The Indianapolis journal., 1884-07-07
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Patriotism vs.. .pisloraltE.


The recent correspondence between the presi-
dent.of the Indiana Democratic EDITORIAL Asso-
ciatiom and the gallant Colonel r. NJ johnson.
of Goshen, Ind, deserves more than the pass
ing notice given it, in the press of business, by
the Journal Especially, in view of the fact
that the Indiana Democracy are preparing for q
military political campaign this year, under the
leadership of Golanel Isaac p. Gray, as the
political party of the State, First in the field
and the last to leave, in the war for the suppress
sion of the rebellion
Preparatory to opening this heroic campaign,
the executive committee of the Indiana Demo
cratic Editorial Association invited the veteran
Colonel r. NJ. Johnson to respond to the toast
The Democratic Soldier: First in the field
and last to leave at Democratic mass
meeting, to be held in Indianapolis, on the
eve of the State convention, June "a 1884 In
reply to the committee, Colonel johnson
heroicapy declined the profered Demo
cratic honor, and in burning words of
patriotism, that would cover with confusion and
put to shame any Democratic meeting ever as
sembled in Indiana since April 1861, he pro-
ceeded to xindieate the pR1on soldier who
welded the sword or the bayonet in the field
against the dishonoring reflection put upon him
| by these Democratic knights of the goose7qaiN
In his answer to the invitation he says: In the
grand struggle to preserve the Union, maintain
| the supremacy of the Constitution and defend
the honor Of the flag, knew none
but Union soldiers all of whom were first in the
field, and none Of whom left the post of duty SO
| long as there was an enemy TO menace our hher-
| ties, threaten the destruction of the Union or
| plot the overthrow of the Constitution. As a
| participant in that contest against the enemies
OF our country, ! only wished to know that my
comrade in arms was trne to that flag. loyal to
that cause and had the courage to do his duty
upon the tented field. If he possessed these
requisites, recognized him as patriot. friend
and brother" "
Nobler sentiments clothed m tag1er, braver,
grander words were neyeruttered by patriot lips,
nor traced by warriors pen. They not only do
credit to Colonel Johnson's head and to his heart
/ but show him to be as dangerous to the enemies
of his country with his pen in peace as with his
1 sword in war. The converse of the patriotic
| proposition so calamity assumed and so ably
maintained by Colonel johnson is that, if they
were not true to the flag loyal to the cause, and
| had not the courage to de their duty in the field
i as long as thure was an enemy to menace our
j hberties threaten the destruction Of the Union
or plot the overthrow of the Constitution, he
recognized them, not as patriots, as friends. and
/ as brothers, but traitors, enemies, or
| strangers. Shades of Tilden, OF Hendricks, of
Mcdonald of voorhees,, and of Gray! In what
complete state ofdeeollation this lightning stroke
i of soldiers pen left the limp body of the Indi-
ana Democracy, with its editorial association!
VIII the executive committee of the latter
i body inform an.adnnring Nation h W many of
i its members were thus recognized by Col John
| son, on the tented field, in the long. sad,
i gloomy days that tried mems souls from 1861 to
4 1861
/ a grand and burning truth. conveyed by these
i potent words of Col johnson, and of which he
/ is living illustration. is that Union soldier
/ was a patriot because he was true to the flag,
loyal to the CAUSE, and had the courage to do his
! duty the field of his country, and not because
4 he was a Democrat or Republican
All honor to such soldiers by grateful coun-
try. no matter to what political party they may.
be allied; and shame and confusion upon theirm ma
| hgners in whatever association" they may be
| found. Col. johnson and his comrades in arms
4 who like himself, were members of the Demo
| cratic party before the war did not go to the
i field because they were Democrats but because
i they were patriots-loyal brave and true--who
loved their party not less, but their country
/ more.
On the contrary, they went in spite of their
party, contrary to its ayowed principles and pol
i icy, and against the protest of its leaders.
j In April, 1861, before any soldiers had gone to
i the field. the Democracy of Putnam county as
| sembled to listen 10 speech From D. w. Voor-
| hees, then member Of Congress, ia which the
j speaker said Il will never vote one man, one
1 dollar or one gun to the administration OF Abra-
] ham Lincoln to make war ON the South. The
4 meeting then adopted a series Of resolutions,
/ from which the following is taken:
Resolved, That citizens deny the right of the
general State governments to embroil fell
lowctizens in intestine war with the people of the
States of this Union, and having time and
again warned the members of the party nowin power
Of the fatal tendency of their insane course and inn
plored them abandon their stubborn and unwisep
| icy,we take for our policy mot dollar and not
one man from Indiana with which to subjugate the
| South and to inaugurate civil war.
/ Resolved That Governor Morton when he Wants
troops TO slaughter the descendants of Washington
jackson, Clay and 10. Daviess be respectfully re-
quested to make NO ca on those counties which have
| heretofore furnished men and money to defend the
nation against foreign foes but that he confne his
levies to those communities which never sent one
to uphold the flag of our nation its march of
i conquest and civilization.
"Resolped That the conduct of our present acting
Governor Oliver P. Morton. in Y = urging war
against the people of the South deserves and hereby
receives the condemnation and contempt of the
/ people here assembled.
1 On the 9th of February, 1863, fhe Democ-
racy Of Greene county adopted the following
i resolution
I'VE hereby declare onr opposition to the further
prosecution of the war; that not in favor of
furnishing the present administration another man
gun or dollar for such helIish and unchristan cru
4 SADIE"
4 The Wayne county Democracy assembled at
Cambridge, March 20, 1868, and passed the
j following resolutions:
Resolved That the further prosecution of this war
will result in the overthrow of the constitution of
civil liberty of the federal government in the eleva
tien Of the backman, and thu degradation of the white
man.
Resolved That we say to the administration IT
cannot go with its provost 1aarsals and police a
cals arrestng free white en for what they conceive
TO be their duty within the plain provisions of the
Constitution and maintain peace in the loyal States
4 Blood wall how. They cannot and shall mot
forge fetters for our limbs withouta struggle for the
4 mastery.
The Democracy of Allen county held n mass
4 meeting at Fort Wayneon the 18th day of Au-
gust, 1864, and resolved as follows
nResplved, That we more than convinced Of
the truth of the docriae Of the Democracy asserted
the outset that is the