Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-08-22
TIE ISSUE,

"AAA~~ AAA SAROeitAOu VI Iucu PAns~'tA~.
presents, worthy of better cause. By cut
tie fish maneuvering they manage to blind
the eyes Of the people to the actual questions
at issue. and attempt to wage the contest
upon matters foreign to the grave matters
which the present campaign must decide.
Instead of discussing the platforms OF prin-
ciples laid down by the contending parties,
Democratic writers and speakers occupy
their time in misrepresenting both. In the
DIN and confusion which they expect to Gre
ate by their violent clamoring against ''non-
taxation of bonds.' payment Of the national
Indebtedness in gold.' negro suffrage" and
other such elap-trap. they hope to divert the
attention of the people from their own revo-
lutionary position and secure the election of
their nominees. The same course was sue
cessfully pursued last Fall, in this State, but
the dodge cannot be played the second time.
The people are too much interested in the
result of the present contest to allow them
selves to be led astray by Democratic falsifi-
cation, A nation which narrowly escaped
sacrifice upon the altar of free government,
paying for the enjoyment of its privileges
with its richest blood. will not cowardly sur
render it to the keeping of those who struck
at its life. Conceal the fact as much as they
choose; mask their position as cunningly as
possible; prate as much as they like about
corruption" .'extravagance" and military
despotism," the Democracy cannot render
the people oblivious to the fact that the great
question which the contest will settle is,
whether we shall have peace or war. Dis
tasteful as the presentation of this phase of
the situation may be to the rebelleaders, and
no difference how emphatically they may
deny its truth, it is too palpable not to be un-
derstood by every intelligent voter. Blair's
revolutionary letter expresses perfectly the
sentiments of the writer, and every Southern
paper and speaker which advocate his elec-
ton. take him at his word. They insist that
he means revolution and extend him all the
encouragement possible, openly and avowed-
ly. Seymour is not whit behind Blair in
his antagonism to the restoration of the Un-
ion. but is more discreet in expressing it.
factions speak louder than words" His
infamous conduct during the whole progress
of the war; his speech to the rebel horde of
thieves, vagabonds and murderers who re-
sisted the draft in New York, and his accept
ance of nomination from the hands of un-
repentant rebel generals, show conclusively
that his sympathies have been and are with
the traitors of the South. We repeat that
the Presidential contest is the resumption of
the struggle between loyalty and treason.
The rampant secessionists of the South, as
sembled in convention with the anti-war
Copperheads of the North, have presented
nominees wLo are pledged to revolutionize
the Government, if elected, and they will
keep their promise. The course pursued by
the insensate johnson, in which he has had
the support of the Democratic party, has
breathed the breath of life anew into the nos
trils of the expiring monster treason, which
had been left for dead upon the field of bat
tie. Resuscitated and rev,vifed by the pow
erful stimulents which the Democracy are
administering. treason has arisen from the
grave to which loyal hands had consigned It
and with the blood of brave hearts still drip
ping from its garments, is preparing to re-.
sumo the struggle at the ballot box. If sue
cessful, its leaders pledge their word that the
sword shall again be unsheathed and war,
bloodshed, riot and rapine once more fill the
land with desolation and ruin that the fruits
of the dear-bought victory we have already
won shall never be garnered; that the Re-
construction Acts of Congress shall be de-
clared null and void, and the old order of
things reestr blised; that tie freedman shall
again be returned to his master, manacled
hand and foot, and the crack of the slave
drivers whip. the weeping of separated hus-
bands and wives and the baying of the blood
hound shall again tickle the ears of "loyalP'
Southrons. Do you doubt it Read Blair's
public declarations; study Seymour's rec
ord; listen to the reasonable language of
Southern speakers and presses, and note the
spirit that actuates the people. Take the
testimony of the loyal citizens of the South.
They tell you that the spirit of hostility to
the Government is as malignant to-day as at
any time during the war. 1t develops itself
by nightly assassinations, robberies and
house burnings; secret, traitorous, murder
ous organizations are already formed all over
the South to harass Union men, keep them
away from the polls and to be prepared when
the time for action arrives. We ask the 10y
al masses everywhere. whether calling them
selves Republicans or Democrats. to avert
the overshadowing calamity which threatens
us. by casting their votes for him upon whose
banners is inscribed, "Let us have peace. I"
A NATION mourns. A mighty man has
fallen. The purest patriot, the invincible
champion Of liberty. the greatest statesman
and leader our country possessed. IS no more.
He whom every loyal man loved. revered
and admired; him who never uttered q
disloyal sentiment, and whose heart never
throbbed with disloyal pulsation whose
voice has ever rang out clear and distinct in
advocacy of human rights. liberty and free
dom. has gone to his rest. Thaddeus Stevens
is dead. Ripe in years. and rich with the
fruits of long life spent in usefulness, he
has gone to meet his reward. His good
works will never perish. aud his memory
will be cherished in the hearts of his coun-
trymsn forever.