The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-10-04
"THE BLOODY CHAsM."

1t is all very well to ''clasp hands
across the bloody chasm." We are
in favor of it. We though: the
American people had long since done
%. Right or wrong, all those who
fought to disrupt and destroy the
Government, have been given the
right to vote and hole. Office under
that Government. The members of
the Republican party have done this,
and the question is now settled. We
we're advocates of the conciliatory
and humane policy which relieved
our late enemies In war from the obi.
urm which they laborcd under As a
consequence. We believe this was
consistent and in harmony with the
spirit of our free institutions. But
do our late opponents act in the spirit
of forgiveness and fraternal love?
Have they buried the bitter animosi-
ties aud hatred cngeudcrcd by the
late war? We r unhappily led to
believe not. The history Of this State
for two years past points inevitably to
the fact that they were only willing
to vote for Republicans when doing
so would be likely to disorganizc and
break up that party which controlled
the Government during the war
which ended in their defeat. In this
campaign they advocate no broad
principle, but that Of "anything to
beat Grant" or the Republican party,
toward which they cherish a deep
hatred for the only cason that it OPP
posed them during the war. That
they have been treated magnanimous-
~, generously, by that party, docs
not satisfy thcm-the death Of the par
| ty is their ultimatum. Where they
have the power, the Union element
in their own midst is ignored and os-
tracised, their evident policy being TO
disgrace Union men and honor Con.
federates. In many instances in our
own neighborhood have the large and
respectable portion of the Democrat
ic party known as War Democrats,
who fought bravely and c~onscien-
tiously on the Union side during the
late rebellion, not only been snubbed
and ignored, but it has been boldly
proclaimed in other places, rs it was
in Gentry county = week or two ago;
Treason and Acknowledgement are
qualifications for Office superior to all
others i'm Gentry county" The
shaking hands over the chasm il not
very apparent In such u%tteranccs. In
that county the War Democrats and
Republicans have united in adopting
a Peoples Ticket. The article from
the Gentry County Mems, in another
column, will bear a careful reading in
connection with the foregoing. II
sccms that the bitter war spirit is
there e~pgcnGercd for the purpose Of
wreaking vengeance OF the heads OF
Union mcn-whetker the Union men
were Democrats or Republicans mat
tered not to those seeking vengeance.
/ Republicans aud War Democrats, We
are free to say, while Christian spirit
of nngnanimity and ~fraternal love
promrssd them to relieve their crring
Southern brethren from all odium
and disabilities TO which they subject
ed themselves, arc equally firm in de-
fonding the ho<na~ and patriotism of
the Union soldier We sincerely hope
that after tho present nva our
late enemies in war via become con-
WINGED ofthe f~ruitlessscss and folk
Of fighting for the 'lost cause" and
will manfuliv and scnsibly "forgct
the dead past" and let all American
~ritizens cOntrive to differ (if differ we
m0st) upon questions Of principles
80 public policy of Importance TO
the ysescnt aud future generations
only.
y eRr L..