The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-12-20
WORDS FOR A DEMOCRAT.

What one Republican has Done.
The following communication was
handed US some weeks ago, but was laid
away and overlooked till this week 1t
has not lost anything by the delay:
EDrToRs NEws:-Please let me have
a small corner of your paper to express
to you what / heard and what saw at
our recent election, in Emporia. start
ed to town at an early hour. On arriv-
ing found plenty of buggies and car
riages running to the polls. When l
got ready jumped into the finest one 1
could see. I did not know TO what party
it belonged, nor did care. There was
a big crowd at the polls. and in push
ing my way through, heard some man
ask the question: "What has the Repub-
licans done? ?" Another good looking
gentleman gtanding by answered, ''What
haven't they done%' began to think 1
had snakes in my boots" but found
| was all right, and pushed myself for
ward with my ticket in hand. Another
one, suppose Greenbacker, told me
he was mad at me for voting the Repub-
lican ticket. I dIdn't say anything, but
I felt something in my bosom beating,
beating, faster and faster I handed my
ticket in and left for home with my vessel
about full. I couldn't think what was
the matter. Could you, Messrs. editors ?
l don't think you could. But 1 found
out after L~got home and got little
cooled of. They didn't pay for the whis-
tie like did. About fifteen years ago
Il think it must be fifteen years, though
it seems to me but yesterday came to
Emporia on parole IN my suit of blue
Then they knew well what we were do
ing, and if they had carried that beauti-
full fiag-the stars and stripes-as long
as did, Think they wouldn't forget it
so soon.
But haven't commenced on my ser
mon yet. You see 1 have a good text,
but am afraid I'll make poor out, not
having the advantage of normal school,
or very little of any other kind of educa-
ton, as my Democratic friend has. But
while he was tending to his school I, for
three long years and three long months,
had to stand between he and the can
non, the muskets and the bayonets of
30, 600 of his Democratic friends at Praire
Grove on their march to Kansas.
Now, my friend, if you and that Green
hacker will follow me little while, I'Il
try and tell you what one Republican
has done. 1 went to Fort Leavenworth
in '61 and asked my Uncle Sam if he
wanted any help. He answered in the
affirmative, and 1 told him was at his
service. So he took me up long stair
way to the top of the barracks. There
were two or three gentlemen present who
made me strip to see what was made of
They ran me round the room awhile,
and found l was all right. The next
thing I had to do was to hold up my
right hand and solemnly swear that /
would protect the government and stand
by the flag; also to stand between you
and the southern confederacy, and a
great deal more which now forget
But my troubles hadn't commenced yet
Ny uncle took me to my new quarters;
here he put strap across my shoulders,
with Sharp's rifle hanging to the end
of it; next he belted around my waist
navy, sword, cartridge box full of lead,
and told me he would give me horse.
The next morning I told my uncle that
my load was very heavy to carry for three
years. He said would get used to it
after awhile. It wasn't long before we
were ordered south and to the front. In
the afternoon of the first days march
got pretty tired, but o deari talk to me
about tiredl I didn't know anything
about it yet. The next morning YOU bet
knew more of the stern reality; nv
bones were nearly broken and ached all
over; nevertheless, I had TO climb into
that Mcclellan saddle again all the same.
Sure enough, By the time got to Fort
Scott 1 began to get little used to it as
my uncle told me. Here we went into
quarters; but there 'eis no rest for the
wicked" 1t was not long before we
heard of a gang of democrats coming
north, so we started to intercept
them. We travelled eight days and
nights, without sleep or rest, while YOU.
nay friend, were at Emporia, getting your
regular sleep and rest without any one
to modest you, and still you can't see
what I've done But we had to press
forward to Arkansas At Cane Hill the
rebels told US we couldn't go any further.
We opened our music boxes on them.
driving them inch. BY inch until we got
TO the Boston mountains. Here our reg
iment charged down that hill, down into
that valley of death to good many of
our brave boys, and in there we lost that
brave man, Lieutenant Col. Jewell, of
the 9Th Kansas. He was one of the brav-
est men that ever left Kansas. The reb-
els asked him to surrender, but he re-
piled no. never." and withssword in
hand cut and slashed as long as he could
sit in his saddle. He fell at last, in the
midst of the enemy. Some time after.
ward We learned that Hindman had
passed as on another road going to Kan
sas- We got into our saddles on the
double-quick, and with Blunt at the
head of the column, we found our
selves in front OF 5000 rebels. The fight
commenced and got hotter and hotter
until dark. when the firing ceased; but
who whipped no one could tell. That
Inight every man laid On his arms, ready
for the next znorning When the morn.
Ing came We were drawn mp in line Of
hafsle, but sson foznd shat the bird had
flown Hindmen had 10 surrender o.