The Portland daily press., 1876-08-08
COnnOr VS.. Talbot.
An Earnest Word from a Maine Soldier
Stand by the Repu bIican Party.

Soldiers and Comrades of Maine:
At this time, when public sentiment is deep
ly stirred when issues of as much Importance
as those which called for our services in the
early part of the war, when we SO promptly
responded to the call of our country, when the
two great parties of the day were looking to
us for support to ensure their victory in the
coming September and November elections, l
say to you, comrades, ii behooves us as intelli-
gent voters to look about us and consider these
important questions involved and the men
who have been nominated to these high offices
within the gift of our votes. Go back with me
in memory, if you please, to the early years of
the war-when the news first came flashing
over the wires that the South had taken up
arms against us and had fired on Fort Sumter.
How our hearts was stirred with the great
wrong the South had committed, and how
promptly we rallied to the call Of the country
and went forth with the 'God bless you" of
our dear ones to fight for what we thought the
right Go through the long years of that ter
rible struggle in memory and think of the men
who remain the leaders of the Democratic
party to-day; think of the obstacles they threw
in our way. While we were at the front try
ing to subdue the rebellion with an honorable
peace, they remained at home declaring in their
conventions and party papers that the "war
was failure" and demanding peace on any
terms. Think how our hearts used to burn
with contempt and indignation towards those
men at home who were using all their power to
dishearten us at the front and those at home
whom we SO much needed to replenish our bat
tie thinned ranks. Did the thought ever cross
your minds, if in the providence of God you
were permitted to return home again,
that these men who were calling us "Lincoln's
hirelings," would have the effrontery to ask us
to vote for them in this Centennial year for
these high offices? What claim have they up.
on us that we should give them our votes?
But perhaps some of you say, eve need a
change" Think You the Democratic party
has the interests of this country any nearer at
heart than the Republican party? 1 think not.
At least, you have but to look at the dongs of
the Confederate Congress the past winter to
convince you of this. You did not think when
you stood at Appomattox court house and saw
Lee and his soldiers surrender to you that sixty
of your comrades who stood beside you then
would be removed from positions in and around
Washington positions they had so nobly earned
and to which the Republican party appointed
them as slight token of their love and respect
in helping save the Union from destruction,
you did not think then, say, that those men
who laid down their arms to you there on til at
memorable field, would supersede you and
your comrades in those positions. That is but
the result of Democratic Congress composed
largely of many who served the Confederacy
and who surrendered to us in 1866. What,
think you, the result will be if they get control
of all the departments of the government?
Their platform is but plausible. mixture of
threadbare platitudes and fabrications. Ad-
uniting that the Republican party has devel-
oped corruption, it is but the inevitable result
of the great war and debt entailed on the coun-
try by acts of Democratic treason. The great
question for us to decide at the coming election
is: Shall the country seek its better days in
the reformation of the party that has saved it
from destruction, or in that which is covered
with infamy by desperate attempt to destroy
it. Look also at the two tickets. While
Hayes aad Wheeler were giving their whole
soul and energy to the Union cause, Tilden and
Hendricks were secretly Plotting for tbs Con-
federate cause
Then, comrades let US be true to ourselves
and country, and on the 18th of next Septem-
Der give rousing vote for the brave General
Common, whom some of you had the honor to
follow in many we'll fought battle fields, al.
ways leading you to victory as he will the
party he represents in Maine, if you are true
to him and do your duty as it was always your
pleasure when confronted by rebel hosts Then
in November, let us vote for the soldiers friend,
Gov. Hayes, of whom his political enemies can
find no word Of fault. 1t is, as believe, truth
fnlly reported that the private soldier of Ohio
is yet to be seen who served under Gen. Hayes
who will vote the Democratic ticket.
Let US then not give the lie to all those
resolves and sacred memories of the last fifteen
years and vote for that party which if elevated
to power will undo all we were four long years
in doing.
How was it with the last Democratic Presi.
dent? Did he not violate his most sacred
pledges? Before his election did he not pledge
himself TO the doctrine of leaving the peo-
pie of Kansas fres to form and regulate their
domestic affairs in their own way, and did he
not deliberately violate his promise and at
tempt to convert Kansas into slave state by
the means of forgeries, frauds and force? And
is that party more truthful now than then?
Let us take no stock in their high.sounding
promises of reform and prosperity. We can
secure them in our own party if we don't de-
sert the coat of 'blue" for the one of 'sgray."
Let us then look TO the hills from whence COM
eth our strength, and God, whose arm is not
shortened, will lead us to victory as he did the
soldiers of old who put their trust in him.
Fraternally Yours,
Co. III, Sd MAINE Vols.
News and Other Items.
A year ago the wholesale grocers of Provi-
ience aytapdad a cordial welcome tn the rnen