The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-09-06
A Bngle-Call to the War Democracy.

General Walbridge, the gallant leader of
the war Democracy of New York, has is
sued the following address, in which he
tersely sums up the issue now before the
country. Like Logan, Butler, Geary Burn
side and the great body of Democrats who
stood heartily by their country when the
Union was in danger from rebel foes in the
field, he avows his sympathies to be wholly
with the party who bore atoft the banner of
| freedom and Union, and who still support
the principles for which the soldiers of the
Union fought and fell:
| To War Democrats
The political contest now imminent com
pels us to view our position, and decide on
our future action in light afforded by the
past.
Let me entreat you to answer to your
selves these questions
Were we right or wrong in resolving to
stand by our country and its fla when
traitors desperately struggled to divide the
former and strike down the latter?
Were we right or wrong in our determin-
alton to spurn all party ties that threatened
to weaken the efficiency or trammel the
freedom Of our efforts to maintain the integ-
rity of our Union?
Were they right or wrong who sought to
paralyze the national arm appraised in self
defence against secession and disunon, who
proclaimed the war for the Union failure,
after having 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 re-
gard for the soldier who died fighting to
preserve our nationality, and him who
poured out his life blood while battling for
the rebel cause ?
My questions sufficiently indicate the
answers | deem prompted by the instincts
OF true patriotism Hating none; denoun-
cling none; wishing i'll to none, vet love
and honor those who struggled and fought
to uphold the Union, as | do not those who
did their worst to overthrow it.
Have we, then, who stood by the old flag.
gained nothing by its triumph but the priv
ilege of being ruled by those who fought
for its prostitution Do the beaten rebels
return to a dubious loyalty, with all the
rights they enjoyed before they plunged in
| think not. hold that the loyal States
ana people achieved by their successful
struggle right to complete security against
future rebellions on such grounds and with
such impulses as were held to Justify that
of 1891.
l hold that the present Congress is emphat-
ically right in demanding that the States
lately in revolt shall no longer enjoy fac
tlous and exceptional power in our national
councils, based on four millions of their
people, whom they obstinately refuse to ed
ucate or enfranchise, and whom thew di vest
of the arms and deny the military organiza-
ton and discipline required to render them
efficient In our national defense.
In short, hold that Congress is substan-
tally right, the President generally wrong.
IN the contest which has alienated them:
and propose to aid and act with those
who sustain Congress and oppose the Presi.
dent, until the controversy which now con-
vulses the Republic shall have been brought
to fual ISSUE
Never doubling that such issue will be
the logical consummation of the victories
achieved by Grant, Sherman, Thomas and
Sheridan, respectfully solicit your concur
renee in securing it.
Yours, truly, HIRAM WA1BRIDGE
New York, August Is, 1866.