Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-08-20
4 Transparent Mask.

1t is always useless and uncomfortable 10
wear mask afteryou are discovered; and it
is therefore 4 spectacle appealing to the live
hest sympathies of the humane, that of the
peTtinacity with which the Copperhead jour
mas ana orators affect concern tor the safety
OF lne mon and Government.
II IT were not perfectly well known that
they Justhed SECESSION when it inaugurated
repeinon, and when they thought the country
would be of.iSed to submit-if it were not
equally Known that they hate the political
party IN power much more than they hate the
rebelhon--H they did not quite so frankly
declare that the Government has violated the
Constitution as fagrantly as the rebeIs-if
they did not so plainly show that thev prefer
disunion rather than a restoration of the
Union with emancipation-if they were not
so constantly overwhelmed with admiration
of the Confederate" ability, and the dignity
of the Confederate" Government, and the
valor of the Confederate" army-if thew
ever had any words but the most scornful
censure for our own Government, or ever
sought to inspire the public mind with patri-,
otto hope and energy and taith-if they be-
trayed the least love of the doctrine of hui
man liberty, which is the cornerstone of the
American Government, or valued any clause
of the Constitution but those which painfully
and obscurely recognize the fact of slavery
if they did not so magnify our reyerses and
beIittle our trumphs--it might be useful for
their purpose still to wear the mask OF loyalty
But when they rutf1e their plumes with, so
| fine a show Of moral indignation, and demand
to know whether Americans citizens are to be
| told by their fellows that they are not loyal
without resenting 1t, the only difficulty with
the SNOWY performance is that every honest
man in the land knows it to be a part of the
game. 1t is the way in which they serve the
rebellion. They affect a teverish sohcltude
| for the Constitution, In order that the Con-
stitution may be more surely overthrown
| They claim to be Union men, distinctively,
| that they may resist all specific measures for
| its salvation. They declaim against military
necessity, in order that a willy and unscrupu-
| lous foe may have every advantage They
defamc the Government, that it may not
seem to be worth fighting for. They de-
uOunce it as d despOtism, that there may be
riots, blood, and war in the free States They
assume high regard for. personal liberty and
rights, in order that the personal liberty and
rights Of the unfortunate may be annihilated.
| They call themselves friends of the United
States Government, and everything they say
or do is hailed with JOY by its enemies. They
claim to be supporters of order and law, and
anarchy rises and riots under their auspices.
| They will wear. the mask still, however tran
! sparent, because some are always deceived,
| But if jeff. Davis should stand triumphant
! over the Government tomorrow, they would
| kneel before him, throwing down the mask no
| longer needed, and humbly praying for the
reward they have fairly earned from him and
from every other enemy of their country
turner's Weekly. 81 - ~