American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03
VOLUME /:
Comprehension VS. Democracy,

Democracy, as its leaders nave the audac-
itv to claim, il would perhaps be profitable
to inquire what Copperheadism means.
The Democracy was the great war party
in 1912 aud again in 1S47. 1t gained for
us, whether rightfully or wrongfully, WISE
ly or unwisely, the territory of LOUISIANA
and the control of the month OF the Mis-
sissippi; as it WAS instrumental IN ae-
quiring Florida, Texas, Calitornlaand \ New
Mexico Democracy has always looked
to the extension and strengthening OF tho
Union, while Copperheadism has differ
ent record. Democracy has clung to the
national honor and to the flag which is its
representative; Copperheadism has asail-
ed both. and has endeavored. and IS still
-endeavoring, to bring both into disgrace.
Democracy always held to the supremacy
of the Federal laws ond government;
Copperheadism ridicules and sneers at
both, and sets up state and local laws IN
opposition to them Clement j.. Vailan-
.digham returns to his home from me e-
ted exile. for the scarcely conceac OBJ
iect of bringing about dstractiH., coils
ion between the national government and
the State Of Ohio, just at the critical mo
ment when the hugest efforts were. put
forth for the crushing of the rebellion
and Governor Seymour, of New York,
resorts to the paltry tricks of the pettifog-
ger in order to breed dissension between
the Federal Government and New York,
lust at the moment when a band Of rebel
soldiers are threatening the border of the
Free States and levying contributions IN
Maryland Mayor Gunther throws obsta-
eles in the way of aid for the invaded
border, under the pretence that troops
cannot be spared from the " commercial
metropolis" The entire vile spawn of
Copperhead journals now make no pre-
tonce of conccaling their chagrin at Fed
eral success or at rebel disasters, and we
have vet to sec in one of them word of
encouragement for our gallant army under
Grant, now struggling for the Union be-
fore Richmond, or scarcely one word of
honest exultation concerning the victory
gained by the Kearsarge over the pirate
Alabama. Coppcrheadsm compares JET
ferson Davis to George Washington;
Floyd to John Hancock Semmes to Paul
Jones, and Harry Gilmor to Marion 1t
objects to calling Floyd thief, Semmes
a pirate, Gilmor freebooter, or Stone
wall jackson anything but "a Christian
gentleman" Copperhcadism refuses to
call treason by its right name, and discar-
ding the use of the word rebel, " it al
ways styles the followers Of Jefferson Da-
Wis :: Confederates." 1t is tender and re-
spectful inepeaking of the enemies Of the
Union, and coarse and abusive in refer
ring to its friends, and the more earnest
the latter. the coarser the abuse. North
ern Coppcrheadism and Southern treason
are synonymous terms, except that the
Southern article is bold, insolcnt and de-
fiant, while the Northern traitor, whether
political, journalistic or social, is cold,
sncaking and snaky. We have much the
most patience with the Southern type of
traitor.
While we denounce the Copperhead
leaders with all the bitterness which they
deserve, we are aware that there are nu-
merous well-meaning people who cling
fondly to the old name of Democracy, the
last melancholy relics of the organization
of which the Copperhead faction has
usurped, and who fancy they are voting
for the principles of Jeffeson, Madison
and Jackson when they support this Vi
perish faction. Let these deluded people
bear in mind these selfevident facts. The
States in rebellion have declared their in
tention to dissolve the American Union,
and to render themselves independent of
it. To this end, after stealing Govern
ment property of every stealable descrip-
tion, they have waged bloody war upon
the North, and upon all who hold to Union
principles. At the outset of the struggle,
when the traitors were flushed with vic
tory over an unprepared handful of Union
troops, the rebel Secretary of War declar-
ed his entention to seize the Federal cap
ital and rule by force what they had fail
to control at the ballot-box. The rebels
have declared over and over again that
there can be no peace except upon the
basis of the recognition of the separate
independence of their Confederacy while
the President of the United States, at the
begenning of his administration, declared
his intention to observe his inaugural oath
to support the Constitution of the U s. and
maintain and defend the Federal Union.
He can do no less than this without being
recreant and traitor, and for doing this he
receives the vilest denunciation. The people