Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-09-26
The Voice oran Old DemOcrt.

The Voice Ofan Old DemOCFt.
Hiram Walbridge, we'll known as u
former prominent Democratic poliu-
clan, cannot torsake his principles to
follow the fortunes Of A. j., and pre-
fers to side u 18th the Union majorities
in Congress lie has just issued the
following address:
To WAR DEMOCRATS:
The political contest now imminent
compels US to review our position, and
decide on our future action in the light
afforded by the past.
Let me entreat you to answer to
yourselves these questions:
& Were We right or wrong in resolv-
ing to stand by our country and its
flag when traitors desperately strug-
gled TO divide the former and strike,
down the latter?
/ Were we right or wrong in our de-
termination to spurn all party ties that
threatened to weaken the efficiency or
trammel the freedom of our efforts to
maintain the integrity Of our Union
Were they right or wrong who
sought to paralyZe the national arm
f appraised in self defence against seces-
sion and disunion, who proclaimed the
war for the Union a failure after hav.
ing done their best to make it so, and
whose partial, short lived successes
, were hailed with hearty cheers along
the lines of the rebel armies?
Is there rightful difference in your
regard for the soldier who died fight
r ing to preserve our nationality, and
him who poured out his life blood while
r battling for the rebel cause?
Ny questions sufficiently indicate
: the answers | deem prompted by the
instincts Of true patriotism. Hating
q ! none, denouncing none, wishing i'll to
none. | vet love and honor those who
t struggled and fought to uphold the
!. Union, as | do, not those who did THEN
:. worst to overthrow it.
E. Have we, then, who stood by the
y old flag, gained nothing by It's triumph
d but the privilege Of being ruled by
p. those who fought for its prostration
Do the beaten rebels return to dub
: Gus loyalty with ali the rights they Ell
Il ioycd before they plunged into trea
/ son
n. | think not. I hold that the loya
,r States and people achieved by thei
h. successful struggle a right to complet
,p security against future rebellions o
. such grounds and with such impulse
Mt as were held to justify that Of 1861.
| hold that the present Congress
c. emphatically right in demanding tn;
-. the States lately in revolt shall no Ion!
y, er enjoy factious and exception
ed power in our national councils, bast
he on four millions OF their people, who
MI they obstinately refuse to educate
IN enfranchise, and whom they divest
nv the arms and deny the military orga
cy ization and discipline required to re
,st der them efficient in our national c
of fence.
,n. In short, hold that Congress is su
3al stantially right, the President gener;
,sn lv wrong, in the contest which b
&c alienated them; and | propose to d
nm and act with those who sustain Go
st gress and oppose the President, un
ra- the controversy which now convuls
the the Republic shall have been broug
Inv TO a final issue.
,ff- Never doubling that such issue W
nlv be the logical consummation OF the
he tories achieved by Grant, Sherm;
'ar. Thomas and Sheridan, | respectful
.rn- solicit your concurrence IN securing &
mo Yours. truly, HIRAM WALBRIDGE
ING New York, August %, 1866.