American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-04-12


an interest in the army-a son---a broth.
er, or a husband, from those who were
not represented therein. The Shoddy
patriots, of the race of War Sneaks, who
had nothing to loose in front of Richmond
who knew that those who bit the dust in
that bloody conflict, were unconnected
with them, could throw up their hats, re.
joice with exceeding great Joy, and claim
the victory as their own
For our part we could not join in the
general jubilee We rejoieed that the
rebel stronghold had fallen; but we re-
gretted exceedingly, that its fall, by the
msmanagement of those in authority,
had been postponed to so late a day
that SO many valuable lives had been
uselessly, yes, wickedly sacrifice to pro.
mote the political and persona interests
of corrupt, aspiring men, before our gal
lant army was permitted to enter the reb-
ell capitol.
The same mail hich brought us the
| intelligence that Richmond had been
forced to surrender, conveyed the news
that brother, and other relatives, par
ticlpated in the battles of the 25th ult.
Through these engagements they passed
unhuEt.-But who can tell their fates in
the struggle which terminated in the cap
ture of the rebel citadel Perhaps they
passed through the conflict uninjured,
Perhaps some of them-the one most near
and dear to us, was severely wounded or
killed in the fight Who Knows the re-
suit? We confess that we do uot; but
hope for the best While our minds is
excited with the feelings of hope and
fear, singularly co.mingled together, SEN
sible men honest christian men-if
there are such, will excuse us five fail ;
yes, absolutely refuse to minge with the
exulting crowd.
Mother is not tcjoicing tonight. She
is thinking of the bloody struggle; of her
youngest son, upon whom, in her old
days, while tottering on the verge of the
grave, she depended for suppsrt. She
knows that he has been mingling in the
ash of arms and is offering up prayers
for his protection. But now the thought
occurs to her that perhaps he is number
ed with the dead; She then weeps for
her last born, and prays that this unholy
war, this bloody conflict may cease, and
that peace may be restored to the land
The wife of that son is not shouting
with joy-she fears that her husband has
fallen in battle-that she has been de-
prived of companion--a faithful help.
mate, and that her children may eventu-
ally be crying for bread.
Under such circumstances, surely it is
not expected that we shall join in the gen.
eral Jubilee. Perhaps there are some
situated similar to us, who are minglin9
with the mirthful crowd; but we are SO
| constituted that we cannot weep and re-
ioice at the Same time Let the Shoddy
patriots howl-let the War sneass eX-
ult; let those rhose friends and relatives
participated in the late struggle, mingie
in the joyful crowd, if they can. For
our part, we are not yet prepared to par
ticipate in such demonstrations. While
we rejoice that another rebel stronghold
the capitol of the conspirators, has fall
len into the hands of Our victorious forces
we regret thatso many brave men have
been lost-the number of widews and or
phans-the number of weeping and af-
ficted fathers and mothers have been
largely Increased throughout the land"
AN OBSERVER.
Butler, April 4, 1865.
Now who is meant By Shoddy patri-
OTIS of the race of war sneaks" who threw
up their hats" we are not able to say.
Was it the old gentleman who wrung the
Court-hous bell? Certainly not, for he
had a son ia front of the rebel works, and
don't yet know whether he is among the
living or dead Still, with tears of joy,
perhaps, running down his cheeks, he,
like true patriot rejoiced. 1t could
scarcely be Sheriff Breckinridge who had
beared his bosom to the rebel bullet, and
who has been identified by friends with
almost every corps. Who, then, could it
be who has so offended observer K"
Certainly there was no conduct on that
occasion that should have offended any
loyal man. But to us it seemed quite
natural that there should be growl from
that quarter. 1t was not to be expected
that those who have Withheld their SYM
pathy from the Union cause from the be-
ginning, should see the cause of their
Southern brethren ''go down in darkness
in infamy, without uttering a protest.
But let such howl, their fate is as surely
sealed as is that of their old Democratic
friends, who, for the last four years, have
deluged the country in blood History
vii assign them their proper place among
thSsenemies of their country.