Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-10-21
We Hope 1T Is True.

been beaten in fair contest at the bal
lot-box, are now raving mad over their
alleged frauds in Indiana. The misera-
BILE tools of treason charge that go, 600
Republican soldiers and never single
Democrat We're transferred to Indiana"
to carry the recent election in that State.
We devoutly hope this charge is true.
Not that we would deprive any soldier
who fights for the prosperity Of this
Government of his rights as citizen.
The man who shoulders his musket and
goes forth to battle with his life ready to
be offered upon the altar of his bleeding
country is none the less patriot and a
soldier because he does not agree with
lis in politics and religion. Even though
he be a Democrat, he sacrifices enough
for us who remain at home to be enti-
tied to the largest liberty of an Ameri-
can citizen. Because he leaves home to
engage in the fierce contests OF war is
the more cogent reason why he should
part with none Of his rights as civil
ian, but be clothed upon with every ad-
ditional privilege in our power to con-
fer, consistent with the public safety.
It was for these reasons that We hailed
with Joy the action of Republican
States in saying to the soldiers without
distinction of party take with you to
the field the elective franchise The
Republican party, in every State where
it had the Legislative power, extended
to its soldiers the right to vote for those
who should govern the people at home.
In every Republican State where Con-
stituticnal amendment has been neces.
sary to extend this privilege, it has been
accomplished in spite Of Democratic
votes against it. In none but States un-
der Democratic rule have the soldiers
been prohibited from voting in camp.
Those States are Illinois, Indiana and
New Jersey. How indignant must have
been the brave soldiers from Indiana
when they saw their comrades in arms
from Ohio and Pennsylvania going TO
the polls 10 discharge their duty as citi-
zens. Had they not fought as well, as
bravely and as long as those comrades
Why, then, should they not be entitled
to equal privileges? Ask the political
dcmagoglas and infamous scoundrels
who control the Democratic party why
Ev a vilIainous fraud of the Demo
cratic party in Indiana upon the soldiers
of that state. every one of them was
DISTINGUISHED. But the peace sDeaks
charge that many Of them did vote.
We hope they did. But how? They
say "they were sent home to vote
We hope they were. As for the charge
that " no. Democrat was allowed tc
. return home it is false, and the craven
wrstches who make it know it is false.
Admitting it to be true, who is respon'
sible? Had the Democracy of Indiana
passed; q soldiers voting law, there
would have been no furlonghs. and
Democrats could have voted side by
side with the Republicans in camp and
hospital.
We hope that the powers that be had
the good sense to see that 20, 00o freemen
of Indiana were not DISTINGUISHED by
the refusal OF the Copperheads to make
them the equals Of soldiers from Other
States. If no Democratic soldiers came
home the Copperheads cannot say We
are to blame. The Republicans OF thai
gallant State used every honorable
means in their powerto give those Dem
ocrats right to vote. But the peace
party said it should not be done, and i
was not Now let the peace pack howl
and howl on.