The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-07-07
l Political Generals solIloqay.


innocent. fs1
Spat
How much ike stick falling in the mud
did come down.
When he rebellion began, did not really
amount to enough to add up and give one to
carry. was sort of second rate loafer,
bepsine tobacco, standing around saloons
and har-rooms, waiting to be treated BY lib
eral strangers. ] had no clean stockings
po money saved-nU credit--no fine food,
and but little coarse. but suddenly star
arose. Brave men were wanted ] bad
peddled whiskey at the polls to elect men on
the Gud-and mortality, etrenchment-and-re-
form ticket-I could tell . bigger lie and
stick to it closer than any politician in the
country. and the late administration-noble
observation-disclosures me rich reward. /
was made captain, and like blue-tailed
bottle fiy, strulted about my native town.
Guess / wasn't old style, in white gloves
aud stripes up my legs. Guess didn't sup
port the government. Recon didn't get the
credit Of stores for little things, aud when
man wouldn't trust me- guess | wouldn't in.
cite mobs on such Copperheads. And was
put in command of hundred men. Egadl
that was a joke. Why, Lord bless you,
didn't know as much about war as dog knows
of his great grandfather-but had political
infuence-could absorb vast quantities of
whisky and could steal like niggerl or like
John Brownl or like Ben. Butlerl or like any
other house robber.
And went to war; And | hired CORES
pondents to mention my name ia Republican
papers. And stole wines from hospitals,
and treated my friends, And read the ar
my letters which hired written and which
poor fools printed-tO political friends. And
kept out of the way of bullets and such
aud stole pieces of household goods, from
rat traps to pianos, from silk elastic to linen
intended for infants yet uaborn, and so, in
the eyes of the late administration, proved
my fitness for higher position.
And was made brigadier- general. Big
thing. Nearly every fool ia the army was a
shrigadier general. While brave men fought
| stole spoons and such. While other men
were AT war was Furnishing Democrats, is
suing petty orders, taking TOLL from Union
farmers, and sending chairs, tables, beds and
bedding, pictures, spoons, knives and forks,
nut crackers, glass and silver ware, mirrors,
side boards, parlor ornaments, laces, silks,
and ladies' underclothes, stolen from private
drawers, trunks aid bureaus, up North at the
expense of Government, to let people know
that was saving my salary to beautify my
home.
Cunning cuss.
And denounced Democrats, thereby win
ming promotion and good opinions from Re-
publican papers. And spent my salary for
whisky, except what went for, nothing
now, not much at FIRST And went out on
raids, capturing imaginary bands of enemies,
reported by the papers as real. And being
an unscrupul0us knave, intent only on money
getting, was hired by the administration of
the late lameEted to go up and down the land
stumping for and in behalf of niggers and
Abolitionists-PAR MOBILE FRATRUM.
And sent Democrats to the trout and they
were shot down like dogs and dragged back
wounded to die in hospitals, or swear allie
glance to Abraham. And | stuffed election
returns, and stole cotton wherever 1t could
be found, mules ditto, corn ditto, government
stores ditto, and other things ditto, till be-
came rich. And what q lot of men there
were who believed we were fighting to sub
due the rebellion. Twas merely pleasant
little murderous crusade for cotton and mig
gers--the cotton fer the rich, the niggers for
The poor tax payers to support.
The war was God-send to me. 1t took
me from the gutter, or stool in some saloon,
and made q great man of me. 1t lifted me
by the waistband right up alongside of great
men. And didn't strut And didn't fall
back upon my dignity And didn't snub
those whose servant was land win the con-
tempt of every sensible man in the land
And didn't niger wenches fall in love with
me, and didn't keep abandoned women at
headquarters on money stole from my poor,
bleeding country. To be sure | did. That
was the acme of "loyalty." That was known
as Lincoln patriotism. That style was the
etyIe that paid. That style made me popu-
lar with the Abolitionists at home. Didn't
drive Southern rooster from watching the
nest, and didn't go into that business for
then? Didn't go into the patent bleaching
business On joint account, half for myself
aud half for the Government
There were same good men in the army
some fine officers-some gentlemanly, patri
otto officers, bat they were in hard luck and
took lower seats. And didn't get promoted |
for being caught ont nights, roaming over
the country poaching Oh some nigger's or
some white mans domain, il behalf of the
government.
And wasn't sorry when we bad stolen the
South poor, and were obliged to close the
war; The occupation of Othello was gone.
returned home. People did not make loud
speeches and welcome me back as they did
when left. strutted around with tny blue |
tailed plumage till it locked slumpY, and the
peoDle began 10 take in clothes from their |
i;n@s n rov nAi0hhorhnod when IL became |