Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-09-14
re THE BOYS IN BLUE.
GRAND MEADOW, Sept. Is, 1876.

re THE BOYS IN BLUE.
GRAND MEADOW, Sept. Is, 1876.
MIR, ED1ToR: !
Ifyou will allow me the space, Would |
like to say few words to my fellow SOL
dicrs before We again array ourselves ut
the ballot box in November.
When my mind runs back to the day
when Fort Sumptcr was fred upon by
those misguided Southerners, and l take
into consideration the subsequent events
of the war in all Its bearings, an, at
loss TO SEE how any man who marched
under the stars and stripes, especially if
he was on southern soil, can, without re-
morse of conscience, cast his vote for the
party whose greatest element of strength
was facing the Union army with shot and
shell, trying to destroy government that
had never denied them right, trying to
destroy a government that had for years
given away time alter time to the south,
sacrificing principle 10 meet the demands
of the slave owner, who year after year
were strengthening the chains that held
four millions OF human beings in bondage.
Obliging free States to return slaves who
were fortunate enough 10 escape from the
lash and "bloodhOunds that also hunted
Union prisoners" Every Union soldier
that was south during the war knows that
southern democracy is composed of a few
landed aristocrats who control the votes
of the poorer classes Of whites, who arc
no higher in the scale Of manhood than
the slaves whom they we're fighting to
keep in chains.
DO not wish to call up any bad blood,
for it was through ignorance they did it ;
but can any Union soldier say that be
wants to stand side by side politically,
with the men who starved our friends and
klnsmen in prison pens, (alive with YER
MIN with subjects Of southern chivaly
standing ready and anxious to shoot the
life out of any one though pcrishing with
thirst, dared to reach his hand over the
dead line for drind Of water. We have
heard democrats ever since the war pratt.
ing about mob laws, freedom Of the press
civil rights, &C., when their southern
brethren were roaming over the country
shooting and hanging persons for opin
ions sake, and if two got into dispute
they must, according to the rules of south
ern democratic society, settle with pistols
and bowie knives, or be branded as COW.
ards. Do the democratic party expect to
raise their southern brethren out Of thu
border rctlian state by giving them more
lenlty than they now have. Will it ado
anything to the rights of citizens to SCI
again in what we call "Frcc America
men driven from their homes in the south
because their notions of republican gov
eminent run higher than squatter SOW
creignty, and bowie knives, and because
when troubles arise they prefer judicia
decisions rather than standing as a large
for the duelist. Mob law has run ram
pant in the south for years despite the ef
forts Of the government to subdue it, ant
now when the ku klux and the white leag
ures are striking terror oyer whole State
by their midnight raids upon peaceabl'
citizens who do not happen to agree will
them politically, and when it is beyont
tho power of state authority to queli sucl
disturbances, and United States soldier
are called upon to protect peaceable citl
zcns from being dragged from their home
and butchered in cold blood, it's then tn
democrats raise the cry Of bayonet govern
ment, charging republicans Of yiolatln!
the constitution by making the militar!
superior to the civil power, when thci
democratic friends without any authori
ty of law, arm themselves to kill and in
timidatc those who wish to live wlthou
the necessity Of calling upon the authori
ties to protect them with soldiers. WIZ
violate the constitution? The authori
ties who try to make peace, or the mel
who arm thousands contrary to law ant
the constitution, to kill or strike terror IN
to the hearts of those who can not stoop 81
low as to mingle politically with murder
crs aud assassins. So long as that mul
derous element is in and governs the demo
cratic party, (Which It assuredly will
in power it will take good many suc]
reformers as Mr.. Tilden to bring peac
and security to the Southern States. TIL
democrats are always very loyal on th
eve of an election, and the action Of til
democratic House Of Representative
plainly shows that their loyalty woul'
extend to the payment of every rebel CLAIM
that might be brought before democra
; ic Congress. Thus placing treason on
! par with loyalty, and adding millions W
on millions to our already burdensom
debt. As a proof of this statement let u
sec what our democratic House has trie
to do. At the close of the war, Congress
placed upon cotton tax Of three cent
per pound, which produced an increas
from 1868 to 1868 Of $6s, on, 06S, and wa
then repealed, which was about all til
tax paid by the south, when the loy'
states alone paid tax of $4oo, 600, 900 &c
one year, and every since the south hav
, demanded the refunding of this cotton ia,
Congressman Riddle of Tennessee intr,
duced bill in the House directing con
, pensation for the use and occupation .
, property by the United States army durin