Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1880 — DECORATION DAY. [ARTICLE]

DECORATION DAY.

Rev. A. W. Wood and M. F. Chilcote, Esq., orators. B. F. Furguson, opening prayer. Arilla Cotton, reader. D. V. Halstead, benediction. Sunday schools to participate and decorate the graves. Masonic orc er, Odd Fellows and K. of P. invited to oaiticipate. The Rensselaer Cornet Band will will furnish the instrumental music and the Blue Ribbon Choir the vocal music. Sampson Erwin, Marshal. Committee on decorations, Superintendents of Sunday School*. Procession to form at 10 A. M , ex ercises to commence at the cemetery at 10:30 A, M. The different orders will form on Washington and inarch to Cullen street, where.the Methodist Sunday school wiil join the procession. The procossiou will then move to the Presbyterian church, where the Presbyteiian Sunday school will join the procession and thea to the Christian church, where the Sunday school from that church will join the column and all will march to the cemeteryOn arriving at the cemetery, the Sunday children, under the direction of the Superintendents and teachers, will decorate the soldidrs graves* after which the peoble will assemble at the speaker’s stand, where the exercises will lake place. After the exercises are concluded the procession will re-form and march to Washington street. The marshal wil l appoint his assistants.

General McDonald, sometimes called “Sylph” McDonald, has come conspicuously to the front. He threatens to inak* a clean Breast of what he learned in Grant’s “blue room,” provided the ambitious old gent receives the Chicago nomination. McDonald intimates that he has a tale ♦* unfold that will sicken the world, and he only awaits the action of the convention before h* commences the

disclosure. It is a well known fact 1 that the relations that existed between McDonald and Grant during the latter’s occupancy of the White House were of the most intimate character. They were warm personal friends and in proportion as the whis- ' ky ring increased its facilities for stealing—grew up and prospered, as it were—the friendship between these men became stronger. This is a matter of history, and it is calculated to impress the reader with the fact that the threatening words of this exwhisky ringster mean something. But it is a matter of special wender that McDonald should take sach a stand. Among of the Grant regime he stands “solitary and alone.” All the rest are shouting themselves hoarse for the “old man,” Belknap, Robeson, Babcock, Boss Shepherd, Dorsey, et al, are the most persistent third-term workers in the field.

McDonald was discovered by a St. Louis reporter the other day when he proceeded to divest himsalf of a huge bundle of woes in which he sandwiched some threats awful to think on. The following i 3 the concluding portion of the interview. The reporter asked him what he proposed to do, and McDonald responded as follows:

“I mean to say this; That I’ve sacrificed everything to an idea. I’ve been imprisoned and lost a fortune of a quarter of a million, and been ostracised and abused as no man ever was before. Now, why have I suffered it all in silence? There are men will tell you that I did it because I couldn’t help myself. That shows all they know about it. I went to prison on an understanding and an idea, and by going to prison I saved this country the most frightful shame and disgrace that ever could have covered any country under the sun. Do you understand me? I walked into court as you might say, with the atmosphere of the President’s blue room still in my clothing. I needn’t have gone any further than the court alone. 1 might have had company.” “Do you imply that you went to prison by agreement, and to save Grant?”

“I mean just that, in effect. Idon’t think I’m giving anything away when I say so, because there are plenty of men right here in St. Louis that know it -not as well as I do, because they don’t know the facts except in a gen eral way; but it is pretty commonly understood in this neighborhood, I guess.” “Then your intention is to let out what you know?”

“Only under certain circumstances. I don’t want to see myself and my sacrifices wasted, and the same feeling of duty that sent me to prison will compel me to tell what I carried there in case these men appear to be in a fair way to get control of the government again. That’s all. I’m not so sure the Chicago convention will nominate Grant; bui if it does, look out for me. I’m up and dressed for a fight, and I can sink that crowd under a load that would kill them so dead that a grave robber wouldn’t waste his time on them.”

“I suppose your story in that case, would be somewhat in the nature of state’s evidence?”

“You might constiue it as state’s evidence or not. as you please; but it would be in the interest of honest men and honest government.” “But you would have to tell it as a participant?”

“Well, I may say that I am not going to spare myself, either in my relationship to the position I was placed in, my pastfmisdeeds with other men, or my own feelings. I shall give the facts. I took my trou les as cheerfully as I played into their hands; and when the charge came Judge Ti eat gave the whole bill of fare, from soup to nuts. I went through it like a little man. without a squeal: so you see as to myself honors are easy, and you can’t in your conscience condemn me, for I have suffered all the penalties.”