The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-06-21
MANY of the readers of the

y
SENTINEL will remember an elo-
quent speech made, in the Ridge
field pasture just above ThibO-
daux, some years ago, by Gen.
Steadman of the Union Army.
He is one of the grandestOrators Of
the country and ii strong partisan
of the Democratic party, who was
using his influence and eloGuence
to put down carpet bagIsm and
scallaWaggery in Louisiana. He
was President OF the late Conven
ton of the Democracy in Ohio
that nominated Ewing for Cover.
nor. On calling the Convention to
order be made the following
speech.
| What Lincoln thought and said
| of the War DemOcyuts.-AccOrd-
ing to the published biography Of
this gentleman, Mr.. Foster, he
was twenty eight years old IN
1861, when the war boke out.
He had just then reached the 70
NTH of his young manhood, aud
he was IL Steriiug, loyal patriot,
but he was not loyal enough to
shoulder musket or grid on a
sword laughter and applause and
90 to the front and fight the bat
ties of his country. lie stayed at
home, like IA good many OF those
loyal patriots, and made money
out of the people and soldiers.
Cheers,
The Republican party has per
sisted in this absurd claim that
it is the only loyal political organi
: zation in this country, until al
most every man who belongs to
t really believes that he is pa.
{ triot an,! hero. Great laug ghter.
Now, l assert here to day, fel
. low Democrats, and defy contra
l diction when | make the state
4 ment. that at the close of the
), war, with two OF three honorable
e exceptions, every soldier who had
). won distinction and was in com.
It mand ,ot "a department, of an 1T
e my, or of a corps, was furnished
{. by the Democratic prty. Great
I; applanse.) Remember that the
= men whose failure in the war
y bron ght disaster to the Union and
l. cast disgrace upon our arms, were
e. not Democrats. (Applausel Re-
N member that the Vances, the
a Schencks, the FremOnts, were not
t. furnished by the Democratic par
g ty. applause and a voice. ''Hit
le him again. l make another state
Is ment here to day, and there is d
is living witness in the State ol
= Ohio who was present when MIR
lg Lincoln made the uttei ance. The
Vt. first time | ever saw him was aftel
I'd the battle of Chickamauga whel
mt was ordered to reporI in person
II, to him. (Appiause.) l went ~
1d and called npon him, and MI
tt. James NJ. Ashley, who is living
TX heard the conversation. Mr.. Lii
ol. coin took me bv the hand, greet
ne ing me warmly. He told me h
L was glad to see me. Still holding
al me by the hand, he said to MI
ln- Ashley ''Br0ther Ashley, wha
see would have become Of us in thi
lly war if it hsd not been for til
W. fighting Democrats of the Nortl
'g west 2" (Applause) Mr.. Ashle!
'ed with shrug of the shoulder
rat said "Well, Mr.. lincoln, ! don
'ed know" Then Mr.. Lincoln replied
ace "Our rebellious friends won
sws have had their flag floating at II
est Capitol. sir.' (Aprianse. /
his says, 1.-THE truth is Brother AS
yer lev, that our party is made up
her some extent of the religious al
the sympathetic element, and tn
'ge. don't make first class soldiers
our [Great applause.
ned 1t is time, fellow Democra
lthat the Democrats in tEis Co
try assert their right to a +
share in the honor and glory
;uh the success of our arms, IN
r., late war of the Rebellion. Chez
,',on | The war was put down by
ruo, N. men of iron nerves aud fearl'
hearted men who came from
',".o th4 avOcatinns of life. 1t was
80 the Republican politicians '
49, az. did it, aud they have no RI
= Is now to attempt TO thlOw this
~; ma upon the Democratic pal
which furnished it's full shar'
Ny W all the soldiers that bore
.noss arms to victory. Applause.)