Independent Statesman

LETTER FROM BETHLEHEM,

BETHLEHEM, March 17, 1879.

Messrs. Editors: When a town, I suppose, Messrs. Editors, like an individual, has the misfortune of possessing not only a tarnished character but one of chronic badness, completely given over to the adversary in the eyes of the elect, the trouble always must be that however vigorous any subsequent efforts for reformation, no simple promise of changed purpose, no exhibition even of good progress passes for much; the victory must be won, the crown gained, before entering into the reward.

Perhaps in the eyes of the elect Bethlehem is "Lucifer fallen, never to rise again." Practically, no doubt, ours is the condition of the man fallen down hill; he must ascend by his own physical efforts, and he can't receive the outstretched hand of friendly congratulation until he reaches the top.

The Associated Press dispatch the morning after election briefly announced: "Lancaster, Newport, Bethlehem, Hillsboro,—Democratic as usual." Yes, as usual, Bethlehem went Democratic. The Dutch by dint only of great effort captured Holland,—but Bethlehem did not in any degree go Democratic as usual (as she usually... [text cuts off slightly, but continues] if the situation be fairly known, and let credit be given to the gallant, indefatigable little band of loyal fearless Republicans, who within three years' time have so completely overturned the condition of political affairs in this town. May they not, too, take a satisfaction and pride in reviewing the result of their labors?

In March, 1876, the vote of this town, announced by Mr. John G. Sinclair, Moderator, was 25 Republican, 267 Democratic votes. The actual Republican vote then cast, however, was 40, it being proved conclusively at the time upon the affidavits of forty responsible men, that as many votes were cast, and that the fifteen lacking ballots came out as they went in. Some Democrats as well as the Republicans concur as to the method of their extraction. In November, 1878, the third election following, the vote in this town stood 74 Republican, 172 Democratic, 11 Greenback. Last Tuesday, the vote for Moderator, intended to be the test of strength between the parties, was 92 Republican, 109 Democratic. It was amusing to witness the consternation that pervaded the Democratic ranks previous to town meeting; it seemed as if they had seen the hand-writing upon the wall, as if their conscience had really begun to upbraid them for their long-continued iniquitous conduct of town affairs, for the rascally management of the check-list, for their vindictive treatment of independent voters, and for the outrages they had committed upon the ballot-box.

Through the admirable working of the new Supervisor law, a new thorn in their sides, and the successful endeavor made last fall by the Republicans to dictate the election of three of the most honest Democrats in the town, 69 names of unnaturalized residents were taken off the check-list. This done, the Democrats even offered to put on a ticket the name of one Republican selectman, and even suggested for a compromise that he be a 'first selectman;' but the Republicans resolved, for the present and future, to stand squarely upon their platform of principles, knowing no compromise, fighting it out on that line till victory came.

A "Democratic caucus" was therefore hastily called, "full, free, and open," every Democrat particularly requested to be present and to take part in the proceedings"—quite a new departure in the history of this autocratic settlement. The hitherto autocrat of "all the Democracy" endeavored to rally the faithful by a speech, whose principal feature (showing how badly he was wounded) was a vituperative attack upon one of the prominent Republican leaders here. Recalling his defeat for Moderator last November, he, with commendable discretion, concluded not to stand in his party's way on this occasion. Until nearly eleven o'clock, the unhappy Democrats of Bethlehem agitated their hitherto unburdened minds, and wrestled in vigorous thought upon the subject of the morrow's ticket. One feature of the town meeting (to cut short my letter) needs to be mentioned, and but for this feature alone, marking defiance of political decency, a perpetration of brow-beating and "bulldozing," contrary to the spirit, if not the letter, of our election laws—the Republicans would have completely carried the town. The spectacle was presented of one of our townsmen, twice a candidate for Governor, a would-be United States Senator, standing with ballots in hand at the very head of the line of voters, and there deliberately seizing from voters' hands, within arm's reach of the ballot-box, their tickets, for his own inspection, which, if not satisfactory, were destroyed, and others returned.

With the more extended introduction of newspapers, the influence of a well-filled library, established two years since, the educating influence of so many summer visitors, Bethlehem is surely emerging from the Egyptian darkness which surrounded her. "Probably the people of no town in the State 12 years since lived more ignorantly of the outside world, no people were under more abject complete political bondage as rigorous as any existing at the South. The "Star of Bethlehem" shines to show timid, discouraged, apathetic Republicans in other towns what may be gained by steady, unyielding, determined purpose, by zealous faith and persistent work.

M.