Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-07-09
The SIur upon Soldiers.


To the Editor Of the Journal:
We noticed the slur in last weeks
Standard, at the suggestion made by a
soldier that Knapsack Clubs be formed in the
interest of the republican candidate for gov
ernor, where "Old Soldier % suggests
that these organizations be called "diarrhna
clubs"
The slur was so infamous that one can
hardly conceive the signature to be genuine,
since every old soldier knows but too well
what terrible and deadly foe to all troops in
the field, chronic diarrhGs has always been,
and no brave man, more especially soldier,
knowing this, would ever slur or attempt to
bring ridicule upon a comrade who had been
thus afflicted. We therefore come to the
conclusion, that the Standard man invented
that signature, thinking it would have more
effect if so signed than it would if published
as from his own pen. For one we trust that
communication may be placed in the hands of
every family in Maine who lost sons by that
awful disease, chronic diarrhga. and let them
see what Eben +. Pillsbury and his associates
are attempting to do. Let every poor fellow
who to-day is dragging out his existence I'M
der the affection of that disease, which bat-
fes all medical skill, II disease they must
suffer from until they go to their premature
graves, ponder it we'll, and let him rccolect
that Eben +. Pillsbury attempts to heap dis
grace upon him because he was so afflicted
Then, too let these mourning families. and
these suffering veterans rccollect that much
of all these trials and Affections resulted from
the disloyaty and teachings of Eben +. Pills
bury and others like him during the war
Had the editor of the Standard been at all
familiar with the history of casualties in all
armies he would have known that chronic
diarrhpa il foe to soldiers far more to
possessed the least spark of humanity, new
er would he have allowed such a communi-
cation to appear in paper edited by him.
As it is, Pillsbury has thrown down the
gauntlet he has assumed to lead the slanderers
of the soldery of Maine, while insulting
every family in the commonwealth, whs lost
relatives by this fell destroyer.
Soldiers of Maine let us take up this
challenge, let us appeal to the loyal masses
who found it necessary to fight Pillsbury &
Co. while their sons and neghbors were at
the front. Let us ascertain whether or not,
only fifteen years after the war, we are to
have that man, VIGOROUSLY disloyal during
the country's peril, ride rough shod over any
of our comrades, with his slurs and epthets,
in his attempt to elevate to power the men
we were enlisted to kill for more than
three years.
Eben f. Pillsbury the traduccr of the
Hon. Daniel +. Davis.
Let us bring out the record of the two men
and let the people decide for themselves.
All. well, boys in blue, and you of that
number who were stricken by disease during
the war, you have your remedy; You can
bring this slur down upon the head OF its au-
thor with crushing force. You can best do |
this by from this time to the Sth of Septem-
Der doing all in your power to enlist voters
for your comrade, Daniel f. Davis. and on
the night of election the returns that will
reach the ears of this traducer will be of
nature that will be punishment enough for
this wicked attempt.
Mr., Editor, only yesterday we heard two
soldiers who last year voted the greenback
ticket, say they were already organizing the
soldiers in their locality in support of Mr..
Davis, being induced TO do so from the com
munication in the Standard.
4 SOLDIER,
Who lost tiro brothers ia the Army by the |
disease dbore mentioned.
July Z, 1879.