Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-10-05
AN OLD soLpne TALKS.
A Republican Who Refuses Baptism
in Marx Hanna's Tank.

EDITOR JoURNAL:-TO an old sOldie
81 one who has lived through sixtl
years of the ups and downs. the sue
! cesses and vicissitudes OF our natiOna
campaigns since that OF Harrison tn,
first, the present campaign seems re
markable to say the least. OtheI
campaigns have been fercely fought
but never before, except perhaps il
the campaign that preceded the
election of Lincoln, has the whole
country been 10 thoroughly agitated
or social and political lines so com
pletely broken.
1t would seem almost appropriate
to ask whether the American people
are as was said of Gen. Sherman,
crazy, or as was claimed of Grant,
drunk. Although the millennial
period has not yet come, we see the
l'On aud the lamb lying down together
(D'Arcy and Barllev.) And more
than that, we see Il silver fox Mitchell)
cross the plains and lie down at the
feet Of the hounds Offering to lead the
chase for the capture and execution
Of his fellows. As said the parrot:
What neXt?"
But the most remarkable and most
to be regretted feature Of the present
is the organization Of the
time hunored members OF the G.. A. II.
into a political body for the purpose
of marching trough our streets to the
tap Of the drum.
OAlthough . such an action may not
be contrary to G. A. r. rules, yet is
far from the purpose of our institution,
and is very impolitic to say the least.
But this division in the ranks of the
G. A. r. might pass without criti-
clsm, were 1t not that those who have
Joined the League have taken it upon
themselves to call those who are of
different political views, unpatriotic.
If it be a question Of patriotism, and
that element in the character of the
individuals who march in the ranks
of the League be analyzed, it seems to
me that true patriotism will be found
under another banner.
An incident suggesting this is the
receipt of letter from comrade IN
in the east who, among Otner things
says: Comrades, you had better
stick to the old party. 1t is the Re-
publican party which has been, and
is, the friend of the old soldiers. See
how hostile the Democratic party has
always been to the old soldiers" etc.
This may be true, and from u selfish
standpoint it may be more eXpedient
for an old soldier to stick to the old
party, even though he sees it going
like ship on the breakers. Personal
may lead man to fall in line
with the old party, but where in the
name of all that is good and great
does the patriotism come in? o patri-
otism, what wrongs have been hidden
by thy name!
Must we old soldiers adhere to GER
tain political party for the attain
ment of selfish ends? Must we stand
by the Republican party for fear our
pensions will be taken away if we,
through conscientious and patriotic
motives, vote with another party?
No! A thousand times, no!
We will vote for such principles and
for such men as we may, after careful
and unprejudiced investigation, deem
for the best interest of our country.
And no paltry sum, as pension, no
petty office, no hope Of political prefer
ment, shall eversswerve us from our
purpose of casting our votes for that
which we consider to be for the COM
mon good.
III. w. PREsCoTT.
Salem, Or, Dot. 3.
Bucklen 8 Arnica Salve