The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-25
The COpperheadS and the War.
A Faithful Picture by George w.
Dawson.

Ine COppGfllea0S ana Tie Waf'
Faithful Picture by George w.
Dawson.
Editorial Correspondence ofthe Albany
Journal
Washington, August T.
The copperheads of to-day inherit the in
stincts of the worst class of Federalists Of
1872. Like them, they are untiring in their
abuse Of those to whom the people have
confded the task Of maintaining the honor
and integrity of the nation. Like them,
they pervert, distort and misrepresent every
act and measure of the Administration: ex-
aggerate the public debt; sympathize with
the enemy; do what they can to embarass
the Government; belittle cur victories and
rejoice over our defeats. The tiendish ex-
ultation which they manifested when the
news reached them that the assault of Sat
urday terminated in repulse, was but one
of hundred illustrations which they have
given of the spirit that moves them"
they are only happy when patriots mourn
and only hope to rise into power upon the
broken columns Of the republic.
They mark the progress Of the war, not
as patriots but as partisans. They deem
every victory misfortune and every defeat
an argument for their restoration to power.
They are not only in sympathy with the
rebels, but they lean upon their skill and
prowess to ensure them votes. They may
not have rejoiced over Grants repulse last
Saturday simply because it involved the
sacrifice Of life. They may not yet lave
reached that point when the shedding OF
Union blood is, of itself, d pleasure to them.
But they reioiced because they hoped it
would bring odium upon the Administers
ton; render impatient men still more i'm
patient; elevate McClelan; weaken the
public confidence i'll the reliability and eff
cheney of negro troops; postpone the capture
of Richmond to day beyond the Presiden'
tial election, and inure genrally to the bene-
fit Of their party. They have no other or
higher standard of patriotism or morality.
This may seem to some a harsh judgment
but appeal to every impartial observer Of
the developed tone and temper of the cop
perhead, if it be not a a judgment based
on irrefragibie evidence, daily furnished by
the organs Of the copperhead party. The
daily prayer Of their hearts, if not OF their
lips, is for the disconforture if not the defeat
of our Generais-for the escape from serious
disaster ofthe rebels, and for such ilnbe-
cility and laundering On the part ofthose
who control our military movements as TO
compel a peace which viii reinaugurate
the reign of Southern men and Southern
policies, and revive and perpetuate the in
stitution Of slavery. Such peace they de-
sire, and they rejoice at the happening OF
any event which is likely to contribute to
its contamination; and mourn over what
ever promises the speedy overthrow OF
the rebels, and peace which will ultimate
in placing the sacred impress of freedom
upon every foot of soil Swallowed by the
glorious Old flag of our Union. They are
are as much worse than tie Ishmaelites as
the lifo of nation is Of greater value
than that of an Individual Their hand is
against their country, and so are Their
prayers To bGlieve that a party led by
such men, with such principles, sympatnes,
and hopes, can carry the people with them
is to believe that patriotism is a myth and
the principle Of free govern nent an imprac-
ticable abstraction. Their triumph would
be the triumph OF those in open rebellion;
aud every vote cast for them will be a
blow struck by human rights and integrity
and glory of the Union.
If | were sure that the people would be
fully aroused to the principles and purposes
Of the men who make merry over disaster
to our arms, l would fear no such calamity
as a copperhead victory anywhere. But
there is such yearning for peace; such a
WEAKNESS for strife and bio 'dshed, and sucI
dread OF cost and taxation, that it will re-
quire immense labor, and constant appeals
to their national pride and latent patriotism
to hold them to the sublime work ii
which the country is now engaged, viz
Directly, the restororation of the Union and
incidentally, the completion Of the work lie
gan by the Fathers Of the l;epublic, by Iaak
ing freedom as universal, practically, with
| in tile broad limits of the Union, as it is
theoretically, in the sublime Declaration Of
Independence. Without such result w
will have but little over which to glory
while with it, we may challenge and we vii
receive the gratitude and homage of tn
world. u. u.