The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-06
WHERE WAS STEVENSON?

SAID.
From the beginning 70 the close OF that grea;
conflict was for the maintenance, at whatever
cost, of the federal Union, with the restoration
of federal authority. He believed, with the
Democratic party in the North, that perfect res
.oration of the Union was 10 bs wrought out in
aspirit of patriotism, and not of hate
Yes; Mr.. Stevenson was Democrat from
the beginning 10 the end of the war who
was in favor of the restoration of the
Union according to the methods and the
policy of vallandigham, Voorhees,, Hen
bricks. Pendleton and Fernando Wood.
These gentlemen all began by throwing up
their hats for the Union the morning after
Sumter, when they dared not keep them
on their heads, but long before the war
was over they were banded together in
virulent opposition to Lincoln's war
measures; they opposed the legal tender
act; opposed the draft; they opposed the
emancipation proclamation: opposed the
enlistment of colored regiments; voted
against the thirteenth amendment and
opposed Lincoin's election in November
1854. declaring against further prosecution
OF the war and for peace st any price.
From 1862 to the end of the war Steven
son belonged to the vailandigham, yoor-
hees and Pendleton copperhead Democ-
racy. What was that Democracy" as
distinguished from the genuine .War
Democracy" represented by Generals Slo-
cum, Sickles. Steedman. a. s. Williams
and Morrison? On the 18th of June, 1853.
about two weeks before Gettysburg was
fought and Vicksburg fell there was a
mass-meeting of Democrats, 5000 strong,
assembled at Springfield, I'll. This meet
ing cheered Vallandigham, whom Lincoln
banlshed to the Confederate lines, and
passed resolutions violently denouncing
the further prosecution of the war and in
favor of immediate negotiations for peace.
To this kind of Democracy General Steven
son belonged, and he supported its candi-
dates for the reelection the next year on
exactly this platform of opposition to the
prosecution Of the war and peace at any
price.
There Is nobody so ardent as q recent
convert; nobody so Eeaious for the Union
after the war as the copperhead who pro-
longed the war By opposing enlistments,
by obstructing the administration; by
piping peace at Springfield, ILL.,, when
Hancock was blowing the war trumpet at
Gettysburg. and Grant was patiently Dig
ging out the Confederate fox he had holed
at Vicksburg.
A reformed rake, il is sarcastically said.
makes the best husband, and certainly a
reformed copperhead makes most
clamorous and eloquent Union man after
the Union has been saved in spite of his
opposition to Lincoln's war policy. This
is the kind of Democracy to which Steven
son belonged during the last three years of
the war when il became safe 10 organize
violent opposition 10 the war behind the
army.
The record Of Stevenson is as black as
that Of Senator Voorhees,, Of Indiana, who
stumped Ohio for VaIlandigham for gov
ernor in 1863 and in the course
OF one of his speeches stigma
tized the soldiers of the Union army as
Lincoln pups" who ought TO all wear
collar reading. "I'm Abe Lincoln's dog.
whose dog are your" The infamous record
OF VOORHEES,, thanks to Senator Ingalls,,
has been indelibly fastened upon his
brazen forehead, but the record of Steven
son was not so well known until he was
lifted from obseurity by his nomination to
second place upon the Democratic na-
tional ticket.
The Rev. G.. F. Snedaker, of Abingdon,
ILL.,, formerly pastor of the NJ. Z. church,
OF Metamora, Ill, when Mr.. Stevenson
lived there. has furnished the war
record" of this white flag and uncon-
ditional surrender Unionist to the Gales
burg, H.. Mai. Mr.. Stevenson was a
knight Of the Golden Circle" secret,
reasonable, political and military asso-
citation. TO which Vallandigham and yoor-
hees both belonged. whose purpose
was 10 defeat the war for the
Union by resistance to the draft.
dlscouraging enlistments. encouraging de-
sertion, and offering armed resistance
70 Lincoln's government al every oppor-
tunity that promised success. The Rev
Mr.. Snedaker says tha, the Knights of the
Golden Circle OF Metamora, in 1868 and
1854. commanded the ministers not TO do
any more preaching and praying for the
saving Of the government" They were
ordered TO leave town if they did not de-
| sist. While Sgsvenson's name was not
signed 10 these notices." says Mr.. Sne-
| daker, "he was acting in harmony with
! the Knights and lending whatever aid he
could in denouncing the part taken by the
/ government in the war;
These Knights also tried TO prevent the
| burial, with military honors, of Union
| soldier who was brought home 10 be
! buried. bot several Of his comrades who
| were home on furloughs interfered and the
| burial took place as proposed.
| Mr.. William Is. WAiaen has sworn be-
fore James Il. Brooks, 4 notary public OF
| Mclean county, IL. that he (Whitfenl re-
| sided st Metamora from 1861 TO 1s66. and
during all that time Was personally &C
| eGainted and politically associated with
| Adlai E. Stevenson, He (Whifen) was
| present a. the organization Of the Meta
| mora lodge Of the order Of American
| Knights or Sons OF Liberty. and that
"AjlN +. Stevenson was there and was
daily initiated aud took the required oaths
and received the grips and passwords"
Mr.. Whiden furthermore states that he
was present 81 the county organization OF
! American knights. and that Nj Stsysn n