The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-07-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
TrIr, 7eth 1000
July 10th, 1880.

July 10th. 1880.
Nothing is more common thanthe
assertion by Radical editors and
speakers, that the Nation was saved
and the slaves freed, by the acts and
might of the Republican party. This
assertion is false. Slavery vas abol-
-ished by the Proclamation of Presi-
den Lincoln, and which said procla-
nation was issued as a war measure
only. It was neither a Republican
or Democratic measure, but was one
Of the means devised BY the Presi-
dent for effectually carrying on the
war.
The nation vas saved by the army
and navy and by no party whatever.
The army in turn was composed OF
men of all political faiths together
with a vast number who knew or
cared nothing for politics. l have
seen the statement made without
contradiction, that there were some
regiments of the army composed of
Democrats only. No man al now
state with any degree of accuracy
how the army was divided on politi-
cal questions. But I think it safe
to say that it contained fully as many
Democrats as Republicans. Some
thing perhaps may be learned on
this subject by looking over the list
of living Generals of the army. The
Republicans can parade their Grant,
Sheridan, Sherman, Hayes, Logan,
Garfield and q few others of lesser
note, while the Democracy a show
Hancock, Mcclellan, Smith, Frank
lin, Porter, Terry, Scofield, Spinola,
ISlocum, Farnsworth, Palmer, Sigle,
and / know not how many more,
whose blood was shed or offered to
save the integrity Of the nation, in
fact a few years ago it was published
as a matter of current knowledge
that two-thirds of the living Major
Generals were Democrats.
Under these circumstances the
claim that slavery was abolished or
the Union saved by any political
party is absurd. And the arrogance
of the claimants is only excelled by
their wanton perversion of history,
No, the blood of Democrat, Republi.
can, negro, Indian, Frenchman from
Canada, Irishman fresh from the
Emerald Isle, Germans direct from
the Rhine, Swiss from the Alps and
Italians from the Sunland, was al
mingled in a common stream to save
1.-THE nation, The question was no
one of politics, and the honors apper
tain to No political organization.
1t is true that very many persons
: changed their political status during
T the war. Some were ardent pro -slav
stery men so long as slavery existed
and violent abolitionists afterwards
e. g. John Logan, of Illinois; ant
many were conscientious Abolition
g lists while there was slavery to op
I pose and consistent Democrats after
wards. Among this number ma,
be reckoned Geo. A. Julian, of In
diana and Gen. /. F. Farnsworth.
The result of the examination i
Y this, no party freed the slaves, n
e party saved the Union. That bot
8 were accomplished we are grateful
!, not to party but to manhood. Th'
living Grant and Hancock as repre-
sentatlves Of army officers, and tn
dead privates whose bones bleache
Z the hills and valleys of all the Ian
+ as representatives of u brave an
mighty, these saved tile Union, Will
/ Republicanism, embodied in skulk
5 ing bounty jumpers and pious can
and fraud was waxing fat in its in
2 EQUITY and shame. CoRDwAINER.