The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-04-23

t0Ac 1OuS SttP VOW3tO Tue OeSlIeO enQ.
So, with the cunning ever attendant OF
the spirit that originates treasons anG
hopes for spoils, they resolved to expe
rience change of heart and enthusiastic
ally espouse the loyal cause.
But in this new and strange role they
found everywhere prominent an element
they most cordially hated-men who
stood square across their path-these
were the loyal soldiers. To them it was
manifest they never could be happy until
the soldier was disposed of. But how to
accomplish tn is was the question. To
show open opposition would be sum-
marily aud forever to defeat their fondest
hopes. Again their genius was equal to
the emergency. They Set themselves at
work systematically, to so intuse into
the great loyal party the poison of trea-
sou that it would not be loathsome to
the men who had risked their lives in its
Overthrow They became the apostles of
Cancellation, and went about preaching
peace-a peace that was to be obtained
by surrendering to traitors all for which
we had fought. The South, they said,
was mistaken, but honorable with all,
and, since rebels fought for "a principle"
they were not to be pardoned, as there
was no offence; but, on the contrary,
were to be respected, as men of honor,
who were ready to die for their convic-
tons. Besides, if we ever expected the
South to stay with US in the Union, we
must cease our unfriendly references to
the past-to the unfortunate conflict, in
which each side were about equally in
the wrong. Under such a pressure, the
loyal soldier soon experienced "cold-
wave," which presently degenerated
into "cold shoulder" He encountered
an indefinable, uncomfortable affront in
the house of his friends-an insult 80
outrageously mean that disgust took the
place of resentment, and he simply left.
The soldiers staunch friends were also in
the way. They were fossil, dangerous
implacables; they belonged to past
period, had out-lived their usefulness,
and we're not wanted, but their places
were wanted most tremendously. So one
by one they were stung out to give room
for neutrals of the on-committal variety
men who in the days when there were
but two parties in our country-patriots
and traitors-we're little of. No one
knew just where they stood, and for the
best reason in the world, they did not
know so much themselves. They we'll
knew where they wanted to stand, and
that was on the winning side, so soon as
it became certain which that was; pro.
vided always, that in all cases they were
10 be good many hundred miles in the
rear of all possible danger. With such
men set up as "way-marks." the soldier
was quite at loss to distinguish friends
from foes, and many, concluding the
great party born of opposition to treason,
and baptised in the life.blood of 300, 900
Of our bravest aud best, had disappeared,
concluded to enlist under other banners.
Some ofthem joined the Greenbacke rs,
others allied themselves to the Changers,
while the greater number nursed their
wrath at home, and refused to vote at all.
The result-the legitimate result-was,
The almost complete triumph of the party
that fostered and fathered the Rebellion
Would you know the beginning of the
look around you and read
our political history for the past year.
We were once told that rebels must take
back seats, yet now We find few front
mes that are not filled by men who dis
themselves on the field or for.
I'm in the wicked attempt to destroy the
In the States lately in rebellion, vic.
ence and murder have wholly over
thrown the civil authority. The General
is openly and continually
lefed. Loyal men are hunted like
oxes, and shot down like wolves, for no
'ther reason than because of their loyalty,
md the Government is wholly powerless
o succor the assailed or punish the often.
lers. Leaders of banditti, whose coward
y acts of inhuman fiendishness disgrace
IS in the eyes of the world and call loud !
y to heaven for vengeance, are rewarded |