The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-12
DEMOCRATIC HYPOCRISY.
The Pretended Friends of the Soldier and La
borer Dismiss an Old Veteran from Office.

County Commissioner Clinton's company of the
Thirteenth Indiana made brilliant charge at
Rich Mountain, July 10. 1861. The Union lines
were in a valley, and beyond pike at the foot
of the hills the rebels had their order of battle.
General Rosecrans ordered Captain Clinton to
take four companies of his regiment ana get in
On the extreme right, between the rebels and
their breastworks, four miles away. The Cap
tain with his forces went to the pike at an OBJ
lique which threw his right under the fire of the
rebels right wing. He had to retreat or go on.
He chose the latter. The rebels, when they
could detect the gray uniforms worn by the
federals at that time, thought reinforcements
were coming and ceased firing. Clinton kept
his men at an aim and demanded a surrender
from the rebel officer. The latter did not an
swer, but finding himself in the presence of an
enemy, ordered his men to resume firing. The
fighting became so close that powder marks were
left about the wounds of federal and rebel
Captain Clinton not only accomplished the pur-
pose of his charge, but captured several officers
and men of the rebel forces. In this brave
fight was James Carnegie. He had the fingers
OF his right hand shot off, and bears many
powder mark to-day as evidence of his courage
in this hand-to-hand contest. For several
years Carnegie has been the faithful janltor of
the County Commissioners Office Nearly
twenty-five years after his faithful service at
Rich Mountain for his country, Carnegie was
dismissed from the petty Office by Commission
ers Sahm and Reveal, because a Democrat
wanted the place.
This dismissal is fitting complement to the
buncombe Judge Holman showered on the SOL
der at Saturday nights convention, when he
wanted every Democrat to express his SYM
pathy, love, admiration and esteem for the boys
who wore the blue. At that time Holman had
resolution of sweetness and hattery In the in
terest of the soldier. and asked every one to in
dorse it by an impressive standing vote. Old
Democrats, who, during the war, hated the blue
uniform with all the intensity of copperhead
venom and rebel sympathy, arose.
as; as did the younger Democrats S:ts., whose ss
service as Cleveland and Hendricks guardsmen.
Four days after this spread of excessive latter
day loyalty, County Commissioners Sahm and
Reveal two Democrats, who Endorsed the Hol-
man resolution, dismissed James Carnegie, a
hero of the Rich Mountain fight, from position
worth $50 per month, because Democrat want
ed it.
At the same convention, the working men re-
ceived an equal amount of fulsome eulogy, In
the adoption of a resolution introduced by John
W. Kern. If that resolution meant anything, it
meant cordial support of the knights OF
Labor. Four days after this resolution
was adopted County Commissioners Sahn and
Reveal, VINO profess a lively sympathy With It's
spirit and purpose, discharged James Carnegie,
a member of the Knights of Labor, from his po-
sition, because he was Republican and Dem
ocrat wanted to succeed him. 1t is appropriate
to mention that Carnegie is also an active mem
Der of the Red Men, knights of Honor. Chosen
Friends, and other orders
This removal did not appear on the record of
any regular meeting, at which all the Commits
sioners were present Sahm and Reveal decided
to make the change without letting their col
league know anything of their purpose They
simply told Carnegie, the old soldier, the knight
of Labor, that his services were no longer re-
quired. Twenty-four hours afterwards Carne-
gle met Commissioner Clinton and said: "Well,
they have discharged me-"
'Who9 Discharged whom9 l don't under
stand"
Reveal and Sahm have tol6 me to 60"
''Toid you to go2 They never said a word
about it to me-"
When the courthouse men were appointed,
some time ago. Sahm and Reveal said "Ob, we
will retain Carnegie, because he a member
of Captain Clinton's company. He can stay, if
Captain Clinton says So" The new ianitor is
Calvin Hillard, colored politician, whose fond
ness for work, people of his own race say. has
never been marked to such a degree that gave
him distinction for energy