USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of the state of Pennsylvania with a compendium of history. A record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume I > Part 14
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Under the act of May 25. 1889, a commission of soldiers' orphan schools was established, and has since been continued. It comprises the governor, ex-officio, two senators, three members of the house of repre- sentatives, and five other appointees chosen from the Grand Army of the Republic posts of the state. As now established, three schools are main- tained ; the industrial school at Scotland. Franklin county; one school at Chester Springs. Chester county, and one at Jumonville, Fayette county. As tending to show the importance and value of the soldiers' orphan schools and the regard in which they have been held by the people of Pennsylvania, the following extract is taken from Governor Geary's message in 1868:
"No calculation can furnish an estimate of the benefits and blessings that are constantly flowing from these institutions. Thousands of orphan children are enjoying their parental care, moral culture, and edit- cational training, who otherwise would have suffered poverty and want,
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and been left to grow up m ulleness and neglect. Many a widow's heart has been gladdened by the protection, comfort, and religious solicitude extended to her fatherless offspring, and thousands are the prayers de- voutly uttered for those who have not been unmindful of them in the time of their affliction. In making the generous disposition it has done for these destitute and helpless orphans, the legislature deserves and receives the heartiest thanks of every good citizen, all of whom will cor- lially approve a continuance of that beneficence. In shiekling, protect- ing, and educating the children of our dead soldiers, the legislature is nobly performing its duty. These children are not mere objects of charity or pensioners upon our bounty, but the wards of the common- wealth, and have just claims, earned by the blood of their fathers, upon its support and guardianship, which can only be withheld at the sacrifice of philanthropy, honor, patriotism, state pride, and every principle of humanity."
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CHAPTER IN.
PENNSYLVANIA FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE PRESENT TIME.
After the close of the war Governor Curtin's administration devoted its energies to the ways of peace with the same zeal that characterized it while the rebellion was in progress. It had been in all respects a snc- cessful administration, and received the commendation of the people of the whole state. The public debt was necessarily large, but it was not burdensome, for now Pennsylvania had sources of revenue not before enjoyed. The exigencies of the war had created a demand for mineral products such as Pennsylvania alone could and did produce. and when the period of war was ended the whole male population was required to produce that which went to supply the wants of other states. The iron ores were required in thousands of manufactories. The coal product was required in every eastern state, both for manufacturing uses and household consumption. Coal began to replace wood as a house-warm- ing agent in states outside of Pennsylvania soon after 1860, and came into general use within the next ten years. Then the mines in operation mmmbered less than fifty, and the output was counted by thousands of tons. Now the mines are counted by hundreds, the output by millions of tons, while the employees and mine workers at the present time aggre- gate nearly one hundred and fifty thousand persons.
Soon after the end of the war lumbering became an established and important branch of business, and was carried on by thousands of oper- ators until the vast forests of the state were almost stripped of their most valuable timber. AAlmost every stream of any consequence was made a public highway, and annually for about ten or fifteen years these
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Watercourses were lined with rafts of logs and lumber on their way lo profitalle markets at tidewater. This great industry practically built up Williamsport but hundreds of other cities and towns derived great benefit from it. Extensive numbering operations are no longer known in Pennsylvania, yet on a lesser scale the business is still carried on with profit. The purpose of the forestry department is to restore the forest growths and prevent the total destruction of that which has contributed so much to the wealth of man.
The pursuits of agriculture, also, reached their highest development during the score of years which began with the end of the war of 1861-65. A large proportion of the volunteer recruits sent out from this state during the war came from the farm. They were farmers' sons, and they made excellent soldiers ; and after the return of peace they went back to the farm and worked with the same characteristic energy they had exhibited at Gettysburg, and on a hundred other battlefields of the south. These loyal sons of Pennsylvania had shown that they could successfully defend their state against an invading army, and afterward. in peace, they showed how well they could develop its resources and make the earth bring forth its fruits.
These pursuits had their beginning, of course, long before Governor Curtin's time, but they reached their highest degree of success and profit during his term and that of his successor in office, General Geary. The famors "War Governor" served six years-a memorable period in Penn- sylvania and national history-and when he retired his successor was chosen from the ranks of the army. John W. Geary was the candidate of the Republican party, and received a majority of seventeen thousand votes over Hiester Olymer, the Democratic nominee. . At this time there were but two political parties in the state, and General Geary's election was almost a certainty when the nominating convention placed his name
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at the head of the Republican ticket. He was a Westmoreland county man. a civil engineer, and also a farmer. He served with credit as lieutenant colonel of the Second Pennsylvania Regiment during the war with Mexico, and after the capture of the City of Mexico he was made its military commander. In 1849 he was postmaster of San Francisco. and later was the first mayor of that city. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1852 and settled on his farin. Still later he was for nearly a year governor of Kansas.
