The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-08-17
AND NOW WHATI

The war against the great rcbeliun
was prolonged at least two years by
the aid and encouragement which
treason received from the Coppcrhead
press OF the North. Had the whole
people of all tho loyal States at once
coalesced in the grand resolve Of crush.
ing the rebellion ut all hazards, the
war could not havo boeu maintained
two years. This is evident to every
candid mind. Docs any one suppose
that the division in tho North, the
secret ploltings of tho Copperheads in
behalf Of the rebels, and the great
nTonnt OF evidence offered. by them
during the second year of the contest
that there was likely to bc "a revolt in
tho loyal States, Il not change of
policy at the ballot box-docs any ono
suppose that all this did not stimulate
the enemy with hope, nerve his arms
to strike bloody blows, and thus pro.
long a conflict that but for this aid
would have collapsed in despair long
before 1t failed from sheer exhaustion?
The CoPperhead press was thus tho
means OF lnflicting upon tho country
iulIy TWO thousand millions of the pub
nc debt, and upon the patriotic hmi.
lies OF the loyal States untold mourn
ing and privation on account of the
loss OF tens of thousands of fathers,
brothers, sons and husbands who ro
pose in soldiers graves.
And now what7 Why, tho same
Coppcrhead press, whose hostility to
tue war, whose violent dcnuncation
pt tho Administration as usnrpcrs.
despots and trnilors. and of tho soldiers
as LINCOLN hireIings," thus making
common cause with the blood drench
cd enemies oftho country--thcso same
papers now & ve aid aud support to
the conquered traitors of tho South in
their opposition to The policy of the
conqneror for the proper adjustment
pl the causes and consequences of tho
warl Tho Coppcrheads of tho North
ieel precisely MS tho proud old slave
holders and the miserable chivalry Of
the South feel; and tho latter hold ou,
~ their opposition to the safo method
Reconstruction just in tho proper.
ton IN which they see probability
in the North Of finding friends enough
to heip them carry thoir points. As
during the war, the organs OF treason
in the South were largely filled with
Copperhcad articles, copied from tho
Northern press, so now wo find tho
Southern press looking into the same
papers for help and copying largely
from their columns. :
How many of the soldiers of tho M,
uons regeneration are willing to raj.
ly under the banner of such a trcach.
orous party? They did all they could
to make the soldiers infamous during
tho war, as we'll as TO strengthen the
arms Of the rebels to strike terrible
blows aud nowthcy arc employing
their energies to their full capacity il
attempting TO rob the country of The
peace, social order and security whicl
the Government has the right, and il
in duty bonnd to demand of the con
quered. How many Of the loyal citi
2cns Of the republic can submit to tn,
shameful work Of giving aid and com
fort TO this foo in our midst who's,
disposition is yet ms trcacherous as be
fore the close Of the war2 Let ever,
soldier aud every patriotic cilizcn bca
in mind what tho Copperheads hav
been and still are that they were on
with the South during the war, an,
are now one with the South in resist
ance TO the Just method Of reconstruc
ton Cincinnati Gazette.