The Hickman courier., 1868-07-18


public meeting since before the war, de-
monstrating the fact that the people are
becoming interested in the approaching
lelections.
Our fellow tOwnsmap. Capt. C. L.
Randle, opened the discussion by1an-
neOneing himself as candidate, and
very briefly reviewing the political issues
of the day Being at home, where eve
Try body knew MIN, he declined making
long speech, courteously yielding his
time to lis opponents
4 CAPT. MOSS SPEECH.
Capt. Thomas E. Moss, followed in a
! speech of considerable length, arguing
politics, reviewing the whole of the late
var, and discussing the general issues
: between himself and opponents, with a
5 good degree of force and eloqusnce.
Capt. Moss enjoys the reputation of be-
ing high. toned gentleman, Of having
ard his speech at this place indicate hin
bold and earnest debater, and man of
not unpromising mind. We must con-
feas, however, that we greatly regret the
obvious tenor Of his speech, because We
think it calculated TO have bad effect
upon the nov bright prospects of the
Democratic party. Such efforts tend to
the organization Of separate party to
be composed exclusively Of ex xConfeder-
ate soldiers, and TO drive from the fold
all old Uuion men, non combattanis, and
every. class of citizens. We must regard
this spirit IS iutemperate, wrong, and ifit
could be endorsed by the soldiery, would
be productive of very baneful effects.
We aN look with just horror upob the
organization Of the Grand Army Of the
RepubIic, political organization com
posed exclusively Of Fedenl soldiers,
bat the Democracy could lily speak of
the unmeasured danger to result FROM
that body, when it nursed ia Its own bo
som political orgsaina ton composed ex-
clusively of Confederate soldiers All
history bears evidence of the danger of
soldier parties to the liberties Of the peo
pie Liberty, can net breathe the same
atmosphere With such bodies, because
they are sure to become the Instrument
| in the hands of bad men to destroy lib I
erty. It is as dangerous to-day, as when
the Roman legion SET ny and pulled down
their chiefs from the Imperial throne, or
when Napeleoe crushed the new born
/ liberties Of France under the iron heel
Of the military The National Demoe
raey have taken broad aud liberal view
of the situation Of the country, receiv-
ing sll who are willing to stand upon its
platform regardless Of antecedents, and
IS now entering upon struggle with an
arbitrary 4ad uasroiless. foe, ELoss strong
arm supported By the Grand Army Of
the Republic, is uplifted to strike down
the liberties of the country and to sweep
with. terrible vengeance upon the disarm-
ed COnfederates The hope of the coun
try is upon the citizen vote. Is it right,
/ is il prudent is 1t not dangerous, TO ar
ray the soldier against the citizen, and /
to force them into war with each other
At the close of the war the people of
Kentucky came promptly forward and +
relieved the returned Confederate soldier
of all political disabilities, placing him
upon equal grounds with themselves; for
this they deserve no special praise, be-
cause they but performed q simple duty,
but the noble spirit therein exhibited
does not deserve to be spit upon and con
temned, bat should rather link the sol
der and citizen with fraternal chain.
Did the good of the democratic party
not demand that this spirit shonld be dis
approved and discouraged, we should
prefer not to ailude to the subject. Ne
bear nosill win TO Capt. Moss, are very
favorably impressed with his ability and
high toned character, and as proof of
this statement refer to the fact that we
have never heretofore mentioeed his
name in these columns. Thisis his FIRST
canvass, and perhaps his zeal, earnest
ness, aud anxiety for Office, may be Of
fersa as an excise for the indiscreet, in
eopsidera:e snd injurious position which
he assumed Ia lis speeches in this coun-
ty. All efforts to array the soldier and
citizen into separate political parties
should be promptly and boldly discount
tepauced by the older, cooler, and more
thinking heads of the Democratic party. !.
Drive the citizen into an opposition
party, and defeat awaits US in every cleo
tian from the Presidency down to town
Marshall. We shall not Intentionally
misrenresent Capt Moss. and make this
review as proof of our conclusions His
speech was cfiieny devoted to the history
Of the late war, to the deeds of the Con
fedsrsts army, to the nart he himself
took nthe same, and to his own determ-
.ina.ion to support Confederate soldiers,
regardless of qnaiifcatioss for any and
everything in preference TO citizens. In
referring to a recent election in Ballard *
county, where soldier and citizen were
contestants. foK county Office, ne. said
he's would voaefor The colder were he
stump tailed yellow dog rather than the
citizen" He charged Captain~Randle = :
with having voted in recent election
for a citizen when a rebel soldier was in .
the field, attempting to prove by that, :
We suppssas that he was truer to the e
soldier party than was Capt. Randle, and Q
that Mr. Neal Oughtto be utterly ignored
becsuse of his being citizen. We are
conpeped . acknowledge that. the force
of such argtments is to establish an ex- :
elusive soldier party, and to disrup. the !