Bonfire of the Stereotypes

       The trinity of secondary liberal evils is racism, sexism and homophobia.  Anything perceived as violating this trinity is pure evil, and must be eradicated.
        The Simpsons is a left-leaning animated comedy that has been on TV since the late 1980s.  Based entirely on stereotypical characters, it is television's longest running series.  The main character is Homer Simpson, a stereotypical fat dullard.  His boss is Montgomery Burns, a stereotypical evil rich person modeled on John D. Rockefeller.  The family doctor is based on Cliff Huxtable, the main character from The Cosby Show.  Simpson's neighbors are the Flanders, a negative stereotype of Christians.  His bartender is Moe Syzlak, a stereotype lowlife.  Recurring in the show is a batch of illiterate hillbillies.  In short, The Simpsons is based on stereotypical characters.
        After years of lambasting rich people, nuclear power, children's TV, Christians, rural people, ad nauseum, suddenly the left hates the stereotypical Indian character Apu, who runs Springfield's convenience store.  Proving one thing:  stereotypical comedy is only funny when applied to groups the left is allowed to mock!  Comedy Central has created an entire industry ridiculing the right, with a gallery of faux Fox News hosts whose entire schtick is how stupid Republicans are.  Saturday Night Live stopped being funny when Tina Fey turned it into a broadcast-TV version of Jon Stewart's The Daily Show.  For the left (and this includes the people who make The Simpsons, which includes leftist commentator Harry Shearer), comedy is politics conducted through other means.  Depicting Republicans as meeting in a spooky castle from Frankenstein is funny;  thirty years in, they decide that an Indian running a convenience store is hopelessly racist.  One can only laugh at rich people, fat people, stupid people, etc.  This is part of the politicization of comedy.  
       While I'm on a tear, I'd like to point out another thing the show did that Estase was deeply offended by.  Ned Flanders in one episode shows his sons a cartoon about blowing up an abortion clinic.  Nobody complained to the network about stereotyping Christians and pro-lifers in this way.  Hank Azaria never beat his breast in contrition about that skit.  Because any offensive stereotype that is aimed at the right is acceptable and funny, and any stereotype that isn't aimed at the right is offensive and racist.  I shudder to think what these modern comedy mavens would make of the Marx Brothers, whose comedy included send-ups of Jewish opera stars, Jewish doctors, the medical profession, etc.  Mel Brooks would find it impossible to make most of his films given the repressive pseudomorality that prevails today.

Lewis Eblesizer (1799-1884)

       Lewis Eblesizer of Blandinsville township {ed.-McDonough Co., IL}, a man prominent and well-known for years throughout the Northwest part of McDonough, died at his home Friday morning last at 3 o'clock.  He had been in poor health for the past three or four years, his disease being an affliction of the heart.  For six months he has grown worse rapidly, and during a month or more his death has been expected almost daily.  Funeral services were conducted at Blandinsville Saturday, after which the remains were buried in the Liberty burial ground northeast of town some two or three miles.  He was about 85 years old.  Deceased was born, we believe, in Indiana.  He migrated from near New Albany in that state, about the year 1839, coming to Illinois in company with the families of Andrew Huff and Jacob Keithley.  The deceased was then unmarried.  Mr. Huff and Eblesizer first settled in Rushville, Schuyler county, where for a few years they carried on a plow shop.  About 1844 or 1845 they came to McDonough and settled upon the land where the deceased spent the remaining portion of his life.  Deceased still single, boarded with Mr. Huff, and the two spent the time in improving their land in the summer, and blacksmithing in the winter.  Some years later, was united in marriage with Elizabeth Nance, whose parents resided in Hancock County, near LaHarpe.  The fruits of their marriage was one child, a son, C.C. Eblesizer, now some thirty years old and married.  The wife of deceased survives him.  Mr. Eblesizer was a first class farmer in every respect, a man of strong convictions, yet scrupulously honest withal.  He was a kind neighbor, a warm friend, a man whose living was a benefit to the community in which he lived.

