Valley Spirit

Our citizens of Foreign birth who have been inveigled into the ranks of the Opposition, should not neglect to post themselves on the antecedents of the company they are keeping. Let us present two propositions for their reflection before their active participancy in the election now near at hand. Every citizen born in a foreign land who casts his vote with the Opposition, gives that much strength and permanency to a party which under a new name, in violation of the spirit of the Constitution and the recognized policy of the founders of the Republic, would degrade and disgrace him. Who are the present leaders of the so-called Republican party, even in Pennsylvania? Are they not the men who assisted in the inauguration of that vilest of doctrines, Know Nothingism? Are they not the very men, Adopted Citizen, let us ask you, who promulgated and urged with all the ardor of their souls, what would have been in effect your absolute disfranchisement? Each and every one of you must certainly remember the bitter crusade these men waged against your rights. No "Tariff" then claimed their attention. No appeal was then made in behalf of "Freedom." "Free Homes for Free Men" was not then their rallying cry. Their sole and darling sentiment was hostility to the Foreigner, and in secret conclave they swore to give it thorough and effective expression.

You, Adopted Citizen in the County of Franklin, now associated with the Republican party, we ask you to bring to mind the eventful years when Know Nothingism was in the ascendant and marched over the land conquering and to conquer, do you not recognize in the champions of this new born party these same men who then poured their vials of defamation and abuse on your devoted heads? Believe not that this same spirit has fled from their hearts. It still remains ready at the seasonable time to burst forth in all its original fury. As the serpent charms, so does this Republican party now charm and caress you only to make you an auxiliary instrument to your own political destruction.

And Adopted Citizen, our second proposition to which we invite your serious reflection is this. When those glorious privileges guaranteed to you by the Constitution, political equality, the right of suffrage, eligibility to office, in a word the possession of all that constitutes you an American citizen, when, we say, these great privileges were about to be torn from you and the record of there [sic] existence about to be blotted out; when jeers and ridicule met you at almost every step; when persecution raged, and blood followed the foot prints of many of your countrymen in some of our great cities, what party placed itself as a wall of fire between you and your enemies? What party battled with all the ardor and hopefulness of holy and patriotic purpose, for your vindication and protection? And what party eventually scattered your enemies as chaff before the wind, and in its almost unparalleled success proved its devotion to your interest and its great mission the preservation of the Constitution and the Union? Was it not the Democratic party that performed all this? Was it not that great party which knowing no North, no South, no East, no West, but only a complete and undissevered Union that came to your rescue? History attests the fidelity of the Democratic party to the interests of the citizens of our whole country, be they citizens native, or adopted. The Democratic party is not the offspring of yesterday. It came not on the wings of the morning to expire with the shades of the evening. For more than fifty years it has embodied the great conservative, patriotic and progressive spirit of the country. Under its wise rule we have grown to be one of the first nations of the earth in all that constitutes prosperity, usefulness and knowledge. And it is to preserve our land in unity and peace and to complete the development of the great work began by our Fathers that the Democratic party was formed and will continue to exist despite the storms that rise upon its path. To stand by this glorious organization, we appeal to every citizen be he from the North or the South, be he from lands across the sea or a native of our own soil. But more especially do we call upon our adopted citizens to dispassionately examine the history of our party, to note the long line of patriots and statesmen that have for more than a half century led its columns to battle for the whole country and to observe in our greatness and prosperity the beneficent result of Democratic rule. Aid this great party by your suffrages and by so doing you protect your own rights and contribute to the preservation of the Constitution and perpetuity of the Union.

--On Thursday evening last, George Washington Lodge of Masons, of this place, took posession of, and consecrated their New Hall, on second st. This building was erected by the Masons about forty years ago, we believe, but upon the decadence of the order, in the times of the Anti-masonic fever, it was sold, and had been used, for a number of years, by the German Reformed Printing office and Book Bindery. The masons purchased it in the Spring, and have fitted it up in magnificent style. The Lodge Room surpasses in beauty any subordinate lodge in the State. The ceiling has been gracefully arched, and with the sides, has been tastefully frescoed by an experienced artist from Baltimore. It is furnished in a most elegant manner; and throughout reflects great credit upon the liberality of the order, and upon the committee who had charge of the repairs.

District Deputy Grand Master Lamberton was present, and conducted the exercises, to the great delight of the brethren, with whom he is a prime favorite. We congratulate our friends upon the restoration to their new and more elegant temple, and hope they may long flourish to do honor to their outer Lodge and its mysterious inner principles.

The practice of allowing boys to spend their evenings on the streets is one of the most ruinous, dangerous and mischievous things possible. Nothing so speedily and surely makes their course downward. They acquire under the cover of the night, an unhealthy state of mind, vulgar and profane language, obscene practices, criminal sentiments and a lawless and riotous bearing. Indeed, it is in the streets after night-fall, that the boys generally acquire the education of the bad and the capacity for becoming rowdy, dissolute, criminal men. Parents do you believe it? Will you keep your children at home at nights, and see that their home is made pleasant and profitable.

It is seldom that more truth is compressed into so small a space. The thousands of boys belonging to worthy, respectable families who are permitted night after night to select their own company and places of resort, are on a certain road to ruin. Confiding parents, who believe that THEIR sons are safe--that they will not associate with the vicious--will one of these days have their hearts crushed, as thousands have before, by learning that sons whom they regarded a proof against any evil, have from very early years, on the road to ruin.

For the benefit of a number of young ladies we wot [sic] of we would just mention that they should remember that a few more weeks will wind up leap year, and then if they have not made good use of the time, their legal period to do the courting in will have passed away, and before leap year comes again they will have become old maids, an institution which is now-a-days dreaded as much as the itch. Girls make good use of the coming few weeks in the present year. Rig up yourselves, trim your sails and go out into the street and captivate whom ye can.

N. B. Needn't come around here.