General Geary's military career was indeed praiseworthy. In 1861 he raised and equipped the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, was promoted to brigadier-general April 25. 1862; wounded at Cedar Mountain; led the Second Division, Twelfth Corps, in several memorable battles ; commanded the Second Division, Twentieth Corps. in Sherman's march to the sea ; was military governor at Savannah after its capture. December 22, 1864. Ile never entered politics; the public service called him and he accepted its responsibilities. His part was always well done, and he retired from office with the respect of the people of his state. His was not a reform administration, as there was nothing in the affairs of state that required reformation. Curtin had made clean the pathway, and Geary was required only to follow his example and carry on the work so well begun. The six years of his governorship wit- nessed unprecedented growth in every branch of business life, and Penn- sylvania prospered as never before in its history. The state debt was reduced more than ten million dollars.
However, in the counties along the southern border of the state the people were slow in recovering from the serious effects of the war. In 1868 the legislature did something to relieve their condition. but the injuries had been such that money compensation alone could not fully repair the losses. Again, in 1871, Lycoming county became the center
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of a disturbance known as "the saw dust war," which required the presence of the state militia to suppress. It was the first affair of its kind in the state, and naturally was the occasion of much excitement ; but it passed away withont serious results. In a way it recalled the events of the whisky insurrection and Fries' rebellion, but was less serions than either of them. In later years Pennsylvania became accus- tomed to internal uprisings, especially in labor circles, hence such events as those noted attract less attention than formerly.
General John Frederick Hartranft was elected governor in 1872. and was re-elected in 1875. serving in all six years. He was the second of the soldier governors chosen after the close of the war. He was Montgomery county's contribution to the excentive chair, and won dis- tinction by his military career. He raised the Fourth Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, for three months' service. and afterward organized the Fifty-first Regiment. Ile rose steadily through various military grades. and was brevetted major general for meritorions services in the capture of Fort Steadman in March. 1865. He was elected auditor general of Pennsylvania in November of the same year, and in 1866 was offered a colonel's commission in the regular army. This honor he declined. In 1868 he was re-elected auditor general, and in 1872 became governor.
The political campaign in 1872 was the most remarkable contest in the history of the state down to that time. Grant was president and was seeking re-election as the candidate of the national Republican con- vention, while opposed to him was Horace Greeley, who led the forces of a dissentient element of the dominant party known as "Liberals," and also as "Independents." The seceders assumed not to sacrifice any Republican principle, but were unalterably opposed to Grant's re-election. Ile was too radical, too intensely Republican to meet their views; and besides they charged him with yielding the appointing power into the
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hands of designing politicians. The demoralized Democracy. now in a hopeless minority in the state and country, was without a presidential candidate, but indorsed Greeley, hoping by this means to overcome the regular Republican majority.
The campaign of the year was bitterly contested on both sides, and for the first time practical politics made its appearance as a factor in the state and national canvass ; and from that time to the present it has been a dominant power in the history of both of the great parties. So far as the state ticket was concerned, there was less breaking away from party lines, but many of the so-called "Liberals" found themselves within the Democratic fold, while on the other hand a considerable number of "old-liners" of the Democracy refused to support Greeley, and thus became alienated from its ticket. In this campaign, too, the new Pro- hibition party made its appearance, and put a gubernatorial candidate in the field.
At the polls the candidates of the parties were General John F. Hartranft, Republican, Charles R. Buckalew, Democrat, and S. B. Chase, Prohibitionist. Every sinew of political warfare was brought into the contest for the governorship, for the result was to be taken as an index of the strength of the parties and their candidates on the presidential tickets to be voted for in November. Hartranft was re-elected by a comfortable majority, while Chase, the standard-bearer of the Prohibi- tionists. received a little more than twelve hundred votes, drawn largely from the Republican ranks. This was the first appearance of the new party in active politics. It has since maintained an existence and made some gains in numerical strength. Occasionally it has elected a candi- date to minor offices, but never has become a positive factor in political circles. Its principles and platforms have been praiseworthy. from a purely moral standpoint, but the proposed application of those principles
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to practical governmental methods and customs have not seemed to meet with approval of consistent men.
Governor Hartranit began his first term in January, 1873. was re elected, and served until January, 1879. This six years constituted an eventful period in the civil and political history of the commonwealth ; a period of vicissitudes and remarkable occurrences, some of them of a depressing character so far as the public weal was concerned, but none of such serious nature as to disturb the foundations of state government. During Governor Geary's administration, in 1808, there occurred the first serious disturbances between labor and capital in the anthracite coal regions. There had been carlier differences, but none had attracted much attention.
