Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-16
Battlefield OF 1865.

Ject OF the contest involved IN the present
canvass; and the general characteristics
and true intent of the Democratic party
With the progress of developing events be-
fore us, we can abate nothing we have said,
but feel constrained to add thereto; and il
possible, arouse public feeling to an inten-
scr appreciation of the vital issues before
them, and to the deeply important results
and consequences that must inevitable fol-
low. Bear in mind the fact, that the issues
involved are substantially the same as those
contested from '61 to 65 in our Legislative
Halls, and on our fields of sanguinary con-
fict; and, the plain truth is, that the now
boastful Rebel-Democratic party is not
satisfied with the result Of the great decis-
ion under their appeal to the sword. This
fact is even boldly out-spoken by such rep
resentative men of our State as Forest,
Pillow and others. They say if they had
known the course to be pursued by the
dominant party Govt U. S. they would
not have surrendered and, by such an
nouncements, coupled with severe and unre-
lenting abuse, denunciation, and misrepre-
sentation of the entire Republican party,
they hope to fan up another consuming
fire. 1t can be readily seen that the lead
ers Of the Democratic party are possessed
of high order of engineering ability, and
that they are employing it with the most
adroit and subtle skill.
Unless the party had better character
for honesty, patriotism and truth, no reason
able mind could ask reference to their
platform in any other light than as decep-
tive blind, or the trail of scuttle-fsh to
hide the true intentions of the interested
actors; yet, looking to their platform in
the light stated, we may gather a large
measure of highly important information
by giving the document what is called q
legal construction and nterpretation-that
is, compare the declarations of the instru-
ment with the well ascertained intentions
Of its makers. The platform referred to
proposes friendship for and adherence to
the Govt of the United States but we as
sert that if there be truth at all in that, it is
false and traitorous expression of it. Are
they friendly to the q. S. Govt with it's
organic charter SO amended Gas it now is)
as to give equal rights by and before the
law to all men irrespective of race or color
The significant voice Of their intention says
no! Their platform is silent on the sub
ject; which is equivalent to negative
answer.
Let us, as test, make this inquiry-take
the material elements composing the Dem
ocratic party, placed in immense hotch-pot
as it is-are those individual ingredients
satisfied with and friendly to the main body
of legislation and conventional action under
United States authority for the past eight
years The noes have it without division
Would those ingredient elements Of the
party, if in power, reverse that legislation
and conventional action? No one can hon.
estly answer otherwise than yes But, that
our illustrative inquiries may have more
forcible and sharper point, especially with
members of the Democratic party who ever
wore the uniform of Blue, or protested to
be Union men, we will suppose every MEM
Der of the Democratic party in the United
States-East, West North and South TO
be located on the great plains west of Ar
kansas and Mississippi; and that every man
is thoroughly armed and equipped as a
warrior. Then, if you please, let precisely
the same questions and issues under an APP
peal to the sword be presented as were at
issue on our battle-felds in 1882 and let
the republican party sustaining the Gov
ernment and opposing secession, slave ar
istooracy and disintegration, be confronted
and opposed BY an army equal in number
and prowess, from Europe-if such could
DO found to plant themselves on the soil Of
the Southern States for such purpose
and amid the strife, and pending the con-
hict, let Ulysses S. Grant and Frank p
Blair excuse the arrangement for it is ne
cessary, and we hope Mr.. Seymour viii
pardon us) be sent out to these Western
plains on recruiting expedition aided by
their efficient Adiutant Generals Schuyler
Colfax and Horatio Seymour. Which of
the parties would recruit the largest num-
Der of men; Grant for the United States
Government under the Stars and Stripes
or Blair for secession and slavery under
the Stars and Bars? And, especially,
which would get N. B. Forest with his 4O,-
600 men in Tennessee and his $50 900 . in
all the Southern States /? f" If we were TO
answer the question our readers know
what our answer would be- and, it would
be disputed by very few honest lips.
Now reader, be you Republican or Dem
ocrat, bear in mind that just such con-
fict, in effect, is before us except, the army
of Europeans are not here TO be recruited
by Rebel Kuklux from the plains; but those
Rebel Kuklux are really in the field with
their active friends and sympathisers
headed by such men as Frank P. Blair and
N. b. Forest. (The foregoing was what
the ticket was intended to be) and tkev
have their recruiting aid from Europe of q
material character In other words. the
large amount Of cotton Bonds and other
Confederate State securities NEGOTIATED
IN Europe was rather enormous; and, It is