The Macomb Journal Volume 29, Number 21, 21 FEB 1884

Honored Relic of War

       Geddes Post No. 142, G.A.R. has a relic in the shape of a beautiful silk flag--or the remains of a flag-- that was presented to Co. C, 78th Ill. Vol. Infantry by the ladies of Blandinsville in June, 1862, the day the company, under the command of Captain Hume, left for Macomb to go into camp in Springfield, Ill.
      The flag cost $60, and was a handsome one.  The money to purchase it was raised by the ladies of Blandinsville , and the presentation speech was made by Miss Joanna Buzzel, who was at that time teaching in the public schools of that village, and the lady is still living in the eastern part of the state, and there are still a few of the donors living in and around Blandinsville.  But of the 90 men who marched away under the bright folds of the beautiful flag but one resides in Blandinsville and one in La Harpe.  The company carried the flag to Springfield and it was used as a regimental banner for several months, when the government presented the regiment with the national colors.  Captain Hume then sent the banner home, and at his death a few years ago the flag was given to Charles Spielman, the only survivor of the company then residing in Blandinsville, who kept it until last fall, when he presented it to Comrade Elisha Hamilton of this place {ed.-LaHarpe}, who served in Co. C, and he presented it to the G.A.R. post, and it is kept in their hall.
       How many of the 90 men who marched away with the flag almost 43 years ago are alive today?  We doubt if anyone can tell, or what they endured during their three years' service no one can portray, for the 78th was a gallant regiment and the long list of dead and wounded as shown by the Adjutant General's report, shows that they did their full share in defense of the old flag and preservation of the Union, and those who are still alive are old and broken in health from their exposure in southern swamps or from wounds received in battle.
       Taking the muster roll we find that almost 30% of those who marched away that June morning were either killed, wounded or disabled before the war closed.  The records show the following casualties--27 out of 90.  But 35 of the original members of the company served to the expiration of their three years' service, and were mustered out June 7, 1865.
       Capt. Charles Hume resigned December 18, 1861.
        Lieut. Oliver P. Cartright resigned Oct. 4, 1864.
        George W. Blandin, first lieutenant, who was promoted to Captain, was killed at Kennesaw Mountain in that awful charge, June 27, 1864, where 10,000 men fell in less than 30 minutes.
         Marion D.M. Bond was wounded and discharged in May 1865.
        J.H. Bently was discharged April 6, 1865, on account of disability.
        Marshall J. Cline was killed Aug. 7, 1864, in front of Atlanta, Ga.
         George W. Dowell died at Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 29, 1863.
         John S. Forrest was killed at Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1, 1864.
          William W. Harmon died at Savanna, Ga., Feb. 21, 1865.
          John E. James fell with Captain Blandin at Kennesaw Mountain June 27, 1864.
          Thomas Lindsey died at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 25, 1864.
           Jacob H. Michaels was among the killed at Kennesaw Mountain June 27, 1864.
           Michael Menley was promoted to Sergeant and was killed at Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 4, 1864.
            Charles H. Magie died at Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 19, 1863.
           John Monahan died at Chattanooga, Tenn., April 3, 1864.
          Charles L. Norris also died at Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 6, 1864.
           John W. Rush was also among the killed at Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1, 1864, at which time every man who answered to the name John was killed.
            Sylvester Ruddell died at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 30, 1863.
            Marion Sperry was discharged March 7, 1864, on account of disability.
            Cyrell Taft gave up his life amid the awful shot and shell at Jonesboro, Ga.
             James Tipton was discharged Nov. 11, 1863, on account of disability.
            Richard L. Terry lost a leg in the siege of Atlanta in 1864.
             Henry Venning was killed at Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1, 1864.
            James T. Doyle was discharged Feb. 1, 1864, on account of disability.
            John Duncan was discharged and was mustered out of the service March 13, 1863.
             Sylvester McFall was discharged on account of wounds Dec. 19, 1864.
             James O'Cain was discharged Sept. 13, 1864.
             They sleep in unknown and unmarked graves from the Ohio river to the Atlantic ocean, but they are not forgotten in the homes they left and the vacant chair is still a cherished relic of their memory while they await the coming of their comrades and friends to greet them on the other shore.

