The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-22


human rights he exhibited the sim
plicity of child rather than the
towering strength of political Her
cules. Yet his executive duty was
as clear as the sunlight.
Prosecuting an Old Soldier.
We do not like to enter into neigh
bOrhood quarre]s; but we know
enough about the case referred to in
the following letter to be satisfied
that the fight against Mr.. Shippman
grows out of the fact that he is one
of the most prominent peoples party
men in LeSueur county; and that the
democrats are afraid Of losing the
county and are determined to crush
the old soldier. We hear that Judge
Caldwell was very unfair in his rul-
ings. Be little careful, Judge. the
new party will teach you fair play be-
fore many years. 1t cannot be kicked
with safety.-THE EDITOR.]
The Dressel-Shippman libel suit
that was tried as a civil action for
damages at the recent term Of court
in LeSueur county, will go down in
history as the most outrageous cop
perhead persecution of an honorably
discharged ex-Union soldier either
north or south, and is alike a disgrace
to the state of Minnesota and a crime
against civilization.
Mr.. Shippman enlisted in the dark
days of 1861 in the Sd MINI. Inf. Vol.
as private soldier. He faced the
hostile savages along with his COM
rades in open battle at Wood Lake on
Sept. 23d, 1862, which resulted in the
rescue of several hundred unfortu-
nate women and children captives
from worse fate than death itself.
He served the country faithfully at
the front in the south until 1865
when, after four years and six months
continuous honorable service he was
discharged with the we'll earned title
of captain commanding a company;
and has been an honorable and reput-
able citizen ever since.
Mr.. Dressed Sr. in the meanwhile,
as good stay-at-home patriot, work
ed his farm and tended his lager beer
saloon where, it is said, his friends
cOngregated to discuss the merits of
"Old Abe LincOln'S war to free the
niggers," and the best way to avoid
the "conscript act"; he kept his po-
litical fences in repair and reared a
viper to develope at maturity into a
full f1edged "peace Democrat, to vii
ify and malign the protectors of his
ungrateful sire in anonymous news
paper articles.
1t is for resenting and replying
to one of those anonymous vile til
rades, written by Mr. Dressels young
hopeful, who poses as the chairman
of the republican(?) county commit
tee of LeSueur county, and published
in the Waterville Advance by young
Canadian tory editor, and in which
publication Mr.. S. was falsely and by
full name, charged with robbery
while soldier in the army, and with
fraud as a citizen, that the elder Dres-
sci has waged that relentless perse-
cution against Mr.. Shippman. That
a jury Of twelve men could be brought
together charged by an alleged court
to bring verdict, on no direct evil
dence whatever, on such malicious
persecution, is certainly not to the
credit of the community; and with
out doubt the supreme court will re-
buke the outrage and redeem Mime
sofa from that disgrace.
County Attorney Everett, for the
prosecution, was in his element and
covered himself with glory in his way
by INDUCING in the most violent
abuse of the old soldier.
He said:
There were many good citizens
who bought substitutes and sent
them to the war, and l don't know
but Mr.. Dressed is one; and l don't see
why they are not just as good citizens
as those who went to the war them
selves and fought the battles"
The state of Minnesota has snent
thousands of dollars to build monu-
ments in honor of her dead heroes
of the war. Wouldn't it be we'll. if
Everett is right, to spend a few
thousands more to erect monuments
over the dead soloon-keepers who did
not go to the war? And is it. not
about time to protect the gallant
union soldiers living within her bor-
ders from the attacks of the men who
sympathised with jeff Davis during
our great war. and who. if they had
their way would have left us without
country or 6aQ2 BII1E fSnAr