The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-02
That Shirt,

To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
That bloody shirt, the emblem of patriotism,
of fidelity of suffering and death that the Nation
might live, the mere mention of which has for
many years irritated the gall of rebel sympa-
thizers and provoked stream of sneerng,
Shiny abuse of all who wore the garment or hon.
ored the cause in which it became bloody, is
likely to have counterpart
Be it remembered that when the crimson cur
rent dlscolored the neither garment of dying
soldier on the battlefield, that shirt was made
of wool. Is it possible that this is the reason
of Democratic hostility to wool2 Have they de-
termined. in order to get rid of the CHASTITY
bloody shirt, to destoy the manufacture of wool
en- shirts in this country. thereby increasing the
price so as to put them beyond the reach of the
great army of laborers!
The great volunteer army, two millions strong
wore WOODEN shirts. and when the thrust of
Democrat let out the life blood it ehbed forth
a wooden shirt. se~ at tss
There is grand army of laboring men to- day,
including the farmer, the mechanic, shop men,
day laborers miners, railroad men and many
Others all clad In wooden Shirts and every
thrust of the Democ ratio party at the cheap
production of wooden fabrics is a thrust at the
life blood of the toiler.
The campaign of 1888 is bound to be a shirt
campaign. Speakers and writer's will refer to
the history of our country from 1861 to '65;
they will mention incidentally the history of
some sections of 1t since 1865 They per-
verso In THIS ana you can't keep them from 1t If
you try. They may use the termsi ''Ku-klux'
Shotgun" mississippi plan," intimidation"
ETC., and from the throat of every Democratic
sauawker will come back the yawp, "bloody
shirt"
The same speakers and writer's will refer to
the tariff on wool. whether the present Congress
succeeds in placing wool on the free list or not,
and when they cannot be met with facts
logic they may expect attempt to ridicule
their position by derisive shout, scented with
a sheer of ''woolly shirt
AS the term "bloody shirt" is a synonym for
courage, patriotism, suffering and death in be-
half Of the Union, so ''woolly shirt" will mean
much more than a single garment It must
mean q whole suit of clothes for each me amber
of the family and pair of blankets for each
bed in thu house. It must mean protection to
American industries, steady employment and
good wages for all occupations and classes of
producers All right taen, Mr.. Free-trader!
Come with your, woolly shirt We are its
champonsl 1t shall be our battle cryl 1t shall
be our slogan We will shout it's praises from
the rivers to the mountains and from the noun
tains to the 1t shall be glorified and i'm
mortalized. Our own Riley some other wild
eyed poet of the West shall weave it into rag
carpet song; and our ownest Professor Giffe
some other gifted musician shall set music to
the lines and it's glories shall be sung by the
toillng millions throughout the land.
Like the late blizzard. the force shall gather
in the mountains Of the Pacific SLOPE and sweep
over the West with bosom of destruction
course to the Atlantic until its effects on Dem
ocratic theories shall be most terrific in New
England. WOoIIY SHIRT
LoGANsPoRT, JAM so 1885,