The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-29

over one thousand persons in New
Jersey who We're attainted of treason
in Joining the enemy Where such
persons subsequently returned to their
former homes they usually remained
under cloud of -obloquy,, and We're
looked at askance by their neighbors
Many years after the revolution some
of those persons saw fit to Vindicate
their regulations by publishing in the
newspapers well authenticated declar-
atoms that they had been spies in
Washington's employ, while nominally
serving in the British ranks. and SUI
fering themselves to be attained as
traitors and their property confiscat-
ed. Such are some of the curious and
interesting sidelights thrown on the
revolution by the 'Gazette's' and
Saius,' 'Senex,' 'Hortentius,' True
Patriot Farmer 'Freeholder,' and
other writers of the day found ex-
preston in long winded -articles-al-
dental message but by no means as
lively-sometimeS criticising the army
but more frequently the legislature,
and proposing all sorts of Utopian
remedies for lettering the times, re-
moving the financial stringency, max
ing the poor richer and the rich poor
err and in short for making every body
happy. Committees of citizens in va
riouS counties adopted resolutions fix
ing the prices of labor and of the sta
pie commodities; but the laboring
man and the owner of the commodi-
ties refusing after awhile to sell at
these prices, the schedules had to be
revised from time to time, while the
fiat continental currency constantly
deprecated in value"
WaShington'S Inauguration.
The newspapers of the day showed
that the election and inauguration of
Washington was hailed by the news
paper writer's as the inauguration of d
new era for the republic. One can
see an increased confidence in the sta
bflity of our institution, indicated by
the exploiting of new enterprises in
manufactures, commerce and in the set
Element of the. frontiers, all of which
Mr.. Nelson said were cleverly advo-
Gated by enthusiastic and skillful news
paper correspondents.
The editorial up to that time prac-
tically unknown, Mr.. Nelson said, now
gradually made its appearance, at first
in the shape of a modest paragraph,
suggesting some course of action or
criticiSing what had been already done
or proposed. Toward the close of
Washington's second administration we
find the newspapers taking opposing
sides in politics, indicating a positive
and distinct cleavage in party lines.
Much of the partisan warfare of the
day was carried on in pamphlet, but it
is to the newspapers of the time that
we must look for the history of the
growth of parties; it is to the news
papers of the day that We must resort
if we would find the real iniquities of
| the party criticised and the merits of
that advocated by the writer's of the
| times. In these exposures of the weak
nesses and foibles of the opposing par
| ties, we read of the real difficulties and
dangers that confronted the young re-
public.
At the same time we have a more
| cheerful picture in the progress chron-
icled in the advertisements of the day
showing the great and steady strides
that were being taken by the country
at large in the development of manu-
features. home industries, roads, means
| of transportation, better living, better
housing, literary culture, religious OBJ
servances and a general era of pros
perity.