The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-11-20
The Draft Riots.


reply o a statement giving the political com
plexion of the draft reslsters in Ozaukee coun-
ty, INDUCES in the following:
1t would be happy state of affairs if shal-
low demagogues on both sides could forget or
lay aside their partizan procivities long enough
| to allow these offences against the laws to be
dealt with, without hearing the word republi-
can or democrat, foreigns or native used in
connection with them. What parties or politics
Gun or ought to have, to do with it more than
if it were a case of burglary instead of riot, We
| cannot imagine. The great curse aud aff1iction
of the country just now is shat we have large
class of men, of both political parties, who ap-
parenty conceive that no calamity would be so
great as to have the country saved by mode
not exclusively their own, or by party to which
they were not attached"
The foregoing remarks of the Sentinel are
not justified by the facts in the case in Ozau-
kee county, or elsewhere in this, or any other
northern State. The Sentinel assumes that pol
itics and parties have nothing to do with the
ri,tous opposition to the draft, and that Repub'
lcans and Democrats are alike to blame in the
premises This is an unjust imputation upon
Republicans and Union men. If Republicans
any where have been guilty of instigating OPP
position to the draft, we ask for the proof
Does the Sentinel know of any town or locality,
where Republicans have counselled resistance
or made any demonstration, whatever, against
the enforcement Of the draft How many Re-
pubicans were seen in the anti-draft procession
which marched through the streets of Milwau-
kee on Saturday the 9Th of November? If Re-
! publicans commit wrong, we shall not be their
apologist; but we do object to the Sentinel's
putting secesslonists, traitors, and the butter
nut anti-uratt democracy of Washington, Ozau-
kee and 9th ward, into the same category with
Republicans, and labelling them all sinners
alike.
The Sentinel thinks it would be happy state
of affairs, if demogogues would only permit the
draft difficulties to be settled without having
the word Republican or Democrat" What n
singular millennium it would be, if unionists
and loyal citizens, should in generous silence
submit to share the ignominy and disgrace OF
rebels and law breakers, for the sake of peace
and amity? Bowels OF mercy large enough
to take in the Ozaukee rioters, aud Cry
hush TO whomsoever should venture to call
them democrats. would compassionate all the
devils in rebellion, and utter grief fJeff Davi-
were called democrat What is the differ,
ence between resistance to the government Of
the United States, in Wisconsin, and South
Carolina? Is it less a crime to defy the laws
of Congress at home, than in the confed crate
States
Again, the Sentinel remarks ''what parties
or politics, eau, or ought TO have to do, with
of burglary instead of riOt,we cannot conceive.
What else on earth but causes which have been
made manifest through parties and politics have
brought upon the country the issues involv, d
in the war, and forced upon the people of the
north the military necessity of the draft What
else than parties and politics divided the north
and south, and again sub-dIvded the north in
to two divisions the one striving to su>, ain
the administration, sand the other seeking 10
embarrass the war, and bring about an igno-
minious peace, by granting the rebels all the
immunities they desire What political PIN
losopher will undertake in the present state of
the country, to point out feasible method of
disposing of the great issues of the day, with
out party or politics If an organization of
men, possessing like political affinties, and
claiming to he Democrats, resist the draft and
oppose the war, why avoid calling them by a
name which they openly avow and glory in I?
If there is really nothing TO choose between
unionists and rebels, then what are we fighting
for, and wherefore all this vast sacrifice of life
and expenditure of treasure
We are in favor of calling men and things
by their right names if it be characteristic
of Republicans in this State or elsewhere, to
aid and abet rebellion to the war measures of
the government, then let the odium which such
conduct merits, rest upon them. But if resist
ing drafts and embarrassing war measures be
a democratic trait, then let it so be recorded.
Until it shall appear, that Republicans of Wis
consin, or any other State, are liable to these
charges, we protest against their being huddled
into the same fold with the anti-draft democra-
cy of Washington, s0zsukee and Milwaukee,
and pronounced alike culpable
"
give are gratihed to notice that our old
friend and former resident of this city. NELSON
Lay Esq has been recently elected to the Leg
1sature from the county of Henry, Illinois.
Mr.. Lay had two competitors in the field
against hlm-one a Democrat and the other A
hepuollcan; be received handsome majority