The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-11-26

reach the right point in tho programme.
This is only conjsctural, however.
ET There is great mortality among
the Illinois Copperhead journals since the
election Nipped BY the timely frosts Of
the November election, chilled by penu-
ry, they are dying because they don't de-
serve to live. MA
n4- The moral philosopher. when the
smoke of this war shall have been driven
frou the land and the threatening storm
clouds shall give place to the calm sun
shine of an honorable peace, will fnd it
an impossible task to reconcile the con.
duet Of the northern opposition party to
the country with the semblance of con-
sistency. Now that the public mind is
distracted and tortured by conflicting
thoughts and wrung by the intensest
anxiety. there is afforded but little time
for calm deliberstive reflection. Hence
the enormities which have been perpe-
tra.ed By the traitorous organisation at the
north are known ard felt, but startling
incident or an unexpected event sweeps
along aud the attention is attracted and
the mind absorbed.
But the day of retribution is coming,
for when quiet is restored, the criminal
conduct of that party who have been
blessed and protected by the very govern
msnt they have sought and still seek to
destroy, will be looked at in its true light,
when their atrocities will be duly cousid-
ered and their monstrous schemes of dis
organization and destruction will be re-
garded with just horror. These men
heretofore regarded as intelligent, res
spectacle. and without suspicion of thst
latent rotleness which time aud circum-
s,ances have developed, are still among
US and the recollection of their former
status serves 10 mitigate the intensity of
that bitterness which patriotic m en- cannot
subdue when rejecting upon the conduct
of those who are at enmi,y with the coun-
try and whoss obligations TO maintain it
are as sacred and binding as their own
1t is folly that they deny the impeach.
ment thai they are open enemies4nd -
dangerous as those with arms in their
hands. Geographical lines avail them
no longer, save that they escape the doom
which awaits those with weapons in their
hands. A traitor with sabre in his hand
is an armed traitor, but . traitor who
seeks to war with his moral and political
Influence is no less traitor. The oue
may be met, vanquished, aud disarmed,
but while the liberty Of speech and pres,
Obtain, Il is difficnli to disarm the other
The one deceives not because be comes
boldly, and his designs and objects are
known by the instrument Of death in hi,
hands. The other comes up not With sin.
gle weapon, nor to meet . lone champion,
but With fslsehood, dstraction and sophis.
try, be blows his poisonous breath ovel
multitudes. The wound has been made
the basbed dart is thers-its poison fell
lit extends to others, communities bc
come decsased--and thus it spreads. Tn,
one comes with warlike intent; be is met
vanquished aud cen. away or captured
but the other remains among rs without
particle of sympathy for any other ths,
those as deeply stepped 10 guilt as him
self-a spy in our midst, an enemy to all
and traitor to has country.
The one fights TO preserve his own pc
culiar institutions apd he says so; th
other against his own institution
without semblsnce Of justification. Th
one was not against his Southern bfeshreu
bat the trsitors of the North are dovbl
traitors, for they were against their North
ern brethren a. well as their govern
ment.
Thus he stands among us, stepped j,
the guilt of plotting against his Govern
ment, aiding and comforting its euem mie
now assailing it with arms in their hand,
What greater crime in the calendar .
capital ofenses2 I What moral turpitud
1t evinces /! Yet be stalks abroad a.
his soul was not stained with coneciov
guilt. Look at the horrid barbarities pc
pstratsd By the rebel frieuds 81 the.
Northern sympashizsrs! Look ~ the
vicsims wounded and bleeding, with ju
strength enough left to raiss their hsa,