The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-09-11
RYANs GLADEs Sept. 9Th, 1880.


ED. REPUBLICAM -Deur Sir -
I, with all the readers Of the REPUE
LICAN, as well as those of the Demo
c1'at, have been not little ast0nishcd
at the claims made by the Democrat,
and the Officer of the Oakland Han.
cock and English club, that the
Democratic party furnished the states
men and soldiers that conquered the
rebellion.
In the first placc, what war legisla.
ion did any Democratic statesman
introduce ? Did any of the war
measures looking to a vigorous pros
ecutiOn of the war, originate with
Democratic statesmen? On the con.
trary they opposed and denounced
every such measure.
We all know that several Demo.
cratic Statesmen" were expeiled
from Congress on account of their
reasonable acts and sentiments.
We know that that eminent Estates.
man" ValIandigham of Ohio was
taken up by the Democrats and run for
Governor because he was a blaRtant
out spoken rebel. and had on that
account been sent over the lines into
the confedreacy by President Lin.
coin.
We know too that IN the State con-
Yentions during the progress of the
war, Democratic platforms denounced
the war measures of the Govern
ment. and their general tenor was to
discourage rather than encourage the
prosecution of the war.
This a matter of history AZ well,
that the National, Democratic Con-
vention at Chicago in 1864, declared
the war failure, and demanSNA a
cessation of hostil ties.
We ais, remember that nine out of
every ten Democrats we met were
either out sp' ken against the war for
the Union, or were sullen and had
nothing to say. The writer of this
letter remembers more occasions than
one, where he met Democratic &c.
quaintance whom he regarded as
friendly, but who did not deign to
speak to him because he wore the
National uniform and that during
the war and for years afterwards
Union Soldiers were treated as ene-
mics. 1t is well known that Demo-
Gratis and Rebels were synonymous
terms in this part Of thecoan;ry, and
Democrats generally did nothing to
support or encourage the struggle for
the Union, bait they actually desired
the success Of the Rebels. If they
wore a badge it was of gray, if they
cheered it was for JEFF. Davis, if their
sons enlisted it was in the Rebel
Army.
1t may be true that a number Of
original Democrats fought for the
Union, such as Grant and many
others, but when the Democrats be-
came Rebels those of them that bad
any self respect left the party, and
Joined the Republicans.
There is one infal.ible mark in.
.exing Democratic sentiment: n"
Democrat ever names his child for a
Union general, unless he had dis
graeed himself as in the case Of Nc.
Clellan. There are in Democrats
families, plenty Of Lees. Floyds.
Simses and Forests, but never a
Grant, Sherman. or Sheridan.
But what is the use 10 multiply
evidence to prove what everybody
knows. Everybody, great and small.
Unionist and Rebel, Republican and
Democrat wise men and fools know
perfectly well that the Democrats
did not conquer the rebellion, but
did a great deal more for it than
against it. How many of the officers
of the campaign club of Oakland
did anything to assist in the suppress
sion OF the Rebellion And on the
other hand how many of them gave
it cOuntenance and encouragement or
were actually engaged in its service ?
Will the Democrat inform us? Will
the Editor say where his sympathies
were during the war? and as the
Democrat insists that this is not a
Nation, will it tell it's readers on
which side it will be found in case
the Southern States secede again.
Democrats are greatly in need of a
certificate of loyalty, but in the name
OF decency somebody else ought to
make it out and sign it.
Yours very truly.
ONE OF THE Boys THAT WORE