Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-13
WHOLE NO. 1,N4.
Result of the Election IN Wisconsin
How it looks abroad.


How it looks abroad.
That is ort-sighted partisan policy which
led some of the Republican presses of this State
to parade the "unanimous resolutions" Of regi-
ments in the army, and TO boast Of the almost
unanimous army vote at the recent elections
The facts prove too much. Every, school boy
who has read history in its most simple shape
knows what a unanimous army means Gibbon.
Hume, and Macauley, on almost every page he
wrote, relate with what facility armies have been
made to do the bidding of rulers, and how usur-
pations of power and wrongs upon nations have
thus been committed and perpetuated. From
Caesar to Cromwell in England, and Louis Ma
poIeon in France. the army has always been
unanimous for every usurpation Of its leaders.
and whether the military has been called upon to
revolutionize governments, nullify constitutional
oust Judges from the bench, or turn senates and
parliaments out of dOors, il has never hesitated
to obey. American statesmen have always been
aware of his danger. Hence the trainers of the
Constitution intended carefully to guard the
supremacy Of the civil over the military authori-
ty, and hence the people in the earlier days Of
the republic were educated to look upon standing
armies with intense aversion.
Some of our contemporaries at the east fully
appreciate the significance of this army demon
stration. The New York World of the Oath,
comments thus:
The beauties of soldiers voting under the
present military administration is shown by the
result of the recent election in Wisconsin. On
the home vote, Cothren. the Democratic candid
ate. was chosen by some 500 majority. This
was a canvass where over 100000 votes were
polled. But the soldiers who were compelled 10
vote according to order, turned the scale and
elected Dixon, the Republican candidate by 5000
majority If this had been q free vote, about the
same propnrtion of Democratic ballots would
have been cast as were at home, and the Demo
cratic majority would have been increased but
the compulsory vote OF the troops has given Wis
consin Judge she did not choose instead of one
she did choose. 1t is well, perhaps. that this
matter of army voting per order has developed
itself thus early in the war. Whatever mems
politics may be. no American citizen can fail to
be alarmed at these attempts to dictate the policy
and rulers of the country from the army. Ii Is
fraught with danger to all our institutions, and.
unless we are much mistaken in the character Of
our people. will be sternly and almost unani-
mousiy condemned when the matter becomes
fully understood"
The New York Express gives the vote on the
candidates for Chief Justice in detail, and says
There is whole granerT of food for reflection
in these facts.
The vote stands about
Home vote-Cothren (Dem. mai 1000.
Military vote-Dixon (Rep mai 5000.
lst Here we see aJudge of the Supreme Court
of Wisconsin elected in camp under military or
dersl
ID. In spite of the vote of the citizens of Wis
consin, the soldiers at a distance in camp elected
that Judge
This is very much the way in which the Ro-
mans elected their Imperators. or Emperors, one
camp sometimes electing one Caesar, and another.
another, and the two camps then fighting il out
The Roman citizeus at last tired of voting.
well as the Roman Seuate, finally left the whole
matter TO the soldiers.
Here now two military elections we have
been having:
lst That in Connecticut-3,000 picked SOL
diers from camp carrying that State.
ID. That of Wisconsin-the soldiers in camp
being used TO vote down citizens at home. No
wonder, then, as the Tribune writer says:
The Democrats furious with rage; but
they hGUe no remedy
There is no remedy on earth for military des-
potism. The craven blockheads that covet, in
vite, submit to it, soon become, in common with
all Others, the miserable victims"
We do not ask the people Of Wisconsin 70
listen to our arguments and our appeals uron this
matter, but to respect the teachings of all time
since the first establishment of human govern
ment, The power of the army, voting without
legal restraints, to dictate our judges and other
state officers, includes the poser 70 dictate the
whole character and fortunes of the government
regardless of the empty formality of ballot box.
The threats we get from the army. embodied in
resolutions, are not meaningless. Bayonets were
never known 10 be content with the verdict of
ballots Milwaukee News.
In this connection it will not be amiss to relate
an incident in reference to the Wisconsin election,
which came under the observation Of friend.
He says that a number of soldiers, not citizens OF
Wisconsin or connected with the regiments from
that State, were passing over railroad in this
State when the result of the election of Judge in
Wisconsin was announced Some of these sol
diers stated that they we're in camp with one Of
the Wisconsin regiments when the vote was
taken, and that they had voted with that regi-
ment, although in no wise connected with it, and
for the Republican candidate. II such frauds are
permitted and encouraged, it will be a farce TO
trust the ballot-box to determine the will of the
people.