In 1871 there was another strike, this time against a reduction of wages, and the militia was sent to Scranton to quiet a riotous spirit that manifested itself on that occasion. In 1875 the miners in the Schuylkill and Lehigh regions went out on the so-called "long strike." and for six months were unable to reconcile their differences with the operators. While this strike was in progress the state militia was again called into service, but the occasion passed without serious disaster. In later years strikes have been of periodical occurrence, and, by reason of the in- creased number of persons involved in them, and the general tendency on the part of employes to "unionize." they have at times assumed a serious character, and have temporarily injured business interests, Penn- sylvamans are no longer surprised at the declaration of a strike in labor circles, for these occurrences have come to be looked upon as natural results of the differences between corporations and their employes. The labor problem, the true and just relations of labor and capital, remains to be solved in this state, and, indeed, in the United States.
The year 1873 witnessed the end of the period of prosperity which
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followed the close of the war, and for the next two or three years the complaint of "hard times" was heard throughout the land. It was a disastrous event in business circles in particular, but all interests and pursuits were adversely affected by it. The great financial storm of 1873 originated in Philadelphia, by the failure of the banking firm of Jay Cooke and Company, whose doors were closed on September 18. This created a general panic in banking circles, and one house after another gave way before the pressure of demands by clamorous creditors. Then the infection spread to other cities, and in less than four months a condition of depression had entirely replaced the former prosperity and had extended itself throughout the country.
At the time the origin of the depressed condition was attributed to various sources, but before the period was passed the business world was made to understand that the revulsion was due to natural causes, and was only the settling down, on a solid foundation, of the unstable ele- ments that comprised our financial structure during an era of inflation. The business world apparently had become impressed with the false notion that prices always would be high ; that money always would be plenty, and that there could not be a change in existing conditions; that the result of the war insured the perpetuity of the national Union, and that continuel prosperity was its natural outcome: that there could be no return to old conditions, and, consequently, that all business opera- tions could be conducted on a gigantic scale without limit as to time and without restriction as to credit and borrowing power.
The hypothesis proved false, but the assumption of its correctness led operators into extravagmint methods; and when the break did come its effects were more disastrous than they would have been had wisdom prevailed in the transactions of borrowers and lenders of money. The panic itself was of short duration but the restoration to normal conditions
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required several years to accomplish. In due season this was done, and with confidence once more restored, peace and prosperity were the recom- pense of those who withstood the storm of adversity.
Notwithstanding the numerous embarrassments that attended the financial panic, the people of Pennsylvania, and of the United States. were making preparations for the "Centennial Exhibition": to fittingly celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of American independence. Philadelphia was appropriately chosen as the seat of this great event. In all about one hundred and eighty buildings were erected on the grounds. Each state in the Union had its building: and so also had the United States, many foreign governments, and many enterprising corporations and individuals. The exhibition was opened May 10. 1876. and was closed November to of the same year. On "Pennsylvania Day." September 28, two hundred and seventy-five thousand persons visited the grounds. The exhibition itself was a notable event in Penn- sylvania history.
Such, in brief, are some of the leading events in our state history during Governor Hartranit's term of office. The government was in no wise concerned in them, or responsible for them, but whenever action was necessary the executive and legislative branches performed their duty without fear or favor. During Hartranit's term, too, the new con- stitution of 1873 was adopted: and it still is in effect. It was an in- portant step in state progress, for it contained all the provisions neces- sary for the administration of government in conformity to modern methods and requirements.
In 1878 another election for governor and other state officers was held. There were four candidates in the field at the head of the tickets. Henry M. Hoyt was nominated by the Republicans: Andrew H. Dill by the Democracy : Franklin H. Lane by the Prohibitionists ; and Samuel
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R. Mason by the new political organization known as the Greenback party, which was composed of disgruntled clements from both of the great parties, but in this state did not gain sufficient strength to become a factor for good or evil. The Republicans, largely in a majority, elected their candidate. and Governer Hoyt took up the duties of office in Jan- uary. 1879. He was a prudent public servant, and urged that expendi- tures in all departments of state government be carefully ordered. His administration was successful. The effects of the recent business de- pression were felt less severely, and except for local disturbances in the mining districts, where many foreigners were colonized. comparative quiet reigned within the borders of the state. The provisions of the new constitution, some of which were radical changes as compared with former rules of government, had been thoroughly tested and had worked well. At first the new system had been criticised. but there was shown a disposition to give it an impartial trial. It was tried, and approved. and there was not afterward shown a desire to restore the old customs of former years.
