The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-09
TO DEMOCRATIC VETERANS.
THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE c. A. R..
A Mastery Arrangement of That Organiza-
ton For Its Narrow Partisanship and
Its Insults to the President-An
Appeal to Patriotism.
OFFICE DEMOCRATIC UNION SOLDIERS AND
SAILORS VETERAN ASSOCIATION,

address you this circular letter upon the as
sumption that the principles of the democratic
party, established in the foundation of the gov
| eminent and absolutely necessary to its per-
petuity, are dearer to you as an individual and
of more vital importance to the country at
! large than any temporary social ties that may
have been fostered by association as a member
of the q. A. r.
1t could hardly have escaped your observa-
ton that the leaders in the organization have
for years past had, as their primary object, the
advancement of the republican party, and
that verything else has been held sub
ordinate 10 this one central idea.
| Differing from them in principle, and
believing that we are right and they
are wrong, we address you in the hope OF re-
celving that consideration which is due to MS
as acknowledgements, and men who desire the
triumph of the right and are willing 10 make
temporary sacrifices in order that it may pre-
vail. The instances which illustrate the ex-
IRENE partisanship of the leaders of the e.. a.
X. are so numerous that the difficulty lies
chiefly in specification. 1t is hardly necessary
In proof of this TO call your attention TO the
action of prominent men in that body at the
meeting OF the St. Louis encampment, when,
in violation of every demand of common de-
cency, the president of the United States, =
democrat but the president o. the whole peo-
I
derstand that his presence at the encampment
was not desirable-an insult which was all the
more reprehensible because it followed an in
vitatiOn from the mayor of that city to the
president of the United States to honor it with
his presence. 4 similar insult and certainly
no less gratuitous was offered the president at
the national encampment at Wheeling, w. Va,
and even another instance was as scandalously
repeated by the LEADERS year later
at Columbus. o. Though protesting against
ha il mo no nj 10
\. r. were powerless to prevent such low eX-
<hibitions OF partisanshlp, and, suspected
az the time, the whole course of the leaders of
the organization was but preparatory to the
use to which it was debased in the campaign
OF 1888.
In this campaign, under the pretext of hav-
ing soldier candidate, the organization was
prostituted by its designing leaders to political
uses and became willing tool in the hands OF
these politicians to accomplish the election OF
their candidate.
Not content with exercising influence over
the older members, the organization OF the
sons of veterans was entered by their mlnOns,
its members were studiously importuned 10
desert the principles of their fathers; the his
tory of the war was falsihed, democratic ex-
soldiers were Stigmatized as rebels and every
possible influence was brought TO bear, from
debasing importantly TO scandalous villihcation,
to prejudice the sons of veterans against the
democratic party. In this city, the home of
their candidate, and the capital OF close, pos
sibly, pivotal state, the g. a. +. organization
became machine in the hands of republican
politicians TO awaken enthusiasm among the
people on the one hand, and to beat down the
opposition to their candidate, both personal
and political. on the other False promises
were indulged in, and gross Misrepresentation
were common to members OF the organization
in the effort to coHsummate the object in view.
Within the q. A. +. posts OF this city, and with
| the aid and encouragement of men who held
WI
democratic votes a Harrison and HOvey"
regiment was organized, and was made to APP
pear as a representative of the sentiment en-
tertained by the g. A. Il. an organization;
and Immediately following Gen. Harrison's
election q post meeting in this city was turned
into political machine for the purpose OF adj
vancing republican TO the position OF post
master when his selection for such trust
could result only by displacing an honorable
and lifelong democrat.
As soon as certain democrats who have be-
come disguised by these methods, undertook
to form distnctively democratic organization
of the ex-soldiers and sailors of the Union they
became objects of rdicule, innuendo and SIAN
derous utterances by republican leaders of the
grand army, and every possible means was en-
ployed to tlwart the objects in view. The rule
or ruin policy has been and now Is the cardl-
nal principle of the leaders in organization,
and it has been so bold and continuous In ex-
ecutiOn that some democrats have been over
awed by il. The question, therefore, presents
itself as TO whether there shall be an organiza-
ton as distinctively democratic as the grand
army of the republic has been made repub-
lican by its leaders in the past campaign. The
chief want of those who have associated them
selves together for the purpose of a new organ
izatiOn is that OF sympathy and encouragement
from democrats, whether they be eX-sOldiers
aud sailors men who are democrats, hut had
no part in the struggle which makes possible
such an organization. lt IS not an OvereStlmate
of democratic strength to say that those who
are now found in grand army posts constitute
at least one-half of the members enrolled and
thousands of democrats who have not identi-
fed themselves with grand army posts but
have been repealed by the partisan character
of the leaders of the organization, are ready
and anxious TO affiliate with a body organized
exclusively of democrats. With the assistance
and encouragement that democrats may prop
erly give TO the ex-soldiers and sailors OF the
state or nation, the soldiers and sailors vet
eran association would soon largely exceed
that of the republican members now enrolled
in the g. a r. Ii the latter has proved
powerful factor in republican success while
posing as n nOn-partisan organization, the value
OF distinctively democratic organization in fu-
ture campaigns must be apparent.
The necessity for union between democrats
and for absolute and permanent separation
from republicans as an organization Is so mani
fest that il is unnecessary to dwell upon it.
| Politics is naturally aggressive, antagonistic
and must be separated in order to be effective.
| The sons OF democratic veterans cannot
resist the importantly, misrepresentation and
| calumny of successive campaigns when their
| fathers, by association with calunniators, APP
parently indorse all that is said against their
| principles, and democrats who thus tacitly
! submit to this Misrepresentation must expect
sooner or later TO see their sons alienated from
the support OF the true principles OF democratic
| government. II democracy and republicanism
| are incompatible, then an organization COM
| posed OF democrats and republicans. especially
when the latter ignore its purposes and SANDER
| cannot exist without friction. Every political
! campaign exeites animOsity and breeds discon-
| tent, and as long rs democrats will submit to
| SANDER and vituperation they cannot hope to
see the principles which they love Endorsed at
/ the polls.
TO the consideration OF these things you are
/ earnestly invited and your cooperation i'll
| bringing about distinct and separate organiZa-
ton is fraternally solicited. In the success OF
| the proposed organization lies one element, at
least, of success for the democratic party, and
! every cx-soldier should feel as earnest and
should make as many sacrifices in behalf of true
principle in the administration OF the govern
ment rs he aid in preserving its institutions
| with his musket or sword. The battle does
not differ, except in the weapons used, and he
can hope TO perpetuate these principles only
! by indOrsing with his ballot that party which
/ represents the correct theory of government.
GEORGE W. KOoNTz,
President Executive Board.
W. c. TARKINGTON, Secretary.