Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-07
Democratic Ammunition.

We would call the special attention not only of
our stump speakers but Of our people generally, to
the leading article of ammunition used by the rebel
Democratic speakers and press Public Debt, Tax
alton, Bonds, Bondholders and Greenbacks. These
are their texts Now, we assert that these speakers
and their press are wholly dishonest in everything
they say in reference to their svorite texts As to
the public debt, if they, by speaking the word,
ccald make it hundred thousand fold greater
SO as to bankrupt and destroy the Government they
would do it and rejoice, aye, glory in the act for
their open manifestations, if we had no means of
knowing their deep and secret desires, prove their
hatred 10 the Government and their earnest hope
for its division and disintsgration SO as TO enable
them TO reclaim their lost millions in human flesh
and blood, and to build up their hearts idol--an
aristocracy-in lieu Of republican form OF govern
ment This is simply short but undoubted, start
ling truth we have written
Now, word or two in reference 10 the public
debt. Why does it exist? Simply because the
rebel-Democratic party in the aggregate and de-
tail, performed deliberate acts which, under the
laws Of war, if executed would have hung them
severally TO the gailows aud limb The victims of
their cruel and unauthorized wrongs by multiplied
hundreds Of thousands, now sleep. in untimely
graves Yes, we say you the Democrats as you
call yourselves, the living, walking, impudent
monuments Of measure of legal and moral guilt
whieh-under any other administration on earth,
save that Of the mild and forgiving Radical Ameri
can--would consign you TO a death of fixed igno-
mny and still, notwithstanding the great eniency
toward you, you up with fiery bristles denounc-
ing che party supporting the Government--the
party that first whipped and then graciously par
doned you-because of the debt, the unavoidable
expense Of wringing the bellgerent arms from your
traitOrous hands How extraordinary it is 70 listen
to such men discussing the mode Of paying the pub
lie debt-gOld or greeabaeksi Ia their hearts they
mean no such question and, in truth, such is not
the question with them, but it Is pay or not pay
Suppose this infamous Democratic party we're in
power-we have 70 suppose the case, as the will OF
the American people cannot admit the reality-can
any sane man suppose they would vote an sppro-
priation 10 pay this public debt9 We ask candid
minds 10 think Of it. Pause moment and hear
them run over the items;
LIST millions of dollars Of bonds for the paw of
the officers and soldiers Of the lineLhese blue coats
that drove me and my friends at Donaldson Shi-
lob, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Knoxville,
Charleston, the Wilderness and Richmond. What |
pay this debt2 mol noll nolll
I'd. - millions Of dollars of bonds for building
equipping and manning a navy to guard the sea |
coast and reduce the forts. What pay this debt
which captured my cotton and hemnaed me in from
the outside world for four years MOI neverll
Sd. - millions Of dollars for pensions to dis
Aoied soldiers and sailors and the widows and or,
PnAns OF those slain or who died in the service
what Pay this debt, when oar disabled soldiers
ana 'heir widows and orphans are neglected p
Never never Z never lll
such would simply BE- the Democratic voting
under Mr. Frank P. Bairs See.more forrsst.rep;s,S
government We are not writing to ail an spsoe.
We mean al We say, and every candid. homes.
thinker will underwrite for what we saw We 70
peat that the great financial question in the CANVASS
now before the country is not one Of ereenbacks or
goid' but tis shall the bonds be paid At ali7 Pan.
mont o. Republication is the question, and we ask our
'Peakers to drive the question home II is no time
o use son words or 70 divide logical cherries. II
= mol the hour CT the time to use small arms bu,
heavy metal-siege guns The stake involved i
The national life blood