Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-08-03
gPEECB OF HoE. JOHN CESSNA.

The Var as Viewed by q True Democrat.
EztEact from the aunzal address before the Aluu-
a association q Franklin AID Msrsasli Col
Isgs- AZ Lancaster, Pc delivered On Taesdzy
evening, July 25gh, 1864.
The great mass Of the people Of al par
ties are honest Il heart and mean TO d. that
walch they think VII best promote The vel
fare and prosperity Of the country. But i
: not always 80 with party leaders. Some
! oL these - least. are unscFuuuigus. So
completely do they become eHlb;trzreI .s
gaInst each other that they would sacr.fic.
almost anything, not excepting the cause Of
country and OF truth IN order 70 secure their
own triumph and the overthrow of hair no
litical adversaries.
These are the most efficient eraissaries of
the rebellion and vastly more servieea1lc To
It's leaders than an equal number Of armed
men n the ranks Of the country s enemies.
Ia our own midst these emissaries have
been actively at work % agCraya1e the ran
cor OF party spITit-Jo array one portion Of
the people against the other-to cause dis
satisfaction among the people with the ne
cesstry measures adopted 10 suppress the re-
beIlion-to excite the people against the en-
forcenent OF the draft and the collection Of
revenue sufficient 70 carry on the war. Our
people are taught 70 favor peace-compro-
inlse-an armlstlce- anything except
vigorous prosecution Of the war
At one time this l. styled a negro war
at anaheT negro has no business to serve
as soldier. When our armies are defeat
ed the Government i incgmueteut and in
efficient, or II would have raised more men.
W hen volunteers are called they are opDos-
ed 70 the plan. They want an eurollnent
that all may have an equal and q fair chance.
" hen the draft comes il Is unfair. unlawful (
and deprIves them Of their constitutional
rights. The clause Of the act ALLOWING. ray
ment Of communication Is all wrong because
II discrlmlnates between the rich and the
poor. As soon as it IS repealed these same
men strive 70 excite the anger Of the people !
because 1t Is another step towards militia /
ry despotIsH. All these things do the peo-
PIE no good, lead only to angry discussions. /
bltter controversies, numerous disSeusiOns. /
prevent men from enlIsting into the service /
OI their country have already produced 4
bloody riots, and may culminate In fierce
nelghborhO0d and ireside war These dan
gers are truly great and calculated To dis
hearten the patriotic but it l. confidently
beheyed that they viii all, sooner or later,
be overcome.
There are unfortunately those among US
who cannot discuss the question single mo-
nent without showing that they are at heart
foes OF the Government and enemies of
their racea The people soon learn to find
out and Know these men. Human skill and
ingenuity and all Of traitor cunning can
not long succeed In cCncealing their real SEN
timents. They hang back or skulk away
from our public gatherings on our national
holidays; they disparage Union officers and
soldiers and eulogize the rebels All Union
victories are signifcant--of little account:
rebel victories are Of incalculabe value and
Importance. Good news is never credited
bad news Is often orr ginated, believed and
circulated long before verified. Taxes are
obnoxious and oppressive; drafts are uncon-
sututlonal and odious war is bloody and
desOlating and the nation ought at once to
stop it. For nearly four years everything
has been wrong; nothing excellent, nothing
even praIsewOrthy or passable has ever been
done by their own gOyernment-Cnly mis-
takes, wrongs, wicked acts Of tyranny, and
earnest appeals are made to the people to
arise in their might and prevent the estab-
llshment Of a military despotism During
all this time they have never been known
to utter word Of denunciation against the
rebellion, OF see an improper act south of
the rebel lines. These are the unmistaka-
bic ear-marks Of the traitor lie may re-
he may write down beneath the
picture IN large letters the word Patriot :"
he may in very noisy aud earnest words, in
sist that he is 4 sound Democrat, and
hat every man of his party who sustains
the war Is an ''AbohUicnist.' Yet after all
he IS neither patriot or good Democrat. |
\ ou may turn him upside down and inside
)ut, and cleanse and wash him with all the |
pure waters Of America, and you can make
nothing out Of him but a poor, miserable !
such a one as General Jackson
would have strung up for treason in his day
md looked for the authority afterwards