Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-28
MORNING LEADER:


UnIon Leagues.
The movement that has been set on foot
IN Philadelphia by the organization Of
aUnion Leagues" is 8 good one which
should be followed throughout the country.
Its object is to associate together men Of
known and unconditional loyalty for the
purDsss Of consultation upon the best meth
eds Of sustaining the GOvernmentand put
a.v down all traitors, North and South.
p;s.ussions are held upon public questions
tbs pr;me object Of all being to secure the
mast harmonious and cordial support OF
.bs Administration in its conduct of the
war. The necessity Of some organized ell
fort to eOunteract the evils of the copper
head combinations is most apparent. Inc
developments which have been made show
that tressonable organizations exist
throughout the country, whose end and aim
is to discourage the people Of the North to
produce insubordination IN the army, and
70 aid the Southern cause. These agencies
have been long at work, and have had
thsir effect. The manifestations Of dis
lovnity that are becoming 50 frequent and
o0sn are out the evidences Of underhanded
plot,ings. The Knights of the Golden Cir
Gle have branches in every Northern State
and have long been disseminating poison
through the lard Up to this time these
scbemines hsve had no opposition save
through individual efforts, and hence their
widespread influence. It's high time that
theT were cOunteracted by organizations,
setusted by the most devoted and deter
mined loyalty.
To this end every State, county and
township shculd at once organize a Union
League, with the one platform Of hearty
rupport Of the Government in suppressing
the rebellion. These Leagues should take
upon themselves the work Of supplying 10y
Al books, and especially newspapers, to th'
reading public at home and 10 The soldier
IN the field. It's known that thousands o
comics Of such disloyal sheets as the New
York Herald and World, the Cincinnati
Euouirer and Chicago Times, have beer
and are being circulated throughout tn
army, in which they infuse their venom
AGAINST the constituted authorities of tn
land. The soldiers are loyal, but the.
crave nothing more than reading matter
If they cannot obtain loyal papers, the!
will read disloyal ones, and win be gradu
ally influenced by them. To supply thi
want with loyal newspapers should be on
Of the grand objects Of Union Leagues. L
No other way can they more surely testif
their regard for the soldiers in the field
Another object should be to call and hol
Union meetings. These should be held q
every town house; at every school-hous'
The more the better. Every one Of ther
tends toeneourage the loyal and to discoul
age traitors. Apathy is almost as bad q
oPsn opposition, for while Union citizen
are sleeping, the enemy is busily and uI
oeasinely sowing tares Of diseord- In
Executive Committees Of these League
should appoint meetings and see tina
sneakers are obtained. If distinguishe
gentlemen from abroad cannot be obtained
then let the leading men Of the town, tn
farmers OF intelligence and loyalty, mutt
slly exhort each other upon their duty
the Government at this crisis. They WI
feel and live all the better for it, and tt
oftsner the meetings are held, and the MOI
spiritedly they are conducted, the create
viIl he the demand for them and the plea
ure and patriotic enthusiasm taken
them.
We are suggesting no political party,
thus advocating Union Leagues. The col
duct Of State politics can be attended TOT
the proper time. But what is wanted no
is the one purpose of giving the most d
termined support to the Government, f'
the purposes Of this war. And this obje
re believe can be accomplished by no bett'
means than those we have suggested.