Universal York

Democratic Press Logo
The York Democratic Press of 1841 was very Democratic, in the political sense of the word. The newspaper was extremely true to the Democratic Party, as you can tell by the way it listed candidates for the upcoming election for governor of Pennsylvania.
Under an image of an eagle with a shield David R. Porter was announced as the DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR. Immediately below, the Democratic Press described Porter’s opponent as:

“Federal, Anti-Masonic and Humbug candidate for Governor John Banks.”
A little further down, the paper was no less partisan in reporting recent action in the House of Representatives:
“KEEP IT BEFORE THE PEOPLE,
That on the 31st day of July 1841, a ‘whig’ House of Representatives, as one of its RELIEF measures, passed a bill,
IMPOSING A TAX of twenty per cent, on
TEA, COFFEE, SUGAR, MOLASSES and SALT–and
Exempting from Tax, PHYSIC, POISON, GEGAW, GOLD AND SILVER EPAULETTES, STATUARY, ENGRAVINGS, GEMS, PRECIOUS STONES, and RAILROAD CORPORTION IRON.
The vote stood, yeas 116, nays 101–EVERY DEMOCRAT WHO WAS IN HIS SEAT, VOTING AGAINST IT.”
At the time the nation was in the midst of what is known as its first great depression, set off by the Panic of 1837. To read more on that depression by going to the White House web site and clicking on the link to President Martin Van Buren. (I found the very interesting site of presidental data by doing an internet search for 1841+depression.)
That search also brought up some strange sites, like the one that blames the depression of the late 1830s on Saturn being in the sign of Sagittarius from 1838-1841. Personally, I’m inclined to credit the banking crisis instead of the stars and planets.
The Democratic Press logo (see above) coincidentally shows a printing press shining above the earth.
Click below for more on recessions.
Tariff to be raised in 1867.
Click the links below for more York County past politics.
Reluctant 1877 candidate.
Mudslinging in the 1832 York County election.
Blazing political rally in Red Lion.
Log cabin headquarters for Harrison.
Commerce and government in Hanover.
Hartley wants U.S. capital here.