Franklin County: "General M'Candless and his Libelers," by unknown, August 16, 1871
Summary: Attack on "Radical" politicians who denounce Union veterans for their attachment to the Democratic party..
Already a gallant soldier has been subjected to the vilest abuse, on the part of the Radical press, for the simple reason that he has been nominated by a Democratic convention for a State office. Before the State convention met, General M'Candless was, in the estimation of everybody, a character to be admired for his patriotism and heroism during the war. He received a large share of the praise awarded to that body of gallant soldiers which is the pride of the people of the Keystone State, the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. Indeed such was the estimate put upon his services by his companions in arms that the honored him with the position of President of their Association. But no matter how exalted a man's patriotism may have been, no matter what sacrifices he may have made for the Union, no matter what heroism he may have displayed on the battle-field, no matter how many wounds he may have received in defense of his country, if he accepts a Democratic nomination for the most unimportant position, the arrows of detraction are aimed at him at once, and there is no lie too mean for Radicalism to coin against him. So it is with General M'Candless. Imputations are made upon his patriotism, doubts are entertained as to his courage, and everything base that political malignity can concoct, is put into circulation so as to bring him into disrepute and induce those who would have honored him for his patriotism and heroism to refuse him their support at the polls. Such tricks in politics are so low that every honorable man must despise them.
One of those falsehoods which the Radicals are attempting to deceive the people with is the allegation that General M'Candless resigned his position in the army before the expiration of his term of service because he faltered in his devotion to the Union. This statement has taken the round of the Radical journals of the State, although every Radical editor knew it to be false. General M'Candless served the entire term to which the Reserve Corps was mustered into service, and every day that they were held after the expiration of their term of service. Radical editors who never shouldered a musket for an hour in the war for the Union, denounce General M'Candless because he did not re-enlist after the Reserve Corps was mustered out. It seems to us that the man who contemplates for a moment the bloody engagements in which the Reserves took such a conspicuous part, who reads the names of the numerous battles upon their bullet-ridden flags, and who turns to the sad history of the many brave men who fell from their ranks into the cold embrace of death, ought to be satisfied that the soldiers of that band of brave men contributed, in their original term of service, their full share towards the preservation of the Union and the maintenance of the National honor.
Radicals of Franklin county, the term of service that Col. Wm. D. Dixon, of St. Thomas, served, General M'Candless served. Every day of the time that Lieutenant Wm. Burgess, of Louden, gave to the cause of the Union, General M'Candless gave. Every hour that Captain Joe Davison, of Greencastle, devoted to the crushing of the rebellion, General M'Candless devoted. For every minute that Col. John L. Ritchie, of Martinsburg, faced the rebels on Southern soil, General M'Candless can count like minute also. Captain John H. Walker, of Fa----nsburg, can boast no longer period of service than General M'Candless. Assistant A---- Thomas J. Grimsson stood as a mark for rebel bullets no longer than did General M'Candless. Thaddeus M. Mahon, Esq., the defeated and renominated candidate of the Radicals for Assembly, can boast no greater service to his country. Colonel James G. Elder, Hon. D. W. Howe, High Sheriff J. W. Fistcher, E. Wilson Hays, Esq., Postmaster John A. Selders, Jere. Cook, Esq., Editor of the Repository, and Adjutant John Stewart must lay their nine months alongside of General M'Candless' three years and upwards. All these are soldiers who vote the Radical ticket. The record of no one of them outshines that of General M'Candless. Is it not time that the tongue of calumny shall come to wag? If the gentlemen whom we have named are to pass for pure patriots on account of what they did for their country, why should not General M'Candless be credited with an equal amount of patriotism?
To men who recognize merit wherever found, who concede honor to whom honor is due, we appeal in this instance. This waging of a crusade against a gallant soldier because of his political faith is disgraceful. If American citizens desire to do honor in reality to those who have bared their breasts to their country's foes, they must discountenance this movement of selfish politicians to traduce every soldier who does not cry, "great is the Radical party and great is Grant its prophet."
We expect to hear, before the campaign closes, the men who are now howling against General M'Candless, uttering their denunciations against the other standard bearer of the Democracy, the intrepid Captain Cooper. Nothing seems too mean for them to resort to, and it is hardly to be expected that they will not attempt to pluck every laurel from Captain Cooper's brow. This will not be an easy task, however. He has written his name in blood upon the pages of Pennsylvania's history. His battery has achieved a reputation which will endure as long as the story of the late war shall be told. And no amount of political abuse will be able to destroy his martial fame. To him future generations will accord due honor. As they read the history of his struggles and triumphs, of his brave deeds and heavy losses, they, at least, will not impute cowardice or disloyalty to him because, forsooth, he is a Democrat.
Democrats, your candidates are in every way worthy of your support. They are brave men who have attested their devotion to the Union with their blood. Yet they are men who believe that the military ought to be always kept subordinate to the civil power. They are lovers of liberty, friends of the republic and foes to military despotism. Let us stand shoulder to shoulder and show to the Democracy of the Union that Pennsylvania intends to utter her protest in 1872 against the reelection of a man who has not the brains to be President of a Republic, but who may have the boldness, as he no doubt has the inclination, to attempt to become a Military Dictator in this land of liberty.
Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Valley Spirit (Cahmbersburg, Pennsylvania), August 16, 1871, p. 2
