The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-25
Patriotism What is it

Mr.. EDITOR Outside of our noble soldiers
in the field, we are led to exclain, by all in
dications, how little zeal practical, sincere
| patriotism there is and how terribly mucl
! of what may be termed bogus.
| Real patriotism is for every citizen whom
no disability or other good substantial rea-
son prevents, to respond personally to the
call OF his country, in whatever department
his services are required.
The other kind Of patriotism leads every
one to inquire, not, is there any thing in the
way ofmy rendering personal service, but is
there any way of my avoiding this service
not, can l and shall go myself, but can't [,
and shouldn't | get somebody Else to go.
This seems to be the popuiar kind of patri-
otism just now, and he who runs counter
to it, must run very fast to escape odium or
denunciation but this kind won't save the
country.
Brawling demagogues of the copperhead
persuasion who, not many months ago, in
sisted that this was exclusively waite mani
| war-that it was an outrage to enlist color
ed soldiers-and that the niggers &honidm't
and cOUJdgf fght-have received new light ::
and since there is imminent danger of the
draft reaching their own precious persons
they have discovered that it is not 50 much
of whtenlans war after all, and that ne
groes are just the boys for the fight. Nor
they go in for the aiggerS and the joke of
it is, that with them this is the present test
Of a mans patriotism and loyalty. As they
look at it, every man who don't go in for
the niger or somebody else, to save them
from the draft, (no matter how little real
reason there may be for not standing it
themselves and leave them at home to keep
up fire in the rear, and 0ote against the
government, is an enemy of his country
A dccJaime1 Of this class has been MAX
ing strong efforts to get up reputation
for dislntereSted patriotism in this commu-
nifty on this b0si8--though he has, as gen
eral thing, been consistent only in the mat
ter Of opposition to the government in every
effectual measure iuaugurated for suppress
ing the rebellion, and particularly as regards
the emancipation and arming of the slaves,
which policy he has denounced in unmeas-
ured terms.
The late meeting in this city to adopt
measures to supply our quota and escape the
draft were occasions when clap-trap appeals
for party effect and capital should have eer
especially avoided. But these meetings
seemed to be valued only by this noisy mis-
chievOus declaimer as a means Of enabling
him to ventilate his personal and party hate
Eendeavoring by implication, if not direct
charge, to place prominent and consistent
Union citizens in false positions in regard to
war movements, and dragging in especially
the Union League as an organization to bt
| condemned and derided for some underlined
and undefnable reason, while claiming fo
himself and political friends in their efforts t.
dodge the draft and all direct responsible
ties IN connection with the war, especial
| credit for loyalty and patriotism!
| That the Union League should not be {
popular institution with certain classes oil
men is not at all surprising. Of all the or
ganiza tons in the country none for the pas
two years have rendered more efficient aiC
to the government i'll the prosecution of
the war. The object of the League is mainly
| this; and to thwart the Vaccinations and de.
| signs of traitors at nome while strengthen
ing the hands of the government in sup
pressing the rebellion south, is another OBJ
Ject. Their principles and objects are fully
known; and there IS no pretence of secrecy
IN them. Active fidelity to and support Of
the constituted Authorities, and active hos
tility to rebels and traitors this is the sum
and substance Of their Ritual and creed.
While the ship Of state is on the breakers
and IN danger OF being lost, they believe as
the only course of wisdom, In obeying as q
part Of the crew, the orders Of the captain
rghtfulIy in command, and in doing what
they can to crush out those who would SOW
the seed OF dist;ust, and excite murmu rings
and mutiny. TIE only secrets they have
are their pass words and signs. and these
are simply to guard heir meetings and to
keep their plans FROM traitors and svmpa-
thizsrs with traffic rs. The last named
classes are not there fore supposed to regard
the League with favor.
The League in ii us locality has done much
to promote enlistm.ents. More than half of
all who have catered the service from the
city the past Is msonths have been and are
members And this perhaps to a great ex-
tent as the result Of the loyal teachings of