Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-10-26
Inducements TO Desert.

l
are numerous but rather threadbare.
The Democratic horn blower will buttons
hole him and whisper confidentially that
he really shouldn't throw away his vote
this year. There are two candidates for
congress on the Republican ticket and
a Democrat is sure to be elected, while
in the county, the Prombitionists will
draw away votes enough to elect the
Democratic ticket Under the circum-
stances, my dear fellow, how can you do
so foolish. thing as to attempt to keep
such rotten old party in power. In
the meantime the prohibition brother
has seized upon the other ear and in
commercial parlance offers to ''shade"
these prices considerably. He acknowl-
edges the truth of his brother Demo-
Gratis statement that the bewildered
voter would be crazy to vote the Repub-
can ticket when all the signs show that
party is on the verge of ruin, but he can
offer party that is better than Demo-
cracy for it is bent on lifting up of man
kind, on shutting off the accursed liquor
traffic, much more respectable party
to be seen associated with than that fes-
tering old excresance and besides he will
find many members who used formerly
to be Republicans.
Now suppose the voter gathered his
wits together and asked the Democratic
vampire who was striving so hard to
suck Republican blood for the record of
his party. Its past history, as vouch-
er of what it would do in the future.
Would the other reply by quoting the
stubborn defense of slavery made by
that party; or would he refer to the
Marcy doctrine, inaugurated undertake.
son, of ITO the victors belong the spolls,
from which dates the deterioration of
the public service. Would he refer to
the support given by the party to the
south when it was seeking to destroy
the union, or the opposition to the con-
summation of the objects of the war
through legislation. Would he point to
the record of the Democratic Ku-Klux
clan or the murderous doings of the
White Leaugers. Would he refer point
edly to the action of the Democratic
house, which threatened to starve out
the government if their wishes were not
acceded to. If not to this record, to
what else could he point. And would
the Republican voter feel justified in
deserving his colors on such showing?
If not satisfied to desert to the Demo-
crazy he should ask the prohibitionist
for reasons why he should save his vote
by casting it for the prohibition ticket,
would the other begin by telling of the
past third party victories, would he urge
the action of that party in the role of q
Democratic ally, as in the recent Ohio
! election, or would he come out bluntly
and say they were trying to whip the
Republicans into supporting their idea
| by threats of dismemberment and defeat
if they did not. Would either or all of
these reasons furnish ground for descr-
ton of the Republican colors, and a
descrtion just when the two armies are
drawn up in line of battle, and every
ballot counts.
CandIdly now, would not any think
ing farmer or mechanic, if asked to pur-
chase some new implement on business
reasons equally flimsey as are these poll
teal reasons, be very apt to show the
seller the shortest way off his premises.
Yet in brief the above reasons are
those offered by Democratic and pro-
hibition partisans, why Republicans
should desert their colors. They may
be elaborated somewhat. They may be
sugar-cOated with sweetened sophistry
The blacklist spots may be whitewashed
over. but when this veneering is rubbed
off, they remain substantially as given.
And what are those colors which they
ask you to desert. They are the stand
ards on which are inscribed the names
of the old aboltionists, on which are
inscribed Sumpter, Antietam, The Will
derness, GAINESVILLE, Gettysburg, Vicks-
burg, Chattanooga, Petersburg, the
emancipation proclamation, the four
teenth and fifteenth amendments, the re-
construction acts, q free ballot, and
fair count. Are these standards blazon-
ed with this glorious list, wet with the
blood of thousands of brave men and the
tears of millions of loving women and
tender children and dried in the heat of
great war, to be deserted at the beck
of those who seek to trail them in the
dust?
Deserted in the face of the enemy,
deserted in order to place that party in
power which bitterly opposed everything
connected with the placing those proud
names on the colors. 1t seems hardly
possible. Soldiers of Grant county the
long roll is sounded, the line is forming,
names have changed, times have chang
ed, but the enemy is still the same
Shall the Republican line of battle be
broken and ragged, made SO by skulkers
and descrters, OF shall it b. reformed
with the solidity of old, presenting the
same glittcring line of steel. You can
hardly make but one answer and that
answer will be one that shall cause the
periodical chill to run down the spinal
column of those who seek to blind Your
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