Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-10-23
ON the NIOmrner's Bench.

valescent soldiers as to lead them to its de-
struction, comes to us IN new garb. 1t
stands utterly amazed at the unexpected and
unprecedented majorities rolling up to the
support of the Administration and its "Abo
lition policy" In Mondays leader it says:
4" Let the Democracy re-organize and at the
-ame time reform also, by disca'ding what
ever is wrong within the organization"
Now we hvae not the slightest objection to
the reorganization of the Democratic party,
providing it be done on patriotic basis, es-
chewing all political evil. Neither do we
object to the reformation of that party, for
God knows there is sufficient need of such
work. We suggest that if the Democratic
oarty proposes to re-organize and reform by
discarding whatever is wrong, it has hercu-
lanean task before it. If, Mr.. Clagett you
would discard whatever is wrong, first, repu'
date the political villains who have brought
s, much odium upon your party name
Cleanse your Augean stables of the Vallan-
dighams, Woods. Merricks, Masons Dun
combes, Byingtons and Thayers. Kick them
all out without ceremony. Then restore
your ancient leaders to their posts of honor
and of labor. Place yourselves under the
cad rship of your Dickinson, Butler, Deming,
Brady, Cannon, Brough, Tod, Wallace,
Wright, Logan, McClernand and host Of
others like them, who for decades were the
eaders cf the Democratic party to victory
Having made sure of good leaders, then dis
card wrong principles. Return to your an
cient landmarks as party of freedom and
progress. Throw out your beacon lights to
al chimes and all ages now and to come
Love liberty better than slavery. Hate trea-
son more intensely than you hale slavery
Bind your soul by a solemn oath to entertain
no thought of compromise with traitors in
arms, threatening the destruction Of your
Government, These are on y suggestions as
10 what we think the Democracy have before
them 10 reform and discard all wrong"
We must confess We like Mr.. Clagett's tone
and temper His rebuke to the traitors of
his party is timely ana we'll seasoned, but
isn't this kind of death-bed repentance
Mr.. Clagett, were not your facts as true in
July last as now? You do admit that your
party was placed on on "FALsE ISSUE" by
your own radcals-why did you not boldly
and honestly "discard that false is>ue."
Why wait to be rebuked at the ballot box as
participation in their crime You say of
your leaders, they proclaimed to the country
that they were in favor of prosecuting the
war for the maintenance of the Union and the
integrity Of the Constitution, while they made
such radicals as Vallandigham their repre-
sentative men, who had published, over and
over again, their plan Of saving both the Union
and the Constitution, was by stopping the
war first, and then withdrawing our army
from the field, and then inviting the rebel
leaders 10 meet US in peaceful convention to
settle all questions of dispute between the
two sections of the country-a proposition.
Under the circumstances actually eristiny,
no man of any common sense ever believed
in, and hence they failed to satisfy the people
that they did not sYmpathize with the sue
cass of the rebellion, although there never
we're men enough in the Democratic party in
the loyal States who possessed any such SYM
patty to make a corporal's guard
We ask again why wat until after election
to make this open and honest confession, if
you were not in league with those men?
But again, Mr. Clagett, you aIege that
They sought to control and lead the mass
Of the party, rather than to advise and coun-
sci with them. They made their own private
grievances paramount objects to be avenged,
rather than the mistakes and mismanage-
ment Of the administration the subjects of
condemnation, that reform might follow
They sought power rather for their own midi
vidual benefit than for the good of the repub-
lie. In their bitterness of mere partisan
spirit, they failed to appreciate, correctly, the
condition of their country, and their duty to
the country under all circumstances and un-
der all administration. They managed to get
the control of democratic conventions, and
then made the mistake Of supposing them
selves to be the democratic party, and passed
resolutions and nominated men of their own
radical stripe, under the belief that the party
could be held to their support by the mere
power Of party discipline without the con
current approval of the individual consciences
Of its members" All Of which you was we'll
appriZed months before the election, and vet
you lacked the moral courage to stand up
ard denounce. You co operated
with and contributed your influence and
means to the support Of that Infamous crew.
You knew they were acting the part of trai
tors and rebels, and yet you trained With
them Mr.. Clagget, you are no better than
they else your faith had been demonstrated
by works Now that You are rcpudiated at
the ballot box you would down on your knees
and beg to be regarded as a loyal man. I here
are handreds Of such in Iowa, whom the
honest masses spurn as vipers, as they are
fhe page of history will record the malignant
opposition of the Traitors party to the sup
preston of an infamous rebellion and upon
that page will be written the name of Thomas
W. Clagett as one who gave aid and comfort
to that party and defended all its measures.
His death-bed repentance will avail him
clothing, He who was for the Union and
against its sworn enemies did not wait until
the people in their strength told him where
they were.
Let the work Of reformation 60 on in the
Democratic party. Let it be re-organized on