Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-07-03

placed in its former seat Of power and
plunder. - grass trse .H.-
In view of its past history the country
will not listen with much patience to the
$ plea of this old sinner. They will not
. fail to remember that the leaders Of rhe
Democratic party. by their conduct for
ten years before the war; laid the found
= ations for rebellion in the South. As
have shown, the South made their de-
mands on the Democratic party, and they
we're met willingly. That party sold their
honor and their principles for the elec-
toral vote Of the slave States, and when,
by their faiihessness TO freedom, they had
lost their power in the North, and the Re
publican party, eight years ago, elected
Abraham lincoln, the South had the as
surance. from the past conduct of the par
ty as we'll by the positive promise OF the
leaders, that the Democracy of the North
would assist the South in thwarIing the
will of the nation by putting freedom to
the sword. But here again, as often be-
fore. the leaders of the party had not
properly estimated the patriotism Of the
people. When the guns of the rebels
we're opened on the flag Of the nation,
men OF all parties, startled and amazed at
the audacity of the slave power, with arms
in their hands rushed to the conflict aud
left the leaders OF the Democratic power
standing alone aud powerless.
When disaster beiel our arms they took
advantage of the doubtful and timid OF
their party and told them we never could
defeat the South, aud when the great and
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the slave they then with more bodness still
appealed to the mass OF Democrats that
this was an Abolition war-a war not for
THE preservation of the Union but for the
| I, eedom Of the slave, and with fendish
inge auity stirred up in the hearts of many
Ian honest and patriotic man all his old
preiudices and then led him off and with
horrid oaths initiated him into their secret
lodges 10 plan i,r he destruction of our
armies and 10 renter substantial aid to
The rebels. and as our list of killed and
mo -nded increased, aud as our public deot
:aIv arew larger they became more
bo u in their treason, and whiie
~ ~ a ,ruo lie was the hottest Snd
when the hearts of ma ny we're filed with
serious apprehensioSs, tn.. 's%s soe, parry
met in national conyentio1 in 'o4' anu
with the traitorous purpose of faraly -Ni"g
the arm Of the Union soldier and hoiding
up and strengthening he rebel authority, !
they then resolved that tbs Iehoie ioar lcas
a future.
The Southern Confederacy had made
its appeal to the nations Of the earth for
recognition, but the mighty armies Of the
Union and the patriotism and power of
the nation astonished the nonarchies of
Europe. and made them fearful TO give us
ofFense. and the claim of the bogus rebel
Government was everywhere rejected and
refused The only friend jeff Davis
Government had anywhere, was the DEM
ocratic party in the North, led by the
Brights and Pendletons, the Vallandig
hams and Seymours; and'to come little
nearer home, by Bowles, MilligaD and
men of that iIk. The failure to receive |
foreign support and recognition would
have demoralized aud led 10 The early dis.
solution Of the Southern Confederacy but
for the support of the Democrats of the
North. Had they been true to the coun-
try at the first, If the rebellion had ever
begun it would not have lasted year,
aud the small debt that the Goverume Mt
would have Incurred would now be dis
charged, and our pension roll would have
been too small and insignificant to men
tion il, aud the hundreds Of thousands of
thousands of strong men now sleeping
the sleep of death meath the sod Of hua-
dred battefelds, would have been to-day
mingling with us in the busy pursuits of
life, aud been the joy and comfort Of now
weeping aud disconsolate widows and pa
rents.
All the blood, therefore, that has been
spilled, and all the treasure that has been
expended in maintaining the national au-
ihorty, aud the floods of tears aud indie
scribable cloud of anguish and sorrow
falling upon the whole people, is all prop
perly chargeabe to the Democratic party.
They know it and feel, aud with fran
tic despair of ever being able to explain
or cover up their misdeeds, they implore
us to let bygones be bygones, aud try to
divert the people with new issues, that the
mantle Of forgetfuluess may be thrown
over their past treachery.
said, my fellow-ci citizens, that great
events had transpired since last we met.
One of those great events | have alluded
to is the complete overthrow of the Dem.
ocratic party, and do think the signs of
the times clearly indicate that it has fall
en- like Lucicr, never to rise again.
As a consequence to the overthrow Of
this powerful aud corrupt organization,
another great event was the destruction Of
its ally aud master, the enemy of freedom,
the great obstacle in the way of the ma.
iion's progress, the corrupter Of the nations
morals aud manners, the hot bed out of
which sprang into life aud power the rank
weeds Of treason aud rebellion. Yes,
thank God slavery is dead; aud while the
time was when the mighty men Of the
Democratic party were its willing and
ready defenders and champions Of this
iniquity, yet now, as we cast backward
glance at the pitiabe condition of the
nation when controlled by these monsters,
aud when we remember that il was con.
stantly keeping tho naiion in terror by
It's threat to dissolve the Union, and when
we now see as we might then have seen,
} that IL was the same foe 10 religion aud
education, aud was in itself constantly
corupting aud debauching tho public
morals, there is mono now, of the most
radical Of Democrats, bold enough to stand
up in It's defense.
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