Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-01-29

EDlroR JouRNAL-Dsor Sir: see that il
some papers there is an effort constantly be
ing made to cast odium on those foreigner
who claim the protection of their own govern
ments against the draft. Now, without con
sidering the question Of the right or wrong o
seeking exemption at all, must say that
think this blame unjust. For why should A
a poor foreigner, two years in the country
with family requiring all his exertions t
sustain them, and but poorly acquainted witt
the questions at issue in the war, be more
blameworthy for seeking exemption on thu
ground of alienage than is B, a native in like
pecuniary condition, with =" widowed
mother" "child under twelve, or with
some disease which exempts without disabling
him? can see no difference, and yet some
you among them, are extremely exercised in
the former case, but have no word of blame
for the latter.
Here again, why is the poor Drtchman OF
Trishman more to be blamed than the native,
who, born to all the rights and responsible
ties Of citizenship, refuses to volunteer under
the hope of escaping the draft, or the expect
alton of buying himself off when drafted, with
sum of money beyond the means of the
foreigner! There is, to my mind, no reason
which is not on the side of the alien, and do
not think it right or just to hold up to oblo-
guy, class of men, because they are poor
and of small influence, as q means of shield
ing more deserving often; ers Of another class.
Would it not be mere just and charitable
to suppose that all who could do so with
reasonable sacrifice have gone rs volunteers,
and that those who remain, whether alien or
citizen, are those who are prevented by some
good reason, which justities them in taking
advantage of the exemptions granted by Jaw !?
Such appears to me the case, and l am sure
all thoughtful persons, who will tell their
reason and not their prejudices be heard will
be of the same opinion.
feel at liberty to write thus, being an
American citizen and one subject to the draft,
but one who considers that to plead alienage
is no greater crime than to purchase exemp.
ton, and is therefore as 'wiIling to do justice
| to others IS to exact it from Them" and vino
at the same time considers any effort to single
| out one class of men for contempt and de-
| testation in order to shield another is an out
rage and q shame. B.
We cannot endorse the remarks of our cor
respondent concerning aliens. We believe
the prime motive of all who seek protection
IN this manner, to be either cowardice or an
unwillingness to assist in preserving the
Union. Cowardice we detest in any person,
and will always condemn it. The argument
that many, if not most all, Of them are poor
men with families to support, is no more
applicable in this case than in many others
Of poor men who have sacrificed all and gone
to the war, leaving their families in no better
circumstances than those of aliens. Many
have left lucrative situations and good pay
ing business and gone into the ranks. What
excuse can there be. then, for an alien who,
having escaped the tyranny and oppression
Of the old world and found an asylum in this
country, having greater interest in its pres
ervation, for skulking' behind the coat tails of
q foreign petty Prince? He should be wiling
to make some sacrifice for the Government
that has shielded and protected him.
A SAD SIaHr.-A man suffering from delir-
ium tremsns, whose name we did not learn,
attracted considerable attention on Chestnut
street, for several hours Saturday forenoon,
by his imaginary conflict with snakes. A
strip Of tin, lying in the street, was by his
disordered Imagination distorted into rat.
tlesnake, which finally bit him, causing the
poor victim of Contemporaries tenfold the agony
Of real snake bite. The Marshal came
along at last and took him away. 1t seemed
appropriate that this wreck of humanity
should exhibit his wretchednsss and misery
before the rum shops where just such wrecks
are made. When will men learn to shun
the demon switch biteth like serpent and
stingeth like an addery''
WOLF CHASE ON THE 1cE.-Friday morn
ing a large gray wolf was seen on the ice
about the middle Of the river, opposite the
foot of Mulberry street, probably being At
tracted there by the fragrance of the decay.
ing carrion. Chase was Immediately given by
men and dogs, the latter animals being able
to keep within biting distance but not daring
to take hold. The wolf ran for this shore,
and came on the street in front of the res
idencs of Judge Woodward and then back
again on the ice, keeping straight up the
river until out of sight from the city, the
bowling pack in full cry behind. 1t was
pretty as well As a novel chase.
~
FROM OREGoN.-A former resident of this
county, now Of Soda Springs, Linn county,
Oregon, writes under date of November 29th,
concerning his new home, as follows:
There has been number of quartz leads
of gold discovered within sixty miles of this
place, which are said to be fabulously rich
The assay of the best is 100000 per ton,
of the poorest $500. The mining is very ex-
pensive.
The weather 50 far this fall is delightful;
rather too dry, however, in many portions Of
the country to plow. Wheat is worth so
cents, Oats 81 cents, Bacon from 20 to %
cents, gold value. We have no "Greenbacks;"
nothing but specie circulates as money.
The New NATIONAL CuRRENcY.-Some of
the new National Bank IS bills, issued by
the First National Bank at Iowa City, have
made their appearance here. We were
shown specimen Tuesday, BY F. H. Stone,
Esq. The bills are very well engraved, and
must be popular as circulating medium.
GRAPHIC.-A humorous writer of the Chi
cago Post describes how he got out Of bad
scrape in the Police Court:
1.-THE next morning the Judge Of the Police