The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-11-29
The Spirit of Ohio Democracy.

Mr.. S. r. Reed had an article in
Saturdays Commercial Gazette on the
subject of the late G. L. Vallandig-
hams life and character. A perusal
Of this article recalls many recollec-
tions of the dark days Of the war,
when Mr.. Vallandigham was looked
up to as martyr and political god, by
the mass of ignorance largely compos-
ing the Democratic party. Vallandig-
hams only claim to martyrdom con-
sisted in his having been SO blatant
in reasonable utterances that the at
tention of the Government authori-
ties was called to his case, and he was
placed under arrest as a traitor. 1t
seemed that the simple fact Of his
having been proved disloyal to his
country doubly endeared him to the
hearts of his fellow Democrats. We
who were on the other side we're really
solicitous lest his image should dis
place that of Old Hickory, in the
Democratic affections.
Regarding him thus, it was but
natural that his arrest should arouse
storm of Democratic Indignation.
A gentleman named Pugh, Of Clncin-
natl, signifed spiritual readiness,
but not a willingness, to march, at
the head of one hundred thousand
Ohio Democrats, over the Canada
border, and bring the beloved Demo-
cratic Messiah back to Ohio. But the
procession never started there soas a
procession of Democrats toward Can
ada, but they were not armed and
Vallandigham had not the glory Of a
triumphal entry into Ohio, at the
head of one hundred thousand butter
nut militia.
This threat reminds us of the only
actual outburst-or overt act of re-
bellion-on the part of the Vallan-
digham Democrats of Ohio, which
came under our own observation dur
ing the war. And this picture may
serve to convey some idea of the value
Of the Vallandigham soldier, as mil
itary force, and to show how abso-
lutely empty and silly was all the
blow and bluster of the spirit of
Democracy" which many of the
young Democrats of to-day affect to
emulate.
Holmes County, Ohio, has large
number of as good Democrats as ever
masticated a twist Of ''dog-leg."
Every one Of these voted for V'lan-
digham." But what was the horror
of these followers Of that Democratic
saint when word was brought that a
number Of them had been drafted to
go and fight in Abe Lincoln's Aboli-
tion War! The time for decided ac-
ton had come. They were now call
ed upon to take up arms and fight for
their right not to fight. The result
was a rallying Of the Vallandigham
army We chanced to be member
Of command which was ordered to
Holmes county to assist in throttling
this spirit of Democracy. The exact
numerical strength of this division of
Mr.. Pugh's army was not ascertained
by our crowd, as that command did
not tarry for an interview. We
reached the Democratic encampment
after a march of some fifteen to sew
enteen miles from the railroad-if we
remember correctly. These Demo-
Gratis were laboring under John Nor
gan's delusion that Ohio had no Yam
kee troops left at home. They evi-
IDENTIFY expected corporal's guard of
militia, but, to be safe, or maybe to
keep up show Of military discipline,
they had some five or six pickets post
ed behind piles Of rock near the high
way. While these half-dozen solemn
butternuts, armed with squirrel-rifes,
sat behind these rock-piles, nursing
their wrath to keep it warm," a pro-
cession of a regiment of infantry, a
company of rifemen and two pieces
of artillery-rifed Parrot guns-came
filing along the road, The Democrat
nearest the Union troops fired upon
them. Supposing that the butternut