The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-11

"GEN." ADLATs WAR RECORD.
Gen." Adlai Stevenson has denied al
different times and with emphasis and
vociferation that he was during the war
member of that famous order, ''The
Knights of the Golden Circle" 1t has
not been wise on Gen. Adlai's part to
raise his voice in making what he may
have considered necessary remarks
about his war record, for his shrill tones
have penetrated the sanctum of the
Inter Ocean of Chicago and led that
paper to rake over Illinois archives and
bring out certain memories of the past
into the clear light of to-day.
At Louisville few days ago Seen"
Adlai seized the bloody shirt and
fourished it he went back to recon-
struction and denounced bitterly the
terms on which the Republican party
reconstructed the Union. Though the
issue was decided in 1868, and the de.
cision was reaffirmed in 1872 Gen."
Stevenson found it worth his while to
emulate the rabid zeal of Blair two
dozen years ago. The Vice Presidential
candidate has provoked retaliation. He
has brought retribution on his own head
If now it be recalled that, like Cleve,
Steve served in the army by proxy and
was, while the nation was battling for
its life, Copperhead of the most yiru-
lent description.
But this is not all. Seymour, Thur
man, Hendricks and English were Cop
perheads and chronic grumblers and
censors, but they took no practical part
in organized opposition to the govern
ment, and in spite Of Stevenson's de-
mails, it appears that he did.
Ex-Governor Hamilton of Illinois
charged in the Inter Ocean Immediately
after the nomination that Gen"
Adlai was Knight Of the Golden Cir
Gle. Adlai pitted his denial against the
The Inter Ocean now pub
fishes three sworn and detailed affida-
Wits which leave no room for honest
doubt Of the war record Of Sir Adlai.
The first is from Methodist minister
who preached in Metamora dur
ing the war, at the time when
Stevenson was practicing law there.
The second is from the editor of the
paper at Metamora during
the war. The third is from farmer
who lived in De Witt County, which is
near Metamora and Bloomington both.
The details which they give are of IN
terest, not only in establishing the
charge, but in explaining what it was to
be Knight of the Golden Circle in
those days which tried mems patriotism.
1t seems that the plank Of the Demo-
cratic platform declaring the war a
failure was fixed up in the secret coun-
ellis of that order in Springfield, and
from there brought to Chicago and
adopted by the convention which nomi-
mated Mcclellan and Pendleton. But
the best idea of the order is furnished by
Farmer Gardner of Dewitt county,
who says he stood in his own yard and
saw Adlai Stevenson and James Ewing,
his partner, "come off the prairie" on
horseback and go TO the house of one
Ellsworth TO whom he sold two pistols
for the purpose of resisting the draft.
This is explicit, but see what follows:
Stevenson aud Ewing then went across
to the south side OF Salt Creek, where
there was n camp OF the Knights OF the
Golden Circle, and Stevenson there sold
eighteen revolvers To members of the
Order. James Spratt, now living In the
same county, informing me that he
bought two revolvers himself, and that
Stevenson was peddling the arms for the
purpose OF enabling men To resist the
draft. Mr.. Ellsworth at the same time
informed me that his object in purchas-
ing the revolvers was to arm himself aud
son against the draft officers, and that
Stevenson so understood the purpose for
which they were to be used.
This side light upon the practical
work of Knight Of the Golden Circle
is interesting. Peddling pistols to those
who proposed to resist the draft was
Gen. Sir Adlai's way of helping TO pre-
serve the Union. Had Adlai been
New Yorker he would have been among
those who, under the shadow of Tam
many Hall and within sight of the spot
where Cleve and Steve were notified
of their nominations, used their
pistols in riot rs brutal and bloody as
any that ever disgraced the country.