The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-01-22

| The editor of the Ottawa FREE TRADER Is
indignant at Col. Fort, member OF Congress
from the eighth IllinO District, for putting
the Democrats Of the House on the record on
the soldier question. * Ihe Demo
Gratis did not hesitate in voting preference
tor soldiers over civilians. But on the ques'
ton of preferring Union or Rebel soldiers lhey
"hared up" That was shaving too close
Ottana Republican.
The FREE TRADER is entirely willing that
the democrats shall be put upon the record
on the soldier question. They are proud oil
that record. They contributed more than half
of the Union soldiers that went to the field to
fight, while the republicans filled the civil
Offices and the ranks of the heroic Home
Guards. The democrats are not their 0te"
enemies, and can therefore be relied upon as
the friends of the soldiers under all circum'
stances.
What the FREE TRADER is "indignant' or
rather disguised about at Col. Fort is his
blatant demagoglsm on the subject.
To begin with, his complaint about the
democrats OF the house dismissing Union
soldiers to make room for rebels IS false
hood Col Fi,zhugh, the newly elected door
keeper has made statement TO the house,
from which it appears that he has in his EN-
ploy Sc appointees, instead of lj7, the mum.
Der in the employ Of the doorkeeper under re,
publican rule. OF these % are Union sol.
diers, 10 cOntederates, . veterans OF the Mex
lean war, and the balance civilians, OF whom
clad oath >, nhat fhpv had
never fought or held Office under the rebel
government, &C. Under the last republican
doorkeeper who had, as already stated, near
ly double the number to appoint, there were
ia proportion, Col. Fitzhush has appointed
two Union soldiers to his predecessor one.
Col. Forts blather is therefore founded on a
ialsehood.
But the democrats "fiared up" or refused to
pu, upon record their preference for Union
over rebel soldiers. We honor them for it.
If the war is over-if the amnesty the repub-
licans make such boast of having granted,
was honest and intended TO be observed in
good faith, then a resolution on the journals |
Of congress laudng Union and s,igmatlsing
confederate soldiers would be disgraceful |
blot AT the end of the war two courses were
open TO the republican party either to try
the rebels for treason and punish them or par. !
don and restore them to citizenship. The
policy to pardon was adopted, (and, so far as
Jeff Davis and few other rebel leaders were
concerned, against the protest and jeers of
more than half the democratic press of the |
north) Shall the country 20 back now on
hat decision and adopt the policy ofpunish.
nent? Or, If too cowardly to punish direct
y, punish them indirectly by placing them
nnder dsgraceful stigma on the journals of
congress and excluding them from Office
Col. Fort himself voted at the last session of
congress for the widest amnesty, even to ex.
end to JEFF Davis himself. How then, as an
honest man, can he now propose to place the
ban VA na0sv whom NJ pIUtUuaed par uvn,
and thus put on record as vile piece of
hypocrisy and bad faith as any nation ever
was guilty of. No wonder that the Chicago
Times, which hates democrat only next to |
the devil says Of Col. Fort, "if he is not in.
cluded in the arrangement for that interna-
ional match for small bores,' which is TO
come off in Philadelphia during the exhibi. !,
ion days between American and English |
the contest will lack the interest
hat might be derived from one of the most !
obstinate bores that this or any other cont
lao
100 severe. Col. Fort has proved himself the
champion small bore" and mosquito dcma
yogue of the age.