Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-09-18
Political Incendiarism.
by LEE DAVIS LODGE, A. NJ.

We had thought the war was over. A
brave people who through long and terri
BILE strife had borne themselves with daunt-
less courage and peerless chivalry, which
long shall be the orators theme, which the
poets long shall sing, had accepted in good
faith all legitimate results of the conflict
The Confederate soldiers had returned to
their desolated and desecrated homes. The
men of the South were successfully striving
against fearful odds to repair the ruin which
the sword and the torch had wrought. The
birds had built their nests in the mouths of
rust.eaten cannon. No roaring sound of
war, but only the low, sad music of the
winds and the ripping waters, was heard
on the battle plains where the bones of our
bravest lie bleaching. The hour for which
patriots labored and good men prayed seemed
at last to have come, and Peace had spread
her snowy wings over all the land.
But now wild, discordant note breaks in
to mar the harmony of the times. From
stump in Ohio John Sherman filings the
bloody shirt once more TO the breeze, and
uses all the arts in his power to stir up the
passions and rekindle the fires Of war. He
is not alone. The Radical chieftains, be-
smearcd with paintand decked with feathers,
have brandished their tomahawks and taken
the war-path. The country now echoes with
LnelT uOWlS anu MuOOpS. ilC SO-
called Republican party seem to have chosen
sectionalism as the issue on which to go be-
fore the people. TO insult, TO misrepresent,
to calumnate, to lie about the South-this
is the way by which they hope to re-
gain the favor Of honest men who, having
found them wicked and Improbable SER
wants, have cast them into outer darkness.
With charity for none and malice toward
al Southern men, these political hyenas in
their greed for carrion have dug up with
their claws the buried hate and strife of the
sections.
But the catch. words of the so.called Re-
publican party and the demagogic harangues
of its leaders have lost their power. Dis
comfture soon shall seize upon these heart
less politicians Gen. Garfield spoke truth
when he said: "The man who attempts TO
get up political excitement in this coun-
try on the old sectional issues will find him
self without party and without support"
The people of the North no longer believe
that we of the South are fiends and outlaws
and murderers. Some of them have trav-
eled among us, entered our open doors,
supped at our tables and clasped our hands.
They know that our hearts are not filled
with rancor, and they know that we love
our country and obey her laws Yet how
wicked, how diaboical, is this attempt to
plunge the country into enmty for the sake
of supposed partisan advantage Such
men as Sherman and Foraker Blaine and
| lIalstead, however they may prato of patriot
ism are deadly foes of the Republic They,
| and not tho Southern soldiers whom they
malign and traduce, are the traitors, and be-
fore the high tribunal Of the American peo-
pie we charge them with the foulest crime.
The South to day is devoted to the Union
of the Constitution and of the fathers, and
| il a foreign enemy should land upon our
shores the gallant "Johnny Rebs" would
lead through fire and smoke whittier Johnny
Sherman and his rabid friends might not
| dare to follow.
These insults come not from the brave
soldiers of the North-Grantdie with words
of reconciliation and good will upon his
| lips--bnt from time serving politicians from
parlor heroes, from men "who loudly Kissed
ON the dogsof war, hut took mighty good
care 10 keep at n safe distance from rebel
| lead"
What a contrast is there between the so
called Republicans who are preaching the
gospel of hate, and the Democratic leaders
who are eloquently pleading for peace
May the Lord in mercy ever deliver Mary
land from Radical rule. Como forth, ye
! Democratic hosts, all panoplied for the fray.
Light every campfire. Post every sentinel,
| There must be no iaterng.
At the battle of Trafalgar, as the British
fleet moved majestically forward to the
attacks, their great commander, amid the
cheers Of his daring men, displayed on his
flagship this signal: England expects every
man to do his duty" The world knows how
well they did it. In the coming battle old
Montgomery expects every Democrat to do
his duty,-to hanish personal dislike, to rise
superior TO all petty antagonisms, and to
vote for de ticket the aoltole ticket, aad NOTHING
but Tie ticket.