The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-07-22
nOYs ~ blue.

an organization of this State, which
has already commenced its labors, and
will he heard from in due time:
llgADav ,RreRs SOLDIERS & SmLons
STATE CksrR,L Cow i05 CiiEsrsUr Sr .
PnILADSLpHIa, July 4, 1868
COMRADES: When the rebel arm
les were overthrown AMI the rebel lead
ers forgiven by our niagnanimous
Chief the whole world wondered at
the generosity which pardoned men
guilty of SO great a crime. The
least we expected was that the Gov
ernment for which we had fought, and
for which so MANY had given up their
lives, was secured against the possibil-
ity of another conspiracy. But warm
ed by history and taught by our own
experience among the the misguided
people of the South, we, maintained
our organizations, and now, in the
forefront of another peril congratulate
ourselves upon the wisdom of that de-
cission. SO thoroughly have our mil
tary brothers reunited themselves,
that only few who wore the Union
blue can be induced to join the ranks
of the Rebel Democracy. Our camps
extend east and west, from the Attain
tic to the Pacific; and there is not a
veteran who does not realize that the
public danger may once more call
him to the field. The alarming spec
tacle of formal combination between
the two great columns of treason
the rebel army of the South and the
rebel sympathizers of the North-is
the living proof of great impending
cilamities. These desperate men--the
one side still vauntng their treason
against the country, and the other still
boasting of the aid and comfort ex-
tended to thcm-profess to be conf
dent of success in the approaching
election. The animosity they bore to
our beloved Communicating Chief
now the candidate of the great Repub-
lican party-survive the hollow graf
itude with which they hailed his lib
eral terms ofpeace and now, remem-
bering only that he struck them in the
field, and coldly forgetting how he
forgave their great offence, they are
toiling with superhuman energy to
defeat him for the Presidency, and to
in that high office fit successor of its
present guilty occupant. Their ha-
tired of Grant extends to all our hero
ic leaders with one or to exceptions.
The only otlense of these accomplish
ed soldiers is their fidelity to the coun-
try for which they fought. Gen.
George II. Thomas in Tennessee, Gen.
Irwin Mcdowell in Missippi, Gen.
George G. Meade in Georgia, Gen.
Candy, in South Carolina, and Gen.
Reynolds in Texas, with their prede-
cessors, Sheridan Sickles, Pope,
Swayne and Mower, are prescribed
and slandered like common felons,
while every Union man in the South
black and white, is subjected to incon-
ceivable cruelty and oppression. This
wholesale malevolence, looking direct
ly to the restoration of the rebel gov
ernment, teaches us not only the wis
dom and justice of our organization,
but invokes us to renewed efforts in ia
vor of Grant and Coltax, the standard
bearers of the Republican party, and
for our gallant comrades, Hartranft
and Campbell, our standard bearers in
the State contest. .
The fundamental ideas of this rebel
combination are that nothing has been
gained by the success Of our arms, but
that everything has been lost. TO for
get the sanctiiied dead, to ignore and
outrage the gallant living, and to re-
member and reward those only whose
crimes in any other nation would
have been punished by death or con-
fscation, is the inspiring motive of
our adversaries. What American SOL
dier does not feel the insult ? What
American citizen does not burn to re-
sent it9 Instead of cordially submit
ting to the laws passed by overwhcl-
ming Congressional majorities, and
carried into effect for the grand pur-
pose of recognizing the South upon
the basis of equal justice and equal
rights, our recent adversaries openly
threaten a new resort to arms.
AT no period in the rebellion have
they been at once so defiant and SO
cruel. United in antagonism to the
laws. to the national credit, to the ma
tional currency, to the public peace.
and to those great principles for which
we contended, and succeeded in main
tanning, they coolly appeal to the peo-
pie and ask a verdict in favor Of their
incredible crimes. Speaking now for
the returned volunteers of Pcnnsylva.
MIA, who were disfranchised by the
Democracy, we solemnly renew our
devotion to our beloved country, and
assert, not simply our readiness to
support our candidates at the ballot
box, but our determination, at all
times, to march to our Governments
defence against her enemies. m r
By order of the Committee,
CHAs. H. T. COILS, Chairman.
A. l.. RUSSELL. Secretary.