National Republican., 1876-11-25
Intsrpretation Of the Election,

The following was sent us by Private Dal-
zell before he was aware of the election of
Hayes:
The Democrats point triumphantly to the
00,000 popular majority claimed for Boss
Tilden as q proof that the bloody shirt is
played out in American politics, and that the
Union soldier is played out as well, for that is
what they mean by bloody shirt. The rebels
did well when they brought the Union cause
into ridicule and contempt by baptizing 1t the
bloody shirt. II was no shaft hurled at ven
ture, but one winged with treason and shot
straight to
THE HEART OF THE UNION CAUSE.
Every Democratic loafer feels himself COM
missioned by this vote TO sneer at the crippled
soldier, laugh at his crutcbes and his wounds,
and question his right to pension or wooden
leg. That is what Democrats desired for long
years. That is privilege they have fought
ior and voted for sixteen years. To see our
old battle flags sneered at and Union men
treated with contempt all over the United
States has been the longing desire of every
Democrat in America. They would willingly
forfeit their full hope of heaven, and even
yield the election of Hayes after all, If only
this Interpretation were accepted. 1t has
been gall and wormwood to hear the Union
soldiers praised and promoted in all these six
teen years past. They have longed for the
day aga ain to open in darkness when they dare
openly sneer at the Union soldier. That day
has come. 1t is disgrace TO have worn tine
blue. 1t is an honor 10 have worn the gray.
Our dead heroes are to be forgotten or their
memory treated with contempt TO please living
traitors. At the demand of Ben Hill the
CAUSE OF TREASON
is to be placed above the cause of loyalty.
Loyalty is at discount. Treason is the fash
ionsble thing. The old soldier of the Union
has become pauper and a nuisance. His
old blCody-staiDed battle-hag has become
bloody shiIt; forsooth, a garment that is and
ever has been intentionally mean in all ages.
Is this the verdict of the pationl Where are
Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Hayes, Logan,
Burnside and Garfield! Who dares to do them
reverence? What Democrat but denounces
and reyiles themi And whyl Because they
are Republicans? No. But because they were
soldiers of the Union. Every rebel black
guard thinks he is warranted in sneering at
them now that the nation prefers rebels to
loyal men by its majority vote.
"The war is played out. D-n the war and
the soldiers" says every rebel loafer in the
land. So says every Democratic paper issued
since the election. That is what they long
waited to see. That is what they fought for 10
never forgive the Union soldiers for whipping
them. Never. That is why they cali US,
names. That is what they mean; all they
mean when they bawl out bloody shirt at US.
The nation which has borne SO much yio-
lence at the hands of the Democracy can
scarcely tolerate this insult to its honor and
its pride. It cannot well afford to have its
sacred altars profaned by rebel hands, and its
sacred names profaned by rebel tongues. 1t
cannot well bear to see It's soldiers degraded,
illuminated, vilified and sneered at by low
browed Copperheads and rebels. Nay, more;
its very existence is thereby imperiled. For if
reproach and SANDER, scorn and calumny are
the returns the people in mass make for patri-
otic service, who will hereafter with his lie
care to risk his reputation by
DEPENDING THE NATION
proved 20 ungratefull If the flag is to be
sneered at and laughed at by every Copperhead
Iuffan, who will risk his life to defend it, If
the rebels are to be honored as fine gentlemen
ofsuperior blood and spoken well Of In high
places, snd Union soldiers are to be treated
with scorp, who will teach his little son that it
is sweet TO die for ones country No one.
Let the children rather be taught treason, II
treason brings honor and respect and loyalty
brings sneers and reproach. Let the rising
generation be warned against committing the
folly OF defending an ungrateful Republic that
reserves fits smiles and its votes for traitors and
its sneers and ieers and ridicule for loyal men.
Let men who were soldiers, If they will pass
for honorable men, deny with curses that they
ever followed the nations flag, and let them
swear till they are as black as the devil In the
face that they were always traitors. Then
shall they become hoI orable gentlemen.
PRIVATE DALZELL.