The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-06-03
BLOODY-SHIRT PAPERS!
NUMBER XXI.

NUMBER XXI.
A Democratic paper suggests the idea
that the Bloody Shirt is as dangerous to
the public safety as the red flag of the
Commune. There is a vast difference.
The flag of the Anarchists is threat of
danger to come-the bloody shirt is a rel
ic of danger past. 1t is not the part of
any man soldier or civilian, to claim that
the blood-stained banner is pleasant
thing to contemplate. The very appear
ance of it was enough to fill a nation with
horror. And it is the history of this hor-
ror and the causes that produced it that
so worries our Democratic friends. That
history is varied one, filled with sue
cesses and defeats, with eXultation and
grief. The man who now screeches with
pain at sight of the bloody shirt, vainly
tried to smother his anguish at the fall of
Richmond and the capture of Jeff Davis.
While contemplating the great panorama
of war he was thrilled with enthusiasm
and joy when the Union forces were
hurled from the field at Bull Run. and
crushed with grief when the Rebel forces
were sent reeling from the field of Gettys-
burg There's good deal in the way a
man looks at the situation. No person
could have reasonable motive for keep
ing alive any bitterness toward the brave
Rebels who fell in trying to destroy the
Government which protected them, but
at the same time there is no reason or
sense in gushing over 1.-The Blue and The
Gray or kindred nonsense. The fact re-
mains always, and indisputable, that on
the one side were patriots, and on the
other side were Rebel traitors. The very
men who advocate the wiping out of all
bitter recollections, would at the same
time create and perpetuate a gushing
sentiment which would hide the treason
of the traitor in admiration of the brave
ry of the soldier. Those who have stood
upon the battlefield and seen the dead of
both sides lying about as grim and silent
witnesses of great crime, cannot forget
the feelings with which they viewed the
solemn scene. All died bravely-each at
his posst-heroes all, in physical courage,
yet those in Blue fell fighting to main
tain the laws of the country, while those
in Gray fell while attempting to destroy
the Government. 1t is not to engender
bitterness, or antagonize the surviving
friends of these that the Bloody Shirt
is Waved-but on the contrary to teach
the younger men of to-day the horrible
evil of which the Democratic party was
CrIli1ty from fn
Gratis do not enjoy any reference to those
days, and even go so far as to attempt to
ridicule the services of the Boys in Blue.
Why? Because they would teach that
treason and murder by the Democratic
party were only slight mistakes of jadg-
ment, and that the cause which produced
them was righteous one.
On the battle-ground of Chickamauga,
at one point the dead Union soldiers were
so thick that nearly score of them had
to be buried in mound, besides the scat
tering graves in the immediate vicinity.
What soldier could stand by that "heap
of witness" and regard the Rebellion as
mere mistake on the part of little
wing of the Democratic party? There
was deeper meaning. We must reflect
that while these brave men were falling,
the roar of the guns that killed them was
accompanied by the shout of the Demo
cratic party at the North, that "the war
is a failure-we told you so! The sol
dier of the Union-and there were many
Democrats in the ranks-looked in vain
for any encouragement from the Demo-
cratic party at the North. Only the SOL
emn declaration of the inability of the
Government to "coerce a State" coupled
with the bitter denunciations of the Gov
ernment, greeted the soldier from the
Democratic organization in the North.
Nay, further than this. 1t may not be
generally known among men of to-day,
but is well known to those of us who are
older, that a company of Democrats was
organized in Jackson County, for the pur-
pose of carrying the war into this county.
A time was even set by these knights
of the Golden Circle" to burn the town of
Jackson, and we have every reason to be-
lieve that the company actually made a
show of marching upon the town one
night, but were sufficiently cooled down
when they came in sight of the place, to
save their necks by turning their best
looking sides upon the town, and going
in the other direction. There is a good
deal of unwritten history that might be
picked up, showing the action of the par
ty organization of Democracy at the
North. The Democrat who volunteered
in the Union army was execrated by his
party leaders at homeland we have seen
some of the letters thus written-and
greeted with the hope that he would nev-
er be permitted to come back. The Dem
ocrat who was drafted was assured, with
Il great show of courage, that a host of
brave men would die before the Govern
ment would be permitted to take him.
Thus the picture is complete-while
large numbers of good Democrats, and
loyal men, served their country faithfully
and well, the action of the party at the
North was in full sympathy and accord
with that of the party at the South. You
say, Democratic friend, that your party
is loyal to the Government to-day? Yes,
but your party had to be thrashed for
four years before it discovered, or would
admit. that it was loyal. And the recent
experiences Of the people with the Demo-
cratic party will go far toward strength
ening the conviction that the party would
not hesitate to go to any extent of crime
yet in order to further political ambition
or personal intrigue. The whole record
is black, and it is not surprising that the
Democracy should affect to abhor the
past and desire-or pretend to desire-to
blot it from memory. The truth of his
tory will stand unchanged. While por
ton of the Democratic party at the North
were loyal, and stood 10y the Government,
the party, as an organization-North and
South-was full of treoson and desire
TO destroy the Government