The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-11-02
An Old Soldiers Advice to His Comrades.


I'VE are very sorry that lack of space makes
1t impossible for us to publish the following
letter entire, IT will repay careful reading
Ed.)
Boys how are you going to vote? l
/ say. let US vote as we shot. Some do
not like that word. We were then
fighting for principles; 30 are we now.
Principles just as true and rights just
as sacred as we were then fighting for.
1 believe every mans vote should be
as sacred as his oath; no man should
vote for another who does not repre-.
sent the true principles of American
liberty and patriotism. Cleveland has
beat the vetoeing record so far that no
one can keep in sight. Some say the
republican party is corrupt. Do you
think you will better it by.voting with
the other party? No, we have had too
much evidence to the contrary. The
republican party has made some mis-
takes, yet believe it to be one of the
purest parties on earth according to Its
magnitude. Parties are like men,
the one human, the other human in.
ventiOn; there Is none perfect.
To my prohibition comrades would
say your principle is only one among
many good ones, and rightly belong to
the republicans as do three ..fourths of
the true temperance men of the prohi-
bition patty. 1 am sure the leaders
made great mistake in breaking up
the union which existed between the
two parties allying it with the demo-
cratic party.
Grover will have to 60. His ten
Thousand dollars will not buy one
spark of genuine patriotism. Some
may say am waving the shirt, but
1t is blue not red.
Comrades would you not rather risk
Ben Harrison, the hero of Peach Tree
creek, the patriot who shot side by
side, shoulder..to shoulder, with those
leaders and patriotic hearts; who has
always cast his ballots and used his
influence on the side of right and JUS
tice. Or would you rather vote for
Cleveland who has always associated
himself with the disloyal and weak
kneed and unpatriotic part of this ma
ton. He will have plenty of time to
go fishing next year without going on
decoration day.
This whole political fabric rests on
the patriotism and we'll balanced
judgement of the people. Patriotism
is the magnet around which this polit-
ical sphere revolves, and holds togeth-
er the different sections of the Govern
ment, either attracting or repelling as
the best interest of the whole people
seem to demand.
Comrades who do you think has
most of that quality so necessary to
good government? Was it Abraham
Lincoln Or Jefferson Davis? Was it
Gen. Grant or Robert E. Lee? Was it
w. T. Sherman or Joseph E. Johnson?
Was it that grand old General whom
we used to Familiarity call Pap Thomas
or was it Hood and his horde who
tried hard for four years to shoot down
the American flag and substitute an.
other?
Comrades when::wewent.intoIthe army
we laid all on the alter aud the fire of
patriotism consumed all our differen-
ces. We fought as one man for the
preservation of the Union; let us do
the same i'm the coming great political
struggle. And if we will rally all our
forces and fall into line, make ready,
aim low and fire one brOadside of pa.
per wads into the enemy there will be
nothing left but hole as old Major
Winters useltO say. Then we can say
to the world we have held the hill
victory is ours
Member of Go. F. 59th /
Reg. Ill. Vol. Inf.