The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-08-12

'CIAoErr seeks to drag 40 down to his own
level, or to get up into the good company Of
the editor Of the GATE CIrY. We have
quoted by piecemeal and At length numerous
articles from his pen, published in HE sdito>
rial columns during the rebellion, denounc-
ing the war and sympathising with the rebel.
lious traitors who were prosecuting their ne
faiious plots Of treason with bloody hands
and black hearts on the field Of baths.
In response to this he charges thas the
editor Of the CARR CIrr was disunionisk
before the war, and he alludes to On editorial
Of ours, extracts from which be kept stand
ing in his paper some time since for six
months or more.
Nov. that nobody even suspected a. Of dis
union sentiments no proof need BE- offered
We were outspoksn in favor Of coercion, !"
and against surrender by compromise to the
treason-spouting oligarchy Of the South.
The editor Of tho GATE CRY il not in the
habit Of concealing his opinions, and an in.
spection Of his editorial columns during the
winter and spring before the war, will show
that he was furious against disunon. and not
less 90 against surrender, BY compromise,
from first to last.
During the war the GATE CRY Office was
the headquarters Of the loyal men and the
soldiers Of the Union, and its columns were
6Iled With patriotic editorials, and communi
cations from the boys in blue" fighting tho
battles for the Union in the South. No Sc
cesh sympathizer, no disunionist, no oppo-
nent Of the war measures OF the government
ever felt or manifested any friendship for the
editor Of the GATE CIrY, or any desire for
companionship With him.
The Constitution, on the contrary, rave
aid and comfort to the enemy to such an 81.
tent that the Union soldiers, in the darkest
hours Of the war, were 30 outraged and en-
ragged BY Clagett's course that they destroyed
his press and threw his type into the river.
But nov at this day this same Clagets has
the brazen efrontery TO charge ne With dis
union, on the strength Of single editorial
which appeared, under peculiar crcum-
stances. on the FIRST Of February, 1861, two
months and half before the stack on Fort
Sumter.
Let % recall the circumstances, which
seven years have not entirely driven from
our memories. The Locofoco party ven
blatant against coercion, and were rampant
in favor Of compromise or surrender to the
South. They portrayed in appalling colos
the horrors Of civil war, and uttered gloomy
prophecies Of the utter destruction which
awaited Reokuk % : border town. Business
vas depressed. property Vas unsalsabls, and
men could not 6nd employment q City cents
: day.
Tho situation /" Vas terrible, and the
Locofocos seemed, under al the discouras-
ins elements then combined aiains. -, 10
have the decided advantage, and it vs. visi-
BILE that men were becoming sh.ky, weak in
the knees, despairing Of the prospects Of
Keokuk especially, and anxious to sell out
At any price, and leave it.
Il was in the midst of such . state OF Of.
fairs that in the spirit Of announcement and
it may be, but without thought
that any body could suspect him Of favorins
disunion, the editor wrote and published the
editorial on tho frst day Of Feb,
ruary, 1861.
The article shows on ito face that It wss
written merely to meet bravado with brava-
io-that il Vas written TO Offset the rebel
Who, q ~ said in the article |
we're, "endeavoring to fnshten the people on |
Q the Locofoco submission platform" Il
vas that Hsubmission to either the North. |
I'm OF Southern rebel Democracy, which ~ |
utterly opposed then, which Ne had opposed
'efore; which " have ever since opposed
Turing the dark hours Of the rebellion q
ov that, We, the loyal people, have fought orr
ny to victory over the rebel traitorous De.
nocracy. Here 10 tho editorial entire. The
IAN that uses it nov, OF ct any time 70
rove that We ever countenancsd disunion,
submission to the rebels, arrays hinseifI
sa'nst every fact in our history, as,inst
very conviction W ever entertained-he i
1liul'y knsve, vilfully : fool, Of vilfully !
llsi6er:
Asskes - . DsrAsr CITY.
Loeo.oeo spsAkeFs not only paist In ffishtfai
' l.s ~ nolfofs Of impsndine sivil was, n
~ Puone epsschss. bat they 60 abeut IL j
- VIZ ussshas kness Aad palliA lip4 -