The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-16
The Claims of the Democratic Party to
the Soldiers Votes.


The Claims of the Democratic Party to
the Soldiers Votes.
THE Democratic party, in the vain hope of
obtaining the votes of our patriotic soldiers,
have placed three Generals in nomination for
important positions in this city. These Gene
rails, apparently false to those high principles
for which they drew their swords, have
allowed their names to be used as standard
bearers, and have accepted and endorsed the
platform, of this organization. The
fact of soldiers being upon one
ticket and civilians upon another, does
not make a soldier issue. The Demo
cratic party, ever working by the most insi-
dious means, has resorted to this side issue to
lead the minds of voters away from the great
and all-absorbing struggle now going on be-
tween Andrew Johnson and the Representa-
tives of the people. This, then, is the true
issue, no matter who may win local Office
whether one man shall hold despotic sway over
whole country, or whether that man shall
execute power in accordance with the
law of the land. If the soldiers
and the loyal people OF this country
can forget the past, they are the strangest
people on record. From the moment the first
gun was fired on Sumter till the present time,
we have been subjected by the Democratic
party to more abuse, taunting, and reviling,
persistent and bitterly kept up, than the
Huguenots of France or the Puritans in Eng
land. They asserted the war was crime,
that it was a dastardly attack upon the
civil and political rights of the South; they
declared it was a failure, and ought to cease;
they opposed the issue of bonds to pay the
debts of the nation; they opposed all measures
to recruit the exhausted ranks of the army;
they further opposed the payment of bounties
and the founding of hospitals and asylums
for our wounded, suffering, and crippled SOL
diers and sailors. This is the record of their
legislation whilst their papers and magazines
hissed at us with the most malignant hatred.
They vilifed and traduced our Generals,
looked sad when our armies were victorious,
and secretly chuckled at Rebel Victories so
that, whilst fighting treason with one hand,
we were holding by the throat these cowardly
backbiting sympathizers with the other. go
shame, where is thy blush !" for party with
such record to ask for the soldiers vote. They
were in sympathy with the secessionists
before the war; and the legal adviser of James
Buchanan-the same man who to-day is mani
pulating Andrew Johnson-told the Rebels
to do as they pleased, break up the Union,
steal Government property, murder Union citi-
zens, and confscate their houses and lands;
it was all right. The Constitution which was
all powerful to protect the rights of the hum
blest citizen abroad, was utterly impotent to
protect those rights at home. The secession
lists, thus encouraged, and led to look
for aid and comfort from Northern
Democrats, did secede. Then rose the mighty
heart of the loyal masses all over the country,
and it swore a religious oath that treason
should be vanquished, and that with it slavery
and State rights should pass into history.
How well this has been done, let the record Of
the soldiers tell.
This is splendid organization to receive
the endorsement of the soldiers party
which has spit in the face of the soldier-a
party which reviled the soldier, ",0agging their
heads"-a party which traduced and vilifed
the soldier, and now they say, "for all these
cowteSies" the soldier will vote the Democratic
ticket. Ay, when the soldier has lost his
recollection or has lost his honor!
The Soldiers Declare for Themselves.
a. c.