New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-26

nected with the history Of Ltchfed. as you would
know IL you had hung around this old town as long
/ have" said the story-teller as he shifted his
position a little and tapped the sole OF his shoe
with his racquet. Il don't suppose you've heard Of
the political squabble which stirred UP the town
near hundred years ago. It was in 1906 l believe.
that the climax came Such Of the Federalists as
were not too pious were mad clear through I'll
warrant you, certain August morning that
year. can imagine them cursng the Democrats,
Jefferson and all his they lay on their beds
that morning. At daybreak they had been awak-
ened by the discharge Of a cannon at the head Of
North-st and the response Of another gun near the
Flagstaff there Then a military band had
blared out a number of martial airs until sunrise
when call to the dead 10 arise issued through
the mouths Of the two cannOns in seventeen install
ments II was evident that the Democrats intended
that there should be no more sleep for the wicked
Federalists, and the latter arose in a very bad
humor, so the story goes.
THE Federalists and the Democrats had not been
living as brothers are supposed 10 do and this fact
did not make the former feel any less like cursing
the Democrats when their slumbers were so rudely
broken.
''I4itchdeld Hin had been a stronghold OF the
Federal party. Everybody who was anybody or
nearly everybody. was a Foderalist In point of
numbers. however. the minority not 10 be
despised. The Federalists looked upon Jefferson as
an inidel and reprobate. Politics got into the
pulpit and played the old hob with the church The
old clergyman known Father Champion, when
jefferson elected TO the Vice-Presidency l am
told, once prayed fervently for Thy servant the
President of the United States-Ineaning John
Adams-concluding: And. o Lord! wilt Thou be-
stow on the Rice-Presdent double portion of Thy
grace. for Thou knoWest he needs it
The spirit of partisanship reached such high
pitch that prominent living In the same neigh
borhood refused to recognize another when they
met; the women OF the Federal households would
make no formal calls at the homes of their Demo-
cratic neighbors. and the children OF Federalists
were forbidden 10 associate with those Of Demo-
cratic parentage.
such was the state OF affairs when on a certain
day In August 1895. two young printers entered the
town Their names We're Selleck Osborne and Tim
othy Ashley. The object of their coming was quick
y disclosed. There appeared on the streets soon
AteTward a paper called The Witness II was vio-
lehtiy Democratic. The editor was Mr.. Osborne
VINO IN short time showed himself 10 be possessed
"i talent and energy, but was an unscrupulous
partisan and bitter satirist
, Inc people were shocked at the license taken nv
me ne" paper and its editor. The Witness as
s@u'eo the dignhed and respectable FederaIists in
S",ai iiShed language. 1t did not hesitate 10 set
- :" me iololes and follies-reaI or imaginary-of
nc principal men. of the village. against whose
I no coarse word Of suspicion had ever beep
o."su oeiore- The first probings OF the veno
"OeS sheet were treated with contempt when any
o 49, ' as taken of them by the erninently resnac,
0'ues' inhabitants. Osborne seemed 10 feed