, 1866-07-23
A soldiers Apps i to III Soldiers.

| HoSEk, ILL.,, JuJ 10, 1s58.
10 the ex.soldiers OF the Union:
HRornERs: To you who bore arms In the
csnte Of the Union during the recent rebel
lion, aud who were known IL the army and at
home us "the men," ! address these words,
and not to those who were known Us
.'ofIicers.''
| When We were fighting our country's bat
Ties on the frontier-our bayonets pointing
| toward our country's armed foes In our front,
apd our eyes carefully watching the acts of
| friends and focs-the one for the Union, the
other opposed to 1t, VIC separated ali into
two classas-those for us, md those against
us. Weknew no Democrats Republicans.
Among ourselves VIC were but one. Nation
nllties were thrown aside, religious aiC
fcrcnces wern unknown. We werc brothers
lighting for one causc-Liberty. It was not
that We had Mcclellan, a Grant or Sher-
man to lead us that caused us to push for
ward SO detesminedly, 50 victorlously, for We
fought equally well under any and all who
commanded us bnt 1t was our 1ovc for Coun-
try. for Liberty, for Right, that caused Us to
b~ 80 united. We were battling for tho
ur}on, and We were In ourselves q union In
dIsso1uble. Now, that VIC have lain by Our
arms and uniforms md put on the Earb of
the citizen once more, having accomplished
the object for which we left our homes, and
for which We were ready to sacrifice our lives
land how many Of our number did We all
Lnow), We are still united. Tho samo
thoughts possess each soldiers breast, al
though they are not spoken aloud to the
world. Al when in the field, our hopes arc
still for the welfare Of the Union, Liberty
is marching swiftly over the globe, aud Ame-
rica Is In the foreground.
In the future We shall have many names
presented to Ms, from which must be chosen
those who govern the nation. .As VIC votes
will many OF our frienls. 'sThe soldiers
vote" will be that for which all candidates
will contend. Our ballots arc rs potent as
were our bullets. Then fet u., be certain OF
our target and take good aim. A VIC werc
in the army, let US be here. Know but two
partics-oue having been steadfast for the
Union, the other hostile 10 II. Our enemies
are still in the field. Haying ocen vanqu1shed
at the point Of the bayouet and at the can
mons mouth, they now resume the battle at
the polls. As long as they light let us not be
lound in the rear. Our place Is at tle front.
Among the candidates for Office sill be
many who wore sbouldsr-straps In III: late
war-many who were !" Leaeucrs," and IN lay
who held civil offices during our absence.
We know TINT our officers, although they
wore the Federal b.ue aud drew Federal
greenbacks," were not all ardent lovers Of
the Union, no more than were "Lcagucrs''
who were such from selfish motives, or than
Inauy who held civil offices md fed at the
Government table. Each one Of us knows
what his officers sentiments IN the army were,
and each mans friends can tell him how much
the civilian. whose name Is presented to the
public, did tor the Union.
Brothers, when name Is held up to us, let
the first question be, What did this man do
for The Union while we were gomez What
wns the character Of this officer? And II the
aside as being character who will throw all
obstacles in the way Of freedom If be has the
powcr-he he Democrat or Republican, Amer
lean or foreigner. If he be civilian, VIC eau
learn his former political status from our true
friends who remained at home md aided the
cause as much US lay In their power; aud If
bs be an e..army officer, re can learn his
character, past md present, from our
brothers.
Brothers, let us be united In future, as re
have been in the past, In the cause Of Liberty.
Let us know no Catholic, no Protestant, no
Irish. no German, no American, only "for"
and "against" the Union and Liberty. Pos.
terIty looks to us as much to-day, and will In
tho ucAr and distant future, as 1t did in the
dark days Of 1868. With us rests the ques-
tion whether treason shall be made odious
md traitors punished, or not. With us Is the
duty, let us not be uufaithfnl to the trnst,
and mankind In the future will bless uz, and
God will smile upon us. Your
BROTHER SOLDIER.