The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-09-20

masses--to mainnin, at all hazards and
cost, the unity Of the States--t6 l06h
upon as enemies all who, in time of war
! failed or refused to stand by and sup.
port and defend the, nations flag So
long as memory brings me back, I can
remember seeing emblazoned on Dem
ocratic party banners the patriotic
words "Aiy country, right or wrong!'
| iS"Right or wrong, my country
How is it now? How is it at time
when those patriotic mottos mean more
than mere words? Does Vallandig-
ham--does LoDg-zdo the Woods and
Brookes, and Levi Bishops and Pecks,
inscribe item on their colors? Why
has the unity and indivisibility ofthe
States been abandoned? Why the
holy creed of Jefferson Jackson and
Douglas been recanted? If national
unity and greatness have proven condu,
Give to our great glory and prosperity
in the past why waste blood and home
and treasure now, if its preservation be
ntt worth the offering and the sacri-
fioep
The ''party," as it exists to-day, has
not, that l can see or learn from its rep
resentative presses and orators" any
fixed principle, any platform, or recog-
msed any able leader. 1t only makes
war upon the Administration, upon
Mr., Lincoln, forgetting that there are
national interests at stake, compared
With which Lihcoh and Johnson, or
anybody else, are less than dust in the
balance. 1t endeavors to obscure the
real question at Issue by perpetually
harping upon the ''nigger," thereby in
directly supporting and, as far as it
can, endeavor to perpetuate bastard
aristocracy. 1t ignores the palpable
fact that God Almighty seems to be
breaking up the serfdoms Of the world,
and that the African system must go
by the board in order that free institu-
tions may have new developments
new birth of liberty. '
Yes, indeed, Colonel, the Democrat
ic party either ignores or forgets the
fact that our unity and nationality are
bound up inseperably together. If
Aaron Burr died wanderer and a
vagabond, with the curse Of. evory
good man upon his head and urn, be-
cause he raised his hand against his
country, and wanted to establish an
Empire" upon her extreme border,
what howls and curses ought to follow
those who are now attempting to assas-
mate the Republic-the only free Re
public OH earth--and that too, in the
early morning Of her glory, when her
sails are whitening every sea, and the
distressed and down-troddeN Of every
land, and cline, and creed were crowd
ed through her gateways (open on
both oceans that all may enter,) and
kissing in dumb unutterable joy, the
pew-found land of freedom! The
curse of the Irish patriot, hurled
against Castlereagh for bartering his
nations honor and freedom, should be
poured out upon them with voice
that would ring from the poles:
"May lie smiles of beauty scorn thee may the
hand of friendship spurn, il
May dishonor track thy footsteps, and contempt |
rest ON thy urn; rt
May heaven deny thee mercy, may the grave re-
fuse thee rest,
II we forget, thou traitor this creates wrong than
all the rest!"
No soldier in the army, who has per-
lied his life and lost dear cohirades,
can support and sanction party infA-
enced, controlled or governed by these
so-called ''peace men," / know and
feel that many of the honest and sim
cerely patriotic masses in the North,
wholly ignorant and unconscious of
the base purposes and wicked designs
Of these traitors, believe in their hon
that they are endeavor-
ing to ''save the Union by Constitution
al means" But the scales will soon
fall from their eyes-the glitterlng fal
acy win soon be exposed.
But persons at home-politicians in
peer saloons-will say that ] write
5hus because I am in the army-be-
cause l am "Lincoln Hireling."
Five weeks more will, if Providence
permits me to live through this terrible
campaign, find me a citizen, and those
only have passed or are sharing the
lardships, dangers, privations and I'M
.est that, during three long and vast
ng years, have gone through are ca
,abie of Judging Ny opinion there
ore is, that Mr.. Ferry, young though
ie may be, win receive the votes of a
great majority of good and true Demo
rats in the army. But you say that
young men like him should be in the
If every aspirant for public
lonors had made the sacrifices that
lIr, Ferry's family has, and lent rs ear
lest support to the Government, this
var would have been ended long since.
On the bloody slopes of Antietam,
lis brother, noble and generous
-outh, emptied his heart at the head of
charging column, while to-day sec
md is faithfully performing his duty to
lis country in the sickly morasses of
he Mississippi He has ever been the
riend ofthe soldier-he is the friend of
ur country, and has pledged himself
o its support, its unity, its indestructa-
ility, its salvation, and to the etcrnizing
# those principles / have bid my
cart.
With esteem and regard, =
na Your very sincerely and truly, J
Thomas O. FIrzGIBBoS [
Major 18th Mich Vet. Vol. Infantry ,
ol r. p. Sinclair, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
z" The sentences of courts martial !