Blandinsville Star-Gazette 23 FEB 1905  

Macomb (IL) War Dead ca. 1885

From the Macomb Journal 28 MAY 1885:

       Buried in Oakwood Cemetery:
Col. Carter VanVleck, 78th ILL Inft.: enlisted Sept. 1, 1862;  died Aug. 23, 1864 of wounds received at Atlanta, Ga. a few days before.
Major William L. Broaddus, 78th Ill.;  enlisted Sept. 15, 1862;  killed Sept. 20, 1863 at the battle of Chicamauga.
Capt. David P. Wells, Co. B, 16th Ill.;  enlisted May 24, 1861;  died at home, in service, April 7, 1863.
Lieut. William P. Pearson, Co. C, 84th Ill.;  enlisted June 5, 1862; died since discharged.
Surgeon Wm. A. Huston, 137th Ill.; enlisted June 6, 1864; died in service June 25, 1864.
Henry Bailey, Co. B, 16th Ill.; enlisted May 24, 1861; died since discharged.
Wm. H. Keener, Co. B, 16th Ill.; enlisted April 1861; died since discharged.
A.J. Dillon, Co. B, 16th Ill.; enlisted Feb. 8, 1862; died since discharged.
George Wetherhold, Co. B, 16th Ill.; enlisted May 24, 1861; died since discharged.
Wm. H. Randolph, deputy provost marshal, ninth district; killed while in discharge of duty.
Edward S. Piper, Sergeant, Co. C, 84th Ill; enlisted June 16, 1862; died in service at Manchester, Tenn., June __, 1863.
Wilbur C. Clark, Co. C, 151st Ill.; died since discharged.
J. Grear Morgan, Co. H, 2nd Ill. Cav.;  enlisted Aug 6, 1861; died since discharged.
Parmenium Hamilton, Sergeant, Co. I, 78th Ill.;  enlisted Aug. 1, 1862;  died in service of wounds, Oct. 15, 1863.
Moses A. McCandless, Co. I, 78th Ill.;  enlisted Aug 4, 1862;  killed at Griggsville, Tenn. Nov. 29, 1862.
Josiah Swigart, Co. C, 84th Ill.;  enlisted June 19, 1863;  died since discharged.
John A. Eyre, Sergeant, Co. C, 84th Ill.;  enlisted June 13, 1862;  died in the service.
Samuel Patrick, Co. A., 84th Ill.;  enlisted Aug. 8, 1862;  died of wounds.
B.F. Clark, Co. A, 84th Ill.;  died since discharged.
Robert Barry, Co. C, 151st Ill.;  enlisted Feb. 24, 1865;  died since discharged.
John Farwell, West Point cadet;  died in service, Oct. 17, 1867.
James McClelland, Sergeant Co. B, 10th Mo.;  enlisted Aug. 2, 1861;  killed at Corinth, Miss. Oct. 3, 1862.
David Blazer, 11th Ill. Cav.; died since discharged.
Dallas Wolf, Co. C, 151st Ill.; died since discharged.
Jerry Randolph, Co. B, 10th Mo.;  died since discharged.
James B. Kyle, Surgeon 84th Ill.;  enlisted Aug. 1862;  discharged June 5, 1865;  died June, 1878.
Browning N. Wiles, Captain, New York Volunteers;  died May 1880.
A.N. Harris, Captain Co. K, 10th Mo. Cav.;  died since discharged.
Henry Parker, Co. I, 78th Ill.;  died May 24, 1880.
T. Laughlin, Co. C, 151st Ill.;  died since discharged.
James Clark, 4th United States Regular Cavalry;  died since discharged.
Charles Bennett, Co. I, 78th Ill.;  died in service, 1863.
Garner H. Bane, Surgeon, 50th Ill.;  died since discharged.
Wiley Amos, Ohio Volunteers.
Samuel Fields, War of 1812.
Harry Hampton, Co. A, 16th Ill.;  enlisted April 21, 1861;  died since discharged.
Lewis Wingett, 55th Ill.;  died since discharged.
Alex Jones, Battery H, 2nd Ill. Art.;  died since discharged.
T.S. Clarke, Co. F, 50th Ill.;  died since discharged.
George Iseminger, War of 1812.
R.H. Gordon, Co. A, 16th Ill.;  enlisted April 24, 1861;  died since discharged.
________ Frank, Illinois Volunteers.
B.F. Applegate, 10th Mo. Inft.;  died since discharged.
John Forrest*  Co. C, 78th Ill.;  killed in the charge at the battle of Jonesboro, Ga.  Sept. 1, 1864.
John G. Hammond, 10th Mo. Vols.;  enlisted Aug. 1864;  died Sept. 15, 1880.
J.W. Dilley, Co. B, 1st Mo. Engineers;  died Sept. 30, 1880.
Henry Shetterly, Indiana Volunteers;  died Apr. 2, 1881.
Daniel Byerly, 124th Ill.;  enlisted Aug. 1862;  discharged Aug. 1865;  died Apr. 2, 1881.
Ingram Pace, Co. I, 78th Ill.; died since discharged.
B.F. Lane*, Co. I, 78th Ill.;  killed Sept. 20, 1863, at battle of Chicamauga.
Lieut. A.J. Werden, Ohio Volunteers;  died since discharged.
Amos Gardner, Co. B, 85th Ind.;  died since discharged.
A.L. Booth, Co. B, 9th Ill. Cav.;  died since discharged.
W.R. McKee, War of 1812.
Lieut. M.A. Goodfellow, Ohio Volunteers;  died since discharged.
Thomas J. Martin, Co. C, 84th Ill.;  enlisted Aug 16, 1862;  mustered out at close of war;  died at Macomb, Ill. March 8, 1882.
Thomas Edmonson, Color Bearer 78th Ill.;  enlisted Aug. 1862;  mustered out at close of the war;  murdered at Good Hope, Ill. March 17, 1882.
O.P. Lamphere, Ohio Volunteers;  died October 1882.
George Robinson, Co. B, 10th Mo.;  enlisted Aug. 1861;  died March 11, 1883.
Richard Hillyer, 151st Ill.;  died March 18, 1883.
Lieut. John B. Pearson, Co. D, 28th Ill.;  enlisted July 1861;  discharged at close of war;  died May 26, 1883.
Richard Lawrence, Quartermaster 28th Ill.;  died Nov. 14, 1883.
Peter Clark, Eckdall's Battery, 2nd Ill. Art.;  died Aug. 31, 1883.
Wm. L. Hampton, Co. C, 84th Ill.;  died Feb. 3, 1883.
H.B. Livermore, U.S. Surgeon;  died May 21, 1884.
Levi Penniwitt, Iowa Volunteers;  died since discharged.

