The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-04-15

An Enthnssasste Unisn Dsns nssra.
tien ~ CFsssa, KeWa.
Aesrs. Editors Gate City:
In compliance with the request Of the
President and Committee Of the Union
Club Of this place, ! herewith send You =
very brief informal rsport Of the proceed
iags Of % enthusiastic Union demonstrar
ton in Croton. Iowa, on the lith, hoping
il may prove interesting to your many
readers.
We have oil read and heard much Of
the military despotism and rebel inhmy
Of the minions Of JeF Davis; Of their
shooting down, hanging and butchering
Union men indiserininatsly, without the
slightesi proyocaiion -Axen those xha
never 20 much ~ raised their voices
against Confederacy they loathed and
dstsstsd, but who At Asart were known or
sspecesd of bearing allegiance to their
eoaasry's Aag-of these same noble souls
lsufering iaprisoanent. ignsminious tor
ture and death in al ito most hideous
forms Of others more fortunate ID effect
ing their escape through cDuatess dan-
gers. and with the grim monster starva-
ion and dsath staring then in.the face at
every step Of their fugitive pilgrimage !;
and then by the aid Of memory's fond as
sociations to look back upon the near and
dear loved onss-wife. falher. mother,
sister and bf6ther-who are for long
months, yea. for years, perhaps forever,
isolased-cut Of from oil communication.
not even hearing the brief, but heart
thrilling words, We srrLL LIVE. All
/ this, Mr.. Editor. and mnch more have We
learned from the most reliable and trust
worthy sources. Yetnever till Saturday
did zee with my own eyes one of these
veritablc bona 6de pasriots-one who as
sured his audience that he had been
taught. IN common with the Southern
youths, deadly hatred, an unfounded
and bitter prejudice. . deep, boundlsss
antagonism toward the entire Nmthern
population, who are by them indiscrimi-
nately termed YANKEES; thus carefully and
thoroughly instilling into their youthful
minds early and indeiible principles ol
secession, al Of which have been grad.
ualIy ripening into the bitter fruits Of open
and defiant rebellion.
/ There stood one who had Arun the
gauntlet.of rebel terrorism. and had him.
self witnessed the horrible barbaritiss oi
which We have taken bird's-eye view
He spoke over three hours ofthe horrors
Of secession. Most graphically did he
picture the robberies, murders, and mid.
night assassinations under the rule d
JEFF Davis during al Of which time he
tcommanded the most profonnd attention.
for his rehearsal Of facts was Vt that deep,
pathetic, earnest and matter-of fact No.
turr, that sent conviction y every heart
land tears to almost every eye throughout
the audience.
vasch faots aud Alustrstions as We there
beard demonstrated, were sufficient te
convince any candid and rejecting mind
Of the sacredness Of the Federal cause,
and the only method BY which the apol
ogisss afsssasea CopPsrhesds) J Gan nse'
Isuch stsrI. lsleotless kctsis by dsAounc,
Ping them IN - "Abolifion Hes" .Bu
such Wholesale denunciations, founded =.
they irs. simply upon the ipse dizh Of
class Of persons to whom the rebels them
selves look for strength and enoourags
! |nent, i bsccutag more md more dis
trusted BY the great mass Of the homes
and considerats portion Of our pa,rioti'
cisxsnss 4 ~
\ noticed few Psace Democrats pres
ant. soms af f,whaus aftss listsaiHg viii
grim. surly ccanGsaanssss : short time
left the hall. Others evinced quits
deep interest. while others still, the moa
n "