Was Never Given Over To Whigs – Former Newspapers Chiefly Political Organs
From the 1938 centennial edition of The Times-Register
Ever since this nation was formed there have been arguments, disputes, fights and much bitterness over political questions. In a democracy it was ever thus. Elsewhere in this issue will be found an account of the duel between a grandson of General Andrew Lewis and John McHenry which resulted as the outgrowth of a quarrel over politics.
President Andrew Jackson once killed a man in a duel but this fact did not prevent him from becoming elected as president of the nation. Botetourt county gave President Jackson a good vote of confidence. In the days when the Whigs were in control, Roanoke county was a growing infant and in those days both Botetourt and Roanoke remained Democratic when the state was carried by the Whigs.
Papers Were Partisan
In early days much bitterness arose over politics and one reason for this face was that the early newspapers were almost without exception strong party organs. In days past a newspaper did not hesitate to criticize its political adversaries in stinging terms.
When Jordan Woodrum established his paper in Salem in 1854 it was a staunch Democratic weekly which saw a little good in the Whig party. On the other hand the Which papers believed that the Democrats were leading the country to ruin.
When the succession movement was launched, this paper which had changed hands became a strong advocate of the Confederate cause and in the years that followed the Civil War politics were extremely bitter. A gradual evolution is noticed down through the years until the present era since political parties have become more tolerate even though there is still much discord over questions of the government policy.
In 1876 one of the hottest political fights of the country was fought when the famous Tilden and Hayes contest was on. Historians were almost unanimous today in declaring that Tilden was fairly elected in this contest but the army which was in change of the elections in some of the southern states was able to throw three southern states in the Republican column to insure the election of Hayes. The returns from these three southern states were not returned until it was determined how many states Hayes needed to insure election.
Strong For Tilden
In the head of this campaign the Salem Register of 1876 said:
“Two weeks from next Tuesday and the tale will be told. Then we are to know whether we are to have another four years of thievery and corruption or honesty and purity in the administration of our public affairs. Let even good man cast his cote for Tilden, Hendricks, Pridemore and Reform. Wake up, people of Roanoke! Every man to his post Work unceasingly from now until election day for out ticket. We have the “rads” on the run. Keep them going.”
“A big glorification” was held in Salem during the campaign. It was recorded that at the time of this rally excellent speeches were made by Messers Johnson, Hansbrough, Edmundson and Griffin. Thaw was the day of the torchlight precession and Salem put on a big one. Following the parade that night tar barrels were ignited so that the sky was illuminated for miles about. Sky rockets were sent shotting skyward and a good time was had by all.
Didn’t Like Garfield
In 1880 when Garfield was a candidate for the presidency the Salem Conservative and Monitor had the following to say concerning that political campaign:
“Gen. Garfield has a sweet record for a presidential candidate, being a salary-grabber, a Credit-Mobelierite, a lawyer who receives fees designed to influence his action was a congressman, and a violent hate of every southern man who dared take up arms in what he deemed a just cause, and who sent so far as to declare himself in favor of unrestricted and perpetual disfranchisement of all such. Such is the past record of the Republican nominee for president. Chester A. Arthur, the nominee for vice-president is chiefly known to face as the man whom Hayes removed from the collectorship of the New York custom house for cause – for corrupt practices in this official capacity.”
From the Times-Register of 1884 we learn that a big torchlight parade was held here when news of the election of Grover Cleveland was made honest government in the election of Cleveland, Hendricks and Daniel, on Monday night last by a torchlight procession. Although the time for preparation was so scant that it was virtually an impromptu affair yet in the point of numbers and enthusiasm it was quite a success. It was quite evident that a large majority of the ladies of Salem are Democrats for nearly every house on the street was illuminated and flags floated proudly from nearly every balcony. The Duval House, The Hampton House and the Fleming building were particularly brilliant.”
“Representatives from different sections of the county began to assemble late in the evening and a large crowd had collected by 7 P.M. The procession formed at the east end of Main Street and took up the line of March, headed by the Salem Silver Cornet band. Next was a mammoth portrait of Hon. John W. Daniel, carried by four men. Then followed the first division – about 150 men – with transparencies, among them being on representing the interior of a post office with a good representation of Page Morris with a huge tongue, licking a postage stamp. The motto over it was “My last lick.” On the left side “Othello’s occupation gone” and on the right “Alas, poor Pagey.”
“The second division was headed by the Salem Glee Club, on a large float drawn by four horses. The glee club sang several splendid songs of victory and those in the procession on the street and on porches, joined in the chorus of several songs. After the glee club came the St. Johns, six men, with bottles inverted on their staffs, each with an escort bearing a torch and on their banner “In the name of St. John we demand our rights.”
– Prepared by Lingjie Gu