ln 1882, for the first time since Packer occupied the chair. the Democrats elected their gubernatorial candidate and returned to power in the state. At this time there was a split in the Republican party ; there were serious charges of corruption against the dominant power. both in national and state politics. In Pennsylvania there was a strong disposition to accept the promises of aspirants for political preferment and vote into power those who were pledged to reform. In the cam- paign of that year the names of five candidates were presented to the people for support, and each platform committed its party to the work of eliminating from the state government every element of corruption. The campaign was vigorously conducted, and every possible influence
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was brought into the contest that tended to promote the advantage of the two great parties -- the Republican and the Democratic.
The Republican convention put in nomination General James .A. Beaver, of Center county : the Democrats rallied under the banner that carried the name of Robert E. Pattison, of Philadelphia : the independent Republicans broke away from their party and nominated John Stewart. and thus weakened the voting strength of the then dominant party ; the Greenback Labor coalition advocated the election of Thomas A. Arm- strong, and drew its strength about equally from the Republican and Democratic parties; the Prohibitionists supported Alfred C. Pettit, but without hope of any success other than the maintenance of a single principle.
Pattison was elected. The vote he received was a gratifying tribute to his known popularity and integrity, and his administration was satis- factory to the state, especially to his party followers who benefited by the resuh of the ballot. The new governor was essentially Democratic. both in a political and personal sense. He did not forget his friends and supporters in making appointments, and he earnestly and sincerely advo- cated reform and economy in the administration of affairs of state. In many respects, and as far as any successful candidate ever did, or ever could, carry out ante-election promises, the pledges were kept. and as its result his administration was a success. He advocated economy and made recommendations suggestive of reform.
One of the duties devolving on the legislature during Pattison's first term was that of redistricting the state as required by the constitu- tion. This was not done during the regular session, and an extra ses- sion was called. The two houses of the legislature were not in political harmony, hence could not agree, and charges of attempts to "gerry- mander" for partisan advantage were made on both sides. The extra
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session proved very expensive, and led to a law, in 1885, fixing the salary of members for attendance at both regular and extra sessions.
In the presidential campaign of 1884 the Prohibition party devel- oped considerable strength, and became a somewhat formidable balance of power. Its voting strength was largely drawn from the Republican party, whose leaders became alarmed at the attitude of the dissentients, and felt it incumbent upon themselves, as the dominant political power in the state. to do some act to win back the element that had so sapped its strength. Other considerations entered into the matter and induced the action which was finally taken, but the rapidly increasing Prohibition vote was the chief moving causes of the high license act of 1887. It was not that the Prohibitionists favored high license, or any license to sell intoxicants, for they stood for total prohibition, and nothing less.
Besides the clamors of the Prohibition orators, there arose a demand generally for some restriction of the liquor traffic which at this time was attended with many abuses, and was productive of much haim to society. and therefore to the public welfare. AA local option law had been put upon the statute books as early as 1872, and for many years the question of license and no license was the main issue at the polls in hundreds of interior towns. About the same time the more ardent advocates of prohibition became wearied with the unfulfilled promises-ante-election pledges-of the old parties, and began to withdraw their allegiance, choose candidates of their own, and vote for them. As their numbers increased success began to reward their efforts in some towns, and occa- sionally a Prohibitionist candidate was elected to the legislature.
As the Prohibition ranks were swelled and made stronger there came a corresponding movement on the part of the liquor interests to intrench itself within the older parties, and. in order to win over the so called liquor vote. the Democrats and Republicans both began to make conces-
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sions to license holders, the former with the greater success. This led to abuses and eventually to an almost intolerable condition of affairs in the larger cities. In remedy of the evils high license was proposed, and in 1887 a bill to that effect passed the legislature. At the same time an amendment to the constitution was proposed, the purpose of which was to prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor, as a bever- age, within the state. The next legislature agreed to the proposition, and ordered an election to be held June 18. 1889. for the approval or rejec- tion of the prohibition amendment.
The campaign which followed was of a nique character in Penn- sylvania history, and at the election there was an unusual arrayal of voting forces. Public opinion was strangely divided. The press took sides, pro and con, according as the interests of localities would probably be affected. The pulpit generally favored the amendment. The more daring politicians opposed it, but the conservative element of both of the old parties took little part in the contest. At the polls the people re- jected the amendment, the vote showing 484.644 against, and 296,617 for it. Thirty nine counties voted a majority against the amendment. and twenty-eight voted in its favor.
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