The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-02
T. d AIlOAyO4fAI1It
President of the Association
aIR. JoHNsoN's REPLY.

President of the Association
RTR. JoHNsoN's REPLY,
GOSHEN, Ind, June 20, 1884.
Colonel |. D. Mcdonald President of the Democratic
Editorial Association of Indiana:
Dear Sir Il have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your esteemed favor of the 14th
inst. informing me that / had been unanimously
chosen by the executive committee of the Demo
cratic Editorial Association of Indiana to re-
spond at the Democratic mass meeting to be
held at English's Opera house, in Indianapolis,
on Tuesday evening, June "a 1884 to the sem
timent 1.-THE Democratic Soldier; First in the
Field and the Last to Leave, and in answer say
that most fully appreciate the high compli-
ment thus intended to be conferred upon me by
your committee. / must however, respectfully
decline the proffered honor.
In that grand struggle to preserve the Union,
maintain the supremacy of tie Constitution,
and defend the honor Of the flag which is the
emblemo of American liberty, and wherever un-
furled gives fresh encouragement and increases
hope to all lovers Of individual freedom and re-
newed strength to the defenders of the rights of
mankind throughout the civilized world, i 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 totmenace
our liberties, threaten the destruction Of the
union of the States or plot the overthrow of the
Constitution OF our fathers. As participant in
that internecine contest against the enemies of
our country, / only wished to know that
my comrade in arms was true to that
flag loyal to our cause, and had the
courage and bravery to do his duty
upon the tented field; and if he possessed those
requisites, recognized in him patriot, a friend
and brother, and cared not for his past polit-
ical affiliations, nor what his future associations
might be, in the event that he was spared to re-
turn to his home to enjoy the fruits of our joint
efforts to save the government from destruc
ton.
Now that the war is over, and the surviving
soldiers have, as is their privilege, taken their
places in the ranks of the different political par
ties of the country, that some of them are hon
estly differing from me in their advocacy of po-
hticAl principles. can and does make no differ
ence to me in my respect for them as men, for
we are still bound together by an indssoluble
tie. from having shared with each other the
common danger and barred our breasts to meet
and overcome the common foe; and no partisan
ship, however strong shall ever sunder that tie,
or cause us to forget our comrades who fell by
our sides in the defense of our common coun-
try.
In considering the sentiment to which your
committee has asked me to respond at a mass
meeting at indianapolis, can but feel that it
may justly be construed to be direct reflection
upon those noble men who. though of a differ
ent political faith from myself, fought as bravely
as the bravest, in that grand struggle for the
preservation of all that is dearest to every true
American citizen, and were among the foremost
to respond to their country's call when in dan
ger; nor can make myself believe that the
spirit which peryades it will not tend to build
whom, as among themselves, no such feeling
should exist, and thereby tend to destroy that
brotherly relation which they now sustain to
each other, though supporting and advocating
different political principles and defending diff
ferent measures OF government policy. | am
Democrat and was member of that party be-
fore the war; but am not enough of partisan
to cause me to believe, much less to maintain,
that the men who, as soldiers differed from me
in their political principles were not as early
in the Held and remained there as long, as
those of my own political faith; or that there
was any difference in the; bravery, courage, 10y
atty, or patriotism of those brave soldiers who
fought the battles of the war; or that the one
was any the more OF the other any the less en-
titled to honor, if he did his duty.
because of the fact that he may have
belonged to this or that political
organization before the commencement of that
late unpleasantness. To me, all soldiers who
did their duty in maintaining the integrity of
the government and preserving the Union are
alike, whether they belonged to the Democratic
or Republican party, and cannot permit
myself to become a party to even the
casting of a seeming slur upon the 10y
atty, courage, bravery and patriotism of
any Union soldier who was with me in the field
belong to whatsoever political organization he
may; and as 7 cannot but feel that the sentiment
to which you have requested me to respond at
your meeting goes far toward doing this must
honor of addressing my fellowcitizens upon the
occasion mentioned Thanking you and your
committee for the kind invitation extended,
remain yours respectfully,
x. s III