The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-03-04
BLOODY-SHIRT PAPERS!
NUMBER Xxx.

In pamphlet recently received fine
series of Illustrations is given of scenes
along the route of the Western and At
lantic Railroad, running from Chatta-
nooga, Tenn, to Atlanta, Ga. We would
be glad to have every young man in the
State of Ohio-if it were possible-travel
over this route, and study well the scenes
and historical events along the way.
There are many men in Jackson County
who travelled this route once upon time,
under the most dangerous and trying cir
cumstances; contesting, with a deter
mined foe, every mile of the ground
These events occurred long time ago,
and we occasionally hear Democrat say
that he is tired of hearing about them.
Great Heavens! no wonder that the Dem
ocrat is tired of hearing of these things!
Peter was tired of hearing of his denial
of Christ, and Judas was so tired of hear
ing about his turning traitor that he
went off and hung himself, and bursted
his belly.
Along the route of this road of which
we speak, the boys in blue, as well as
those in gray, were nearly four months
under fire-there being scarcely an hour
when the popping of musketry or roar of
cannon was not heard. The route is lined
with the dead of both sides, and in the
towns there are broad fields of soldiers
graves. There were some who went
from Jackson County who remained in
that country, silent witnesses to the hor-
ror of Democratic treason. A glance at
these maps, and the description of these
battlefields, can give but a feeble idea of
the terrible sufferings of those who push
ed Johnston from Chattanooga to Allan
ia. The sacrifices made by those brave
men can not be hidden behind the veil OF
years, nor can they be obliterated from
the minds of the loyal people. The sound
| of the bugle at the front, in those days,
could not be drowned by the sneer of the
'peace Democrat" in the rear, neither can
the glory of a blue coat be tarnished by
sighting remarks. This great field, from
Chattanooga to Atlanta, presents one of
the strongest evidences of the unfitness
of the Democratic party as public serv-
ant. Every shot fired from the line of
gray was as shout of defiance against
the laws of the country. Many of the
leaders upon that side were men who had
sworn to stand by the Constitution and
the laws, but during that long struggle,
posed before the world unblushingly as
perjured traitors. There were those in
the North who were in strong sympathy
with the gray-coated Democrats down
that way, and who were vastly more sor-
rowful at the surrender of Lee than at
the murder of Lincoln. Had the Confed-
eracy been successful in destroying the
Government, the Democracy of to-day
would not be bowling for the people to
forget the old soldier and his glorious
work. But the trouble is, it was the 9TH
er fellows that got whipped. That makes
vast difference in the pleasures of mem
ory. The long march through Georgia
was campaign against Democratic trail
tors, all the way through, and every I'm
death to that party.
We have spoken frequently-and the
story should never get old-of the at
tempt of the leaders of the Democratic
party to destroy the Government by
armed force. Now we may ask 'shas the
party improved?" We think not. We
regarded Robert E. Lee as better man
than John Mclean, and Joseph E. John
ston as better man than Dan Dalton.
Why should we forget the past, when the
Democratic leaders of those days were
so much better than the leaders of to-day
"Oh WELL" you say, "these men you speak
of as Democrats to-day are local politi-
clans of Ohio" Well, come home. Were
not Thurman, and Pugh, and even Val
landigham, better men than these mod
ern leaders. Where, then, has the party
improved? The party in Ohio to-day
howls for the success of fraud, forgery,
and stuffing ballot-boxes, as means of
attaining power in violotion of law, just
as Johnston thundered defiance from
Kenesaw. The party improves in one re-
spect. 1t gets meaner from time to time.
As great force in politics, the Demo-
cratic party is dangerous and horrible.