Buried in Old Cemetery

Capt. James D. Walker, Co. H, 2nd Ill. Cav.;  enlisted Aug 6, 1861;  died since discharged.
Wm. P. Chase, 98th Ill.;  died in service.
T.B. Lillard, U.S. Volunteers.
James P. Whitten, Co. H, 2nd Ill. Art.
Thomas Smithers, War of 1812.
Samuel Campbell, regiment unknown.
W.S. Stokes, Co. B, 10th Mo.;  killed at the battle of Corinth, Miss., October 1865.
Elias Vancleve, regiment unknown.
Wm. McDonald, soldier in Black Hawk War.
Abram Rowe, Capt. Co. B, 16th Ill. Inft., enlisted Apr. 6, 1861;  discharged December 1864;  died June 26, 1884.

Buried in Catholic Cemetery

Frank Hall, U.S. Army;  died in Bushnell.
George Hendricksmyer, Illinois Volunteers;  died since discharged.
Sergeant Patrick Noonan, Co. C, 98th Ill.
Albert Regner, Missouri Volunteers.
Isadore Walter, 2nd Ill. Art.;  died since discharged.

_______________________________________
*The remains of these soldiers are not buried here, but monuments have been erected to their memory in Oakwood, and the place thus dedicated will be decorated.
________________________________________________
Headstones for Soldiers' Graves 

