Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-07-01
THE PEOPLES WAR

In conversation with Copperheads, we have
frequently heard, and have heard with disgust,
the cuckoo cry that the war was Lincoln do
ings - that it was kept up by the shoddyites,
against the viii Of honest peoples that If true pa
tfiots had their waythe fighting would stop to-mor-
row. &c, Sc, &c Now, laying aside all question
of the origin of the war in Charleston harbor, we
have always maintained, and DO maintain, that not
for one moment has the war for the Union pro
gressed without popular sympathy. popular sup
port and popular appreciation IN every style, man
ner and degree Those who demanded the dis
play of the American flag at every house, from
PHILADELPHIA to San Francisco, IN April. 1861,
were the American people, unbiased by party
and filed with one common sentiment OF devotion
to the Republic And while III the first feryor OF
tbe fac demonstration but one heart and voice
were ielt and heard. Fernando Wood joined
with Wendell Philips in exhaustlng the language
of patriotism, and both maintained that the ma
ton life must be preserved by hgnung. me sew
entv-fye thousand troops called out at this period
we're reioicingy willing volunteers, and they
marched to Washington not only crowned with
tbe praises prayers and tears Of those whose 10y
alty has stood the wear OF three years, but with
universal euogies and cheers offered by those Who
have since become Copperheads and traitors
Hinder the subsequent calls for troops the youn-
teers may be numbered by hundreds ofthousands
| Senator Wilson says they amount 60 one mAlloa
| seven hundred thousand men, Surely II ever any
cause had popular support 1t was SHOWN IN the
heroic action of this almost countless hosts OF pa
! triots But further, we may remind the reader
| that when drafting was tried as substitute Tor
volunteering every art of every rebel synpathlzer
! in the land was put In operation to check 1t
Brutal williams murdered loyal men by dozens N
! Schnylkill county in this State traitors followed
/ their example in Illinois, Kentucky and Maryland,
| and in the eitv of New York the crowning butch
ery was accomplished Yet the draft went on
everywhere, though at New York the hendlsh
| spirit of carnage, robbery and treason was only
| kept down by the sight OF the ghtterlng bayohe1s
! of the Army of the Potnmac.
But time would fail us to indicate the signs OF
the popularity of the war. Look at the debt, with
/ and without interest, of over one thousand seven
! bnndred and nineteen millions Of dollars, which is
so bravey borne by the people, while they are also
eager to carry the last new loan the money OF the
nation is offered as freely as the lives OIL oravest
and best Look at the SANITARY falrs' ana .i tIle
| contributions to the Christian Commission the
Great Central Fair in this city crowning these Of
farircs with spendor before which every work
of the kind attempted in America paies INTO lnslg-
| nifeance The Art Gallery alone almost equals
| the Louvre or Versailles while neither III LONDON
or Paris can more enchanting scene be found than
| in the Horticulture department, nor more 1nter-
ast;no enecfacle than that presented beneath the
/ Hao-dranped arches of Union Avenue. The talT
| i however. but one evidence of Philadelphia :
snnnort mort of the war She has had ninety thousand
sons In arms since the flrst gun at sumter
She has refreshed at her Volunteer Saloons over
| half million of soldiers, without dollar OF ex-
nanse 10 fhe Goyernnient her daughters have
lcomforted scores ofthousands ofsick and wounded
heroes IN every hospital in the vicinity and her
remen have carried free Of charge m Their M bean
| tiful ambulances, thirty-seyen thousand OF THESE
| manned heroes. Can any Government, under the
smell Of red tape, do such works as these Can
any s'despot' make men, women and children pour
/ forth such largess of sympathy Verify, neyei
| the people ofany nation said Amen 20 the
prosecution Of any war, that Amen has been pre-
nouneed by those who sustain the War for the VI
! mon Philadelphia Bulletin.