The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-08-26
NANKATo FREE PRESS.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1892.
ADLAI STEvENSON'S WARRECORD.

When Adlai Stevenson was nomi-
mated for the vice-presidency by the
Democrats, it was intimated that he
was not as loyal during the war as he
might have been. In other words
that be was known as copperhead,
during that period that tried mems
souls, and tested their patriotism.
Probably but little attention would
have been given the matter had not
Stevenson and his friends WINGED I'M
der the charge and taken pains to
deny it. This has called out such a
volume of testimony in regard to his
war record, showing that he not only
sympathized with the South, but in
terested himself actively in its behalf
as member of the American Knights
or Sons of Liberty, an organization
similar TO the knights of the Golden
Circle. an organization which did
everything within its power to en-
barraSs the federal government in the
prosecution Of the war. Among those
testifying as to Mr.. Stevenson's record
during those years is Rev. G. b. Sned-
aker, of Abingdon, H., who was pas
tor of the NJ. e. church at Metamora,
H., where Stevenson resided during
the war. Like nine-tenths of the
Methodist ministers of the North at
that time, he was strong union man
and never lost an occasion TO render aid
for its cause. He says that during the
fall of 1923 the sentiment in that
section among the political associates
and friends of Mr.. Stevenson, was
very strong against the draft, and
that the Knights were very active.
Among other things he says:
At that time there were four min
listers in the town, and paper pub
lished at MetamOra known as the
Sentinel, and edited by a man named
Within, would almost every week
make some sort of a personal attack
on the ministers. During all this
time Adlai Stevenson took an active
part with the Knights, and while it
time that he was a member, you could
not make any man ia town believe he
was not. X 1t was the
general belief of the loyal people that
Mr.. Stevenson was a member, and it
afterwards turned cut that he was.
Mr.. Snedaker also states that in all
the threats of viOlencethat were made
by the Knights, Mr.. Stevenson never
lifted his voice in behalf Of the Union
cause, but simply upheld them in
their disloyal methods.
When Mr. Stevenson was candi-
date for congress in 1874, he denied
the charge that he had been mem
Der of the the order OF American
Knights, when the man Within,
above referred to, who was member
of the Knights, came forward and
made an affidavit TO the effect that
Mr.. Stevenson was Que Of The original
members Of, the MetamOra lodge or
Circle OF American Knights, andMas
present at the Organization and assist
gu III stfletU LOU OiftJ vas
Mr. Stevenson a member but was an
active member, and represented the
local organization in the county and
state councils of the order. He, fuF-I
ther states that upon the receiptIof1
the news that Lincoln was assassinatT
ed Stevenson stated in SUBSTANCE
that it was good thing and ought
to have been done sooner" Within
is vouched for by a number of his old1
neighbOrs at Metamora, who declare4
that she had very superior facilities
for information as TO the movements
and workings Of the different men,
bers of the Democratic party of this
county during the war. ,, -. .,S
From all accounts it locks as though
the less Adlai Stevenson referred to
his ''war record" orstirred it up TO
public gaze by denials, the better for
him, as an odor very offensive to patri-
otto uostrils, arises whenever he does
the same.