The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-09-12
SPEECH OF GENERAL WILLIAM McCAN-
DlESS
The Duties Of Our Citizen SoIdiery

The Duties OF Our Citizen SoIdiery,
The following eloquent and appropriate
address was delivered before the soldiers
Convention at Harrisburg, on Aug. 18th
by General William McCandleSs:
SPEECH or GEN. WILLIAM M'CANDLEss
COMRADES; Sell-delense demands that
we shall again muster in defense OF our
country's liberties Eleven years ago we
We're called for similar purpose Then we
were menaced by secession now we are
menaced by Capitalization The latter, ii
possible, more permanently destructive
ol our liberties than the former Let
rs inquire why this is So. Did not the
sons of Pennsylvania, to the number OF
nearly quarter OF Il million, for four
successive years bare their breasts to the
storm of battle. from our own soil to
TcXaS, in order that ''the prescrvatiou Of
the Union with the dignity. equality and
rights OF the several States unimpaired,n -
should he ;,ssuredR ? Was that war not
hravcly fought and nobly won Men OF
all shades of political opinions, Democrat
and Republican advanced shoulder to
shoulder, forgetting all the bitterness Of
party strife, thus evlncing Il purity OF pa
trotlsm and unity ot purpose ot which
Greece or Rome might have been proud
in their paimiest DAYS. Why then, | re-
peat. are we thus called upon to fight our
battles over again? because the fruits Of
our dearly bought victories have been
garnered by unworthy hands. iIordes of
human iackals followed in the rear of our
victorious armies, always 1T . safe dis
il-o l,h In,
sea, armed with patents OF loyalty to rob.
from the highest in the form of treasury
agent with his cotton permits, down to the
smallest satellite who described his orbit
in the vicinity of the drawers OF the freed
mans bureau. "Whcre the carcass is
there will the vulture be" These crca-
lures fastened themselves upon the almost
ruined States OF the South maintained in
their spoilations by direct armed assist
ancc from the Federal power. which Held
all who dare oppose them in its tolls as
merclesslv ~ was LAGOON in the coils nf
the serpent Yet all these would not be
sufficient reasons why we should be alarm
ed and take counsel with each other rs
honorably discharged soldiers. had not
some of our former comrades affecting to
sneak for the soldiers of Pennsylvania.
called Il council Of war to assemble at
pittsburg on the 18th Of September
There, by the force of subsidized patron
AGE, u false halo of military glory will be
thrown around Grant and Hartranft that
would have blinded the single eye of Han
nbal or added additional lustre to the
laurel upon the bald first Crsar's head.
In case their historical muse has not furn-
ished them an eXempar worthy of emula-
ton for their heroes, | will, with great
pleasure invite their attention to En- ylish
history during the reign Of Queen Anne,
and point to John Churchill Duke OF
Marlborough, he, who never fought bat
tie he did not win, nor hesiege town he
did not tnhc His other little t0hi13qS com
pIcte the parallel. High rank and great
riches We're bestowed upon him by a
grateful country, but when the SeltiShness
of his nature was shown in civil life the
people withdrew from him their conf
dencc. Their love and admiration Of his
military genins was only equaled by their
deiestation of his yenality
His civil record covered his military
career rs with pail, and future genera
tionS wonder that so much skill in the field
should lack every other characteristic that
tends to make men great. But, comrades,
it is the bright day that brings forth the
adder and whilst we would not detract
from the honors of any man who boldly
faced the enemies ot his country we must
remember that there is something in this
land greater than military prestige more
powerful than the successful soldier. " ho
by fOrtuitous combination of circum-
stances, or by the chicanery of politicians
is placed over us AS our ruler. That some
thing is the peoples sovereign will, ~ eX-
pressed in the" fundamental law - clear
that no intelligent man can mistake it. SO
strong that no INSCRIPTIONS man can VIo-
late it with impunity, and SO charitable
that no man, he he ever SO humble, who
is not protected under il. Remembering
always, comrades, that TO live by one
mans will became the cause of I'LL mems
misery.
BY what principle then of political ne
cesSity is the honorably discharged soldier
called upon to muster in behalf of any
particular class OF political candidates? ?
Is not the country ut peace with the world ?
Is not such an organization as the one
proposed at PittShurg, ut such a time in
imcll to the best interests OF u repnblicp ?
Is it not for the purpose of raking among
the dead embers Of the past to endeavOr
to blow into flame the heartburnings of
onr unfortunate civil war; That, too,
after a lapse Of seven years, during which
time we of the North have been contin-
ually on guard to protect if possible what
little of State rights we had remaining at
ter the capaclous nav of military ncces-
sity had beer gorgcd, whilst our repent
ant rebe, brethren have been equally busy,
regret to say with rs little success as we,
in striving to keep the wreck of ther prop
erty from finding its way into the capaci
Gus carpet-bags of Grants adventures
men who, with strategic skill worthy of
a better cause, upon the charge of Ku-
Kluxism safely ensconced the shepherd in
a Jail whilst they preyed upon the flock
Comrades, when evil men cOnspire, good
men must combine, is an axiom to be OBJ
served if you would reserve your liber
ties
We know that socially the meetings of
corps or army are the most agreeable on
earth to those who felt the elbow touch
of comrade to comrade advancing amid
the crash of battle. We have them an
nually, where we recount the stories of
the camp and battle, and with unselfish
patriotism count all the glories of our
chieftains over and before we separate,
standing in silence, the heart beats re-
QUEEN for the eternal welfare ct those
who laid their lives upon their country's
altar But such an one as is proposed at