New Orleans Republican., 1868-10-15
FORLORN,

The eX-Union Soldiers and Sailors De
mocratic Club have hard time.
They march around the streets with much
perspiration; they listen with melancholy
wonder to the speech of Mr. Parkman, who
tells them with bitter irony that Connect.
cut has just gone Democratic (oh N-they
get leg weary and disguised, and this morn
ing they take up the Times, and, thinking
to read some laudaiion of their gallant eff
forts to keep up their spirits, they find the
following ruthless attack on themselves,
and on the generals, colonels, majors, cap
tains, first lieutenants, second lieutenants,
sergeants, corporals, privates, admirals,
commodores, commanders, lieutenant COM
manders, masters, ensigns, boatswains.
sailors, marines, etc., of the late " social
ed Confederate army in whose COMPANY
they train:
The growing preponderanee of the mill
tary element in this country is plainly Wis
lble in the history of the present canvass
for the Presidency. With the exception of
expressing its opinions and demands
through the medium of conventions or ex-
acted nominations, it is barely different in
its attitude toward the civil element from
the prOnunciddoS of Spain and Mexico, or
the grdnde aT1nee of France. In each in
stance, however, the popular pulse is
touched in the manner deemed most effec-
tive-according to the tone and ideas of the
people-for welding the most potent
influence. In France it is la qloire
In America, where a Difference to
popular will is happily, though barely.
still pre-eminent above brass buttons and
shOulder-straps, it is the elections; but that
the latter consideration is gradually. if NOT
rapidly, declining in importance and weight |
Is too plainly evident. Since the end of |
The rebellion we have noticed that ex-sol-
1iers have been made the recipients ofsub-
Itantial honors to the almost universal ey-
,lusion of the claims of civilians. Four or
i've battles have become more accented
roof OF official competency than colieoi-
tie or commercial education. In every
POLITICAL movement now made, concilia-
ION OF the military element has be-
ONE the primal policy. Scarcely
political convention has been
allied but an attendant convention of ex-
SANtSAo ohu ndL4Oin " luuOrso lLS BenG-
1ents has been convened as a necessity.
he same tactics have even been pursued
Q influence elections themselves; and we
III know that the stock Of most speeches
.olitieal articles and popular demonstra-
Ions consist of the renewal of old war ,
ries, and the snbjection Of candidates to
le military test Of service and capability.
ar more startling and fraught with danger i
our republican institutions is the
ct that the military element, or at
asst the more ambitious portion
it, is keenly alive to due sense Of its
owing importance. In the case of far too
any soldiers, high in command, we have
en- a readiness to sacrifice the political
l1clples and experiences of life time
the personal consideration of rank and
emotion, and an eagerness to avail them t
Ives OF any party, platform or policy that a
for its cardinal principle the advance .
INT OF their interests.
Unhappy soldiers Federal or Confeder- Z
}, you perceive at once that YOU are .
arely different in your attitude" from y
ragged guerillas of Mexico. So saws y
!, Times. @ li -s II