Two weeks ago the JOURNAL announced the shipment to this place of a number of gravestones, furnished by the government, for the graves of deceased soldiers not having been supplied with stones.  They were delivered free of all expense at this station.  Here the local Grand Army Post took charge of them and paid the expenses of putting them in position at the cemeteries here.  A number of the stones are for soldiers buried at other points in the county:  the names appear in the list below, and the friends of the deceased are requested to call and get the stones and put them up.  The stones are 3 1/2 feet long, 12 inches wide and four thick.  The following is the list:  
Surgeon W.A. Huston 137th Ill.
Henry Nichols, Co. C, 137th Ill.
B.F. Clark, Co. A, 84th Ill.
Robert Barry, Co. C, 151st Ill.
David Blazer, Co. A, 11th Ill. Cav.
Capt. A. N. Harris, Co. K. 10th Mo. Cav.
Harry Hampton, Co. A, 16th Ill.
Lewis Wingett, 55th Ill.
Alex Jones, Co. H, 2nd Ill. Art.
T.S.Clark 50th Ill.
R.H. Gordon, Co. A. 16th Ill.
J.G. Hammond, 10th Mo.
Daniel Byerly, 124th Ill.
Ingram Pace, Co. I, 78th Ill.
Lieut A.J. Werden, Ohio reg't.
A.L. Booth Co. B. 9th Ill. Cav.
Thomas Edmonson, 78th Ill.
George Robinson, Co. B, 10th Mo.
Richard Hillyer, 151st Ill.
Lieut. J.B. Pearson, Co. D. 28th Ill.
Richard Lawrence, Quartermaster, 28th Ill.
Wm. L. Hampton, Co. B, 84th Ill.
Peter Clark, 2nd Ill. Art.
Capt. J.D. Walker Co. H, 2nd Ill. Cav.
Wm. P. Chase Co. A, 86th Ill.
J.P. Whitten, Co. H, 2nd Ill. Art.
Capt J.D. Walker, Co. H., 2nd Ill. Cav.
Wm. P. Chase, Co. A, 89th Ill.
J.P. Whitten Co. H, 2nd Artillery
W.S. Stokes, Co. B, 10th Mo.
Patrick Noonan, Co. C, 96th Ill.
Isadore Walters, 2d Artillery
Ephraim Baker, Co. H, 73rd Ohio
James Jellison Co. B, 16th Ill.
Capt. Abram Rowe, Co. C, 16th Ill.
J.B. Wortman, Co. A, 84th Ill.  Pennington Point Cemetery
J.H. Reymer, Co. I, 124th Ill.  Spring Creek Cemetery
J.B. Toland Co. H, 12th Ill. Eldorado Twp.
Martin V. Scudder, Co. I, 78th Ill. Industry
The following were omitted for want of a company and regiment:  J.W. Dilley,Levi Penn,George Henricksmeyer

You Won't Have Paul Ryan to Kick Around Any More

       The job of restoring the Constitutional importance of Congress is the most daunting task in the American government.  For over a decade, its traditional function of designing the nation's finances has been usurped by the executive, resulting in atrocities like the continuing resolutions and the most recent pork-filled omnibus bill.  (Thank you, Chuck and Nancy).  Paul Ryan fell victim to the same system that ground up John Boehner.  At one point I blamed Boehner for the continuing resolution mess.  Now Estase realizes that the system is so broken that it is a superhuman effort for one man to try to normalize our Constitutional system.
        It would be ideal if we had a President who understood and respected our Constitutional system.  Instead, we have one whose understanding of such is shaky at best.  It is also unfortunate that fixing the system means that the President needs to use his power to reduce his power--a sort of Lord of the Rings situation.  Orange Blatherskite is probably not the man for that job.
        So what you have is a situation that would vex the strongest and wisest of men.  Richard Nixon famously said upon leaving the vice presidency, "You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around any more."  People have been monstrously unfair to Paul Ryan, inferring that the size and expense of the government is something he was comfortable with, or that he is a "liberal."  In reality, the only way to avoid absolute gridlock is to give Chuck and Nancy some of their desires, including the bitter pill of abandoning those whose whole reason for voting Republican was to defund Planned Parenthood.  The GOP base is rightly pissed, and it remains unclear whether the Republican voter will even bother to show up in November, seeing as how Chuck and Nancy seem to win in any event.  
       The constitutional abuses that have existed for the last decade make the Speaker of the House a man with a hopeless, thankless job.  Under the Constitution, as written, he should actually be the most powerful man in government, exceeding even the President.  It is not clear that this is a problem that can be remedied, and Ryan can be excused for wanting the peace of mind that comes from not attempting an impossible job.