Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-10-01
"HAS THERE BEEN A WARE"

The following pertinent article we clip
from the last Sunday Telegraph, publish
ed by Col. E. A. Calkins, war democrat
during our late "unpleasantness:''
There are indications that the war Dem
Gratis of 1862 and 1864 in this State are
| beginning to think that condition of af
| fairs exists in the country which is not
altogether unlike that which existed when
they once before adopted separate and
decided course Of political action, and as
sumed their distinctive appellation. The
state of things is such that all but the
mere form Of slavery exists in the south;
there is no more loyalty in the Southern
States than there was when the rebellion
was at it's hight, and the systematic, de-
termined, continued and ruthless assaults
at the south on the established results Of
the war, constitute causes for the gravest
apprehensions. In fact, from a look at
the south and at home, it would remain
to superficial observer, except for the
thousands of manned veterans all around
us, a matter of doubt whether the war
had been fought at ALL
of the ex-rebels is matter of profound
establishment. Their arrogant attempts at
Congressional domination, the impudence
of their claims and attitude, the contempt
and hate for the North which they do not
attempt to conceal, their shot guns and
Ku Klux policies, their terrorism and
murders, are making it impossible for the
Democrats to to carry a Northern election,
and difficult to vote the same ticket that
they do and preserve selfrespect.
Mr.. jenkins and his associates upon
the Democratic ticket of this State are ex-
cellent men, and if it was a mere matter
of conducting the State government, there
would be little or nothing to choose be-
tween them and their opponents. But
every Democratic victory gained at the
north appears to have been the signal and
encouragement for new aggressions, new
outrages and new atrocities by the ex-
rebels of the south. These victories in a
few States have been gained by the great
est sacrifices, the most arduous endeavors:
and especially by pledges to the people of
the north that the south would be peace
full, would scrupulously adhere to the set
Elements of the war, and would guard the
institutions of freedom which it establish
ed; and that they would deal with the
negro in a spirit of enlightened human
ity. Then, when, by such means,
the northern Democrats have gained a
new victory or confirmed an old one, the
southern braves and rufians have APP
peared to consider it as a warrant for
again coming out and shooting some
Union man or Republican neighbor, fede-
raj official, or for Ku-Kluxing negro
settlement. These sources have made
Democratic victories fewer instead of
plentier, and are likely to cause them to
disappear altogether. They have a tend
ency to create considerable doubt in the
minds OF many people who have been
voting the Democratic ticket, whether it
Is best to try to elect Mr.. jenkins or not.
1t is certain that the Liberal Republi-
cans of 1872 and the Republican Reform
ers OF 1873, have nearl y all described the
Democratic party in consequence of the
results at the South of Democratic victo-
rles at the North. 1t is equally true that
Republican Greenbackers, who have
sought to break up their party, and to
form new one, have been compelled to
withdraw back into their party lines by
the uprising of the rebel spirit at the
South at every prospect of Republican
defeat at the North.
The War Democrats of this State will
consult the part Of wisdom by consider
ing whether other political issues had not
better be placed in allegiance till it is as
certained, with tolerable degree of GER
tainty, whether there has aeen war,
and, if there has been one, What was the
subject OF the dispute, and with which |
side the victory remained.