The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-11-01
Character Assassins at Work

Pennsylvania in desperate eleventh
hour effort to promote the fortunes Of
the Democratic party. The better ele-
ment of that party, be it said to its
credit, has shown disposition to avoid
ud-slinging. But, unfortunately for
the party, 1t has as adherents certain
knaves and fools who cannot be re
strained from campaign methods that
are beneath the contempt Of honest
men. The fact that the leaders of the
party are not attempting to check these
thieves and liars-thieves that seek to
rob an honest man and a gallant sol
dier OF well-won reputation; liars who
deal in cowardly innuendO, without
the shadow of an excuse for their
brazen falsehoods-shows that they are
desperately hard up for campaign am
munition.
The object Of the eowardly assault is
Lieut.. Col. James E. Barnett, candi-
date for state treasurer. The attack
upon him is not made by military men,
but by the stay-at-homes, the copper
heads, the sympathizers with rebellion.
Not word of testimony that is worthy
of credenee have they brough. forward
from military men as basis of their
charges. Not flaw exists in Colonel
Barnett's military record as known to
his superiors. He served many years
in the national guard, and rose step by
step in rank until he was second in
command in his regiment When the
war broke out he volunteered with the
rest and did his duty with them He
showed his patriotism, brayed the
perils Of Luzon swamps and Philip
pine fevers, Spanish and rebel bullets,
while the men who now seoff at his
courage sulked at home and from the
safe distance Of 10000 miles invented
their theories Of how a soldier should
fight.
Until Colonel Barnett became q can
didate for office-yes, not even until
months after that event-nOt a word
was breathed. not a suspicion raised,
that he was not among the bravest Of
the gallant Tenth, and not a voice was
raised in the section Of the state where
he was born and reared rejecting
either on his business ability or his So
cIal standing. In all the scores OF
letters sent home by the Tenth boys in
Manila and widely published in both
the city and the rural press, not hint
was dropped of any dissatisfaction. He
was hero until he consented to run
for Office. Then anonymous towards
arose, and anonymous letters to the
newspapers began to tell what anony-
NOUS members Of the regiment had to
say of their lieutenant colonel
1t is highly probable that Colonel
Barnett incurred the displeasure Of
some members of his command. He
was strict disciplinarian and the men
whom he was instrumental in punish
ing for infractions Of military rules
may have some resentment As sug-
gested elsewhere, il the docket Of the
summary court officer were made pub
lie il would doubtless reveal the names
Of any and all members OF the Tenth
who fancy they have grievance. But
who but q coward would rely upon
such sources of information in An effort
to blacken the character Of an officer
and gentleman The regiment does
not exist aud probably never did exist
in which certain privates could not be
found ready to find fault with the acts
and orders Of their superiors.
The copperheads of the '6Os who
would not fight on either side, yet as
sumed to know how campaigns should
be fought and won, were Of the same
class as these lstter-day criminal ignor-
amuses, who stab in the dark Grant
was assailed for cowardice; every mill
tary hero Of modern times has had the
same experience. Every soldier can
didate since the civil war has been at
tackled by men who know no more oI
military matters than they know OF
common honesty and manly princi-
Piles. There are many low-lived scoun-
drels who are willing to destroy a repu'
tation for political gain. Bat their
tactics meet with no encouragement
from honest men in either party, and
therefore do not succeed. The expect
alton that they will be successful IL
this case is an insult TO the intelligence
Of Pennsylvania.