The Portland daily press., 1884-12-19
Spirit of Democracy.

The Democratic party when it achieves
for meanness and indecency with prompt
ness. Sometimes this is shown in one way,
sometimes In another; but particular Illus
tration of the tendency alluded to is an in
suliing card which has been printed to be
sent anonymously to Republicans. Apparent
ly it was devised by some sneak of the same
class with those who filled up the Argus
with anonymous lies concerning Republican
candidates before the September election.
AS it is printed with blank space for she
insertion of the name of the person intended
to be insuited, it would appear that de-
mand for them was expected, the contriver
evidently snspectng that many Democrats
would be as glad as himself to discover a
means of insulting political opponents. The
card is in imitation of pass the main part
Of it reading as follows:
Pass - - from - to Alaska, the only place
of refnge legally belonging to the Republicans, on
account OF the fraud of '76 and free use of money
go.
State Room 1s2-Good for Eternity.
GROVER CLEVELAND, President.
THOMAS A. HENDRICKS, Vice President.
This detachable document is garnished at
top and bottom and on either side with some
coarse scurrility OF a personal sort such as
would pass for wit in Fourth Ward Demo
cratic meeting, the reproduction of which in
the PRESS would be too much qualification
to The sneaks who got 1t up.
One Of these cards was sent through the
Bnckspert Post Office to Capt. Charles A.
Deveraux ofslhat town, who values it highly
as . specimen Ct genuine Democratic spirit.
Captain Devefaux is not in Office, but COM
nands a packet, and there is no reason why
such card should be sent to him except his
faithful and honorable service in putting
down the Democratic rebellion of twenty
years ago. He recognizes in this abuse pre-
cisely the same hatred of the Union soldier
of which he had before experienced the BIT
terness al Gettysburg. Ii the younger gen.
Grafton Of voters knew more about this spirit
they never would have permitted the return
Of the Democratic party to power in this
country.
Capt. Deveraux was sergeant in the six
teenth Maine volunteers. In the first days
fighting at Gettysburg he was with the gal-
liant and lamented Gen. Reynolds and re-
ceived severe wound in the hip. With
some hundreds of other wounded Union
men he was taken to church In the town
which was soon captured by the enemy.
Rebel sentries were stationed over them
with orders to let no one pass 10 OF out.
They remained there two days and two
nights without particle of food or water
except what their haversacks and canteens
contained when they fell. At the end of
this time the town was recaptured by our
army. Apparently The purpose OF the Rebels
was to force the death of the sufferers by
starvation, for when plying woman, liv-
ing near, made ten gallon pailiul of Cruel
and sent in to the wounded and starving
soldiers by hoy, the sentry deliberately
kicked it over in their sight not allowing one
of them to pariake Of it. Sergeant Dever-
aux used all the water in his canteen to
hathe his wound and suffered the thirst of a
wounded man for two days. His little store
of hardtack and pork, not enough for one
COED meal, he shared with captain OF his
regiment. So strict was the sentry acting
under orders that the Union surgeons were
not allowed to go out OF the building to wash
the blood from their hands. Having this
experimental knowledge of The meaning Of
the scripture which says "the tender msr-