnz held last mite, Nv wich l wuz
| Chairman to take the matter Nv our greven-
| ces into consideration, and it wuz finally re-
| solved that nuthin' short nv seceshn wood
remedy our woes. Therefore, the follerin' adj
dress, wich l rit, WIZ adoptid aad ordered to
be publisht:
TO THE WORLD
In taking step wich may possibly involve
the State uv wich we hev bin heretofore part
into blood and convulshGns, decent respeck
for the opinion Nv the world requires US to give
our reasons for takin that step.
| Wingert's Corners hez too long submitted to
the imperious dictates Nv tyranikle govern
ment. Our whole histry hez bin wun Of ag-
greshun on the part nv the State and nv meek
and pashent end0orence on ours.
It refoosed to locate the State Capitol at the
Corners, to the great detriment nv our patri-
otie owners nv reel estate.
1t refoosed to gravel the streets at the Cor
ners or even relay the plank road
1t refoosed to locate the Penitentiary at the
Corners, not-with-standin we do more towards
film it than any town in the State.
1t refoosed to locate the State Fair at the
Corners, blastin' the hopes Nv cur patriotic gro
serys.
1t located the canal one hundred miles from
the Corners.
We hev never he'd Guvner notwith-
standin' the President nv this meetin' hez
, lived here for yeers, waitin to be urged TO
accept it.
1t hez compelled us, yeer after yeer, to pay
cur share nv the taxes.
1t hez never appinted any citizen of the place
to any offs where theft wuz possible, thus will
J fully keePin capital away FROM US.
! 1t refoosed to either pay our rale-rode sub
scripshun or slackwater our river.
Therefore, not bein' in humor to longer en-
door sich outraies, we declare ourselves free
and independent of the State, and viii main
tain our position with arms, ii need be.
There wuz a lively time next day. 4 COM
pany nv mint men WIZ raised, and wun nv
two-minit men. The seceshn hag muskrat
rampant, weasel eouehant, on field d'eggshell,
waves from bOtn greserys Our merchant feels
! hopeful Cut OFF from the State direct trade
I with the Black Swamp follers; releest from his
indebtedness to Cinsinati, he viii agin lift his
' head. Our representative hez agreed to resine
q when his term expires.
We are in earnest. Armed with justice and
| ghot-gu we bid tyrants defiance.
P. s.--The feelin' is intense-the children
have imbibed it. a lad jest past displayin the
; seeeshn flag. 1t waved from behind. Dis
a dainin coacealment, the noble lion hearted
. boy wore a roundabout. We are firm.
n B.--We are still firm.
4 n B., 2d.-We are firm, unyeeldin, calm, and
: resoloot.-PErRoLEUM V. Nasty.
@ In 1865, Mr. Locke, needing a wider field
i than was afforded by the modest village o
g Findlay, removed to Toledo, where he became
: connected with the Blade, which he built uT
II into great weekly family newspaper, thai
II circulated all over the East, North and West
d and succeeded TO the popularity and influence
n formerly enjoyed by the New York Tribune
70 His ridcule of Andrew johnson, during tht
It famous "Swingin' Round the Sirkle," wa
o merciless, and did at least much as any othel
s, influence to crush out that gentleman's politca
g importance.
IF Though deeply absorbed in his great news
J. paper work, and devoting world of energy tC
of the upbuiding Of Toledo, with whose prosper
e ity he identified himself closely he found tim
1 and opportunity to do much literary work o
/ high value. He wrote novel, Paper City,
d which was an unusual success; and his poem
Hannah Jane" is one of the finest domesti
/ poems ever written. 1t is worthy place along
1t side of the best of Burns's. He also wrot
st several plays, and his Nasby In Europe" hat
y wide sale.
No pAk. GnI1