The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-06-28
[From the Washington Union, June a.
MIR. BUCHANAN AND THE WAR
OFISl2

OFlSl2.
We see that several Of the Know Nothing
aud Black Republican Organs have reproduced
a'spccch made by Mr. Buchanan on the fourth
Df July, 1888, in which are sentiments in re.
gard to the war with Great Britain that had
then closed, which now find no response in Inc
public mind. As Objectionable AS we admi.
some of these sentiments to be- We think the
objection is made with An exceedingly i'll grace
by those who are daily giving uttcrancc to
opinions and doctrines far more nnpatriotc
and Anti American than amy