St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-10-15

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that was The pcrpotuity Of tho Union and
THO honor of their nations aag-That
dear gid aag which for eighty years hid
been Auttetine In the breeze, and hid
gathered underaies ample folds thousands
! upon thousands Of the oppressed Of other
lands aud which was loved and adored by
all those Of every country and in every
cline, who dared to speak, or even whis.
per the sweet word "Frecdon, ~ ~
Scarcely had Nc recovered from the
shock VIC felt on FIRST learning that We
t,xsrsssia. ths~milst Of o. oi<;i.war,s which,
from its; magnitude aud the desperate
character of the men who forced it upon
10, had alarmed the nation, and hat be-,
cone reconciled to the sacrifices we were
called upon to make, in order to prevent
our being overan BY tyranical horde Of
rebsls and tr.;tors, when the wild and I'm.
earthly war whocp Of bloodthirsty savages,
mingled with the death screams Of their
tortured victims, broke upon our ear with
startling effect, filing the entire State with
alarm-depopulating the entire frontier.
driving the farmer from his pillow, the me.
chanic from his shop, stagnating all kinds
OF business, and causing fresh wells Of
sorrow to burst forth, aud tears-mingled
with the blood of innocent babes, chill
dren and helpless uno1ending women
to flow like rivers, and rcndiug the air
with heart piercing shrieks and groans,
pitcous prayers for mercy, answered by
new and atrocious crueltics, until heaven
itself seemed to close its windows upon
the dreadful sight, and refuse to gaze
longer upon these ciuel scenes of blood
these new sacrifices to the Moloch rebel
lion.
In order to defend those who ESCAPED
this indiscriminate massacre, the interior
portion Of our State was drained of all who
could possibly be spared, and nobly did
they respond to the appeals made by the
Executive, on behalf Of the thousands
who were living in constant dread Of the
merciless savage foe armed With scalping-
knife and fire. brand. Willingly did they
sacrifice the pleasures aud eudearmentts Of
home for the purpose Of driving these
heartless wretches from our once peace.
full and prosperous State, leaving their
farms to the care of their wives, sons and
daughters, hoping that their humanity
aud sacrifices would meet with some gen.
erous response from Ill those who remain.
ed at home-some recompense that would
be tinctured, at least, with gratitude
Citizens Of Minnesota, Officers and soldiers
ofthe Mounted Rangers, how were these
expectations responded to by certain Of
your citizens? Let US sec:
About the time this regiment was being
formed, our State Senate and House ii
Representatives had been especially con.
vened for the purpose, Of taking measures
for State defense ; and there were those in
both branches Of the Legislature, Who
knowing that vast number of our noble,
patriotic citizens were enlisting for State
defense, and that three or four regiments
Of gallant men who had enlisted for the
national defense, would be placed on the
frontier tor several months. and knowing
that State election was shortly to take
place, and misunderstanding that because
= man enlists in the cause of bis country,
he Is none the less a man-introduced q
bill granting to these brave volunteers the
right to say by their votes who should
rule their State affairs IN their absence
The Bill was introduced; and now citi.
zen soldiers, 'oho voted against this meas.
~re, pronounciug soldiers cisizens? Vas
it such men, who, having their country
and States interest at heart, adopted 3.
platform Drumming with patriotism and
embodying thanks to you for your services
in the field, and nominated Stephen Mil
Ter as our next Governor: Nay, verify
but it ,ods that class of men Who on The
twenty-fixth day Of August, 1868, adopt
ed a platform, which the majority of thei,
own panty has since repudiated, and nom.
mated men of that particular class, who
by their votes announced to the people Of
this State that her brave volunteers were
not men-having enlisted, could not be
citizens-having offered their lives 70,
their country's good, must not enjoy the
rights and privileges accorded to citizen.
Of that country! This is the character Of
Thai nloeo of ~ an svho :. H.