Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-08-25
Appeal to the Boys In Blue.

Az grand rally OF tne boys IN blue In
Albany, New York, last week, Colonel Arson
S. Wood made the following eloquent
appeal to his old comrades; The real issue
was not, he said, whether Garfield or Han.
cock, both soldiers, should be honored with
an election to the presidency, but whether
loyal men or unrepentent rebels should have
control Of the next administration. We
had on the one hand the men who rebelled
against the nation controlling every disloyal
state and ready and able to cast its electoral
vote for the Democratic candidates, while
in the north every man who, during the war,
sympathized with and hoped for rebel sue.
cess is also earnestly engaged in trying to
aid the election of the Democratic ticket.
They could only win, if at all, by the aid of
Democrats who during all the war were
loyal to the Union and by the help of the Re-
publicans who have become dissatisfied with
the old party, and want a change for the
sake of a change. If the Democratic party
succeeded, the incoming administration
would be controlled by the Southern Demo-
Gratis and their rebel sympsthizers at the
north. The speaker referred to the vow
registered by the loyal people to be faithful
to the memories of those who poured out
their blood in defense of the Union line
when the rebel brigadiers, now serving in
congress, were charging down upon it.
You cannot call them back to life, but
while you live you can be faithful to your
VOWS, and by your votes and influence can
uphold and maintain the cause for which
they died. On that fatal morning. when
they, with Others loyal to the core, formed
that long and that strong line between the
invading columns of Lees army and our
northern homes; on that dreadful day when
so many Union soldiers were so quickly
ushered into the dread presence of the angel
of death in those dreary months when
loyal men were suffering the torments of
the damned in the prison pens of the South,
you swore a sacred oath that you would
never forget the cause and the country they
loved so well. If it be true that the sancti.
fled spirits of the patriots dead look down
from their home of bliss upon this world of
ours and take note of what is being done
here, can you believe that in this contest
their hopes and their prayers are on the
side Of the men who wore the gray? Can
you believe that your dead brothers and
sons if alive would be found fighting in the
ranks of the rebel brigadier I tell you
nay Do you accuse me of trying to revive
the old war spirit and Of stirring up feelings
of sectional hate ask you if may not
make the same appeal to loyal men that
Wade Hampton made to his confederate
friends at Staunton, Virginia, few days
ago? Surely, if rebel general may
appeal to the followers of Davis and Lee
to rally to the support of the Democratic
party on the ground that its principles
are the principles for which he fought
aud Stonewall Jackson fell, may not a
humble soldier, who wore the blue, en-.
treat his fellow citizens, the fathers and
brothers of his old companions in arms, Ia
not forget the party which never fatered in
its support of the Union soldier, and which
has so faithfully maintained the principle.
for which he fell" The Democratic party
dared not appeal to its record as evidenc,
of patriotism or proof of fidelity to thu
country, and nothing so rritated or offended
the leaders of the Democratic party as any
reference to the past they are so anxious t.
blot out aud bring us to believe it has
become party of loyalty, with the proof
in the person of soldier, whose lips they
have sealed, whose sword they have broken
and whose uniform they hate The speaker
in conclusion referred to the proud achieve
ments of the Republican party, and sale
that party pointed to James A. Garfield
soldier and statesman, and asked that int
his strong hands be delivered the reins o.
government.
Coon AUTHoRITY.-The Dry Goods Bul
letin of New York, which has hitherto ken