Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-31
High Political Propaganda.
A REMINIscRNcE.


A REMINIsCENCE.
!. (By Rev. Henry O. Thayer)
u Early in the present appalling war
magazine writers treated widely Of the
relations existing past and prospective
of Great Britain and the United States,
and discussed several occasions during
the past century of grateful peace when
those bonds of union were stretcbed
almost to breaking. One of the arti'
cles turned my attention specially to one
instance, the Oregon questionable de-
termination OF our northwestern bound.
ary. That disputed matter long held In
allegiance was one OF four measures
which In the presidential campaign OF
1874 the successful candidate, James Z.
Polk, had declared would be specially
urged to settlement by bis administration
If he were elected.
| When the matter was definitely
brought up for official and public con-
sideration plans of action produced high
tension of public feeling. There we're
those in congress and many without
strong extremists-who would push the
United States claim to the farthest inch
of territory. The jingo sentiment ih-
fected q large class and so prevailed as
to evolve political war cry in forcible
ALTERATION, "Fifty-four Forty or Fight. p"
Wiser counsels prevailed. Mutual con.
cessions by the two governments we're
made. The international boundary was
established at forty-nine degrees. One
rich asset gained by the treaty, however
slightly valued then, was the great Co.
lumbia river and valley. Even now it's
possession may yield to strong national
lists perhaps trace of satisfaction that
to all food shops and dining-tables of our
broad land Columbia canned salmon
comes from our own not British waters.
As read the magazine page mentioned
single word, the name POLK, drew
back out of almost buried memories an
incident of the long ago, trivial indeed
yet perhaps welcome to local readers OF
the Democrat.
On an autumn morning of the year
1914, residents of Paris Hill called early
or later to the vicinity of the common,
If CHANGING to lift their eyes towards
the church to learn the direction of the
breeze, were startled 1t may be for a
moment by q novel sight. Above the
bell.t tower of the new church, fastened
to the iron rod just below the vane,
| waved a white banner of political i'm
port. 1t bore in bold black letters a
national party slogan, POLK & DALLAS.
Here at the county seat of Old Oxford
some daring party man had put mp alott
his ensign, the high propaganda of his
political preference, and as II defiant,
where all must see. am confident it
was Sunday morning else l should not
have seen it,-a day sagaciously chosen
when from all the town would come the
good people, the old time long distance
90. to- m Getting sires and children. So all
the town would see or hear of one illumi-
mated unspoken high call for votes.
A large portion of assembled people
that day bad been friends or parishioners
of Elder Hooper, only two years depart
ed. Did they, would he, say sacrilege to
flaunt above the house of worship a
political pennant? Excussble perhaps,
for In q measure was apparent union
of church and state. A wise and prac.
tical argument based on economy and
mutual need had provided low sub
story for the towns use, and the two
interests lived in harmony, below the
civil, above the religious, below business
and voting, above worship and preach
ing. So by accommodation the high
propaganda ensign could send Its call
only to the towns domain.
The nights darkness had covered the
exploit-more an enjoyed wild prank of
recklessness than of practical campaign
ing. After the Sabbath removal in the
sunlight involved slight risk and no great
difficulty, so little in comparison With
the perilous midnight ascent by what
ever.ladders, ropes and appliances. Re-
specting all the associated events have
no testimony. My home was miles
away. We did not share in street talk,
nor gossip In Hubbard's grocery or Wal
toms watcb.shop, but as "Ben" cared
for the Injecting house, and rang the
bell the midnight raid on roof and belfry
touched only the outside of bis custo-
dian duty.
The harmless political freak required
no police investigation. What question
ling, discoveries, revelations, or the blank
of mute concealment followed, I can not
say. The venturous perpetrator, do
not know that he was ever disclosed.
My memory has only reported common
op,-"Nobody but Daniel Stowell
could ever have done that" Such col.
lective opinion would be nearly correct.
can only say, there was such a young
| man, one who had seen something of a
sailors life. That fact was enough to
fasten suspicion, or very strongly II also
enhanced by known qualities of skill,
audacity, fearlessness. As have no full
certainty will assign to him no probable
place or parentage In the numerous
Stowell families.
This however I know: One Daniel
Stowell OF Paris was teacher-then we
said .'Master"-in the Partridge district
one winter, q few years previous to this
frolic of steeple climbing. The name
and the sea vocation I assume point
clearly to one and the same man. To
"Master. Stowell" one tribute may be
given-honor due to advanced ideas at
that date in methods of teaching and
efficiency, evident at least by one action:
On his own initiative and likewise OK.
/ p0nR0, Dc iutrOuuCeu tuo uIs' oidCh oooiu u
used In that school house on the breezy
hill. 1t was heavy hardwood framed
sffair, usable on both sides, about five
feet square and by it's size hanging low
enough for the little fellows to use the
lower part.
IF have not been mistaken In respect
to the person young Stowell soon after
the midnight venture in politics shared
the disastrous experience OF shipwreck
whose hardahips and injuries laid on him
extreme suffering and FASTENED death
1t is mystery of mental action how
stirred by q word memory gathers from
the past and suddenly twines gossamer
thread joining separate and most distant
things, as In this instance: Columbia
river and the shire of Oxford County.
Boon Companions.
"It is strange that we always find
whiskey and crooked politics hand IN
hand. ."-Theodor Roosevelt In Kansas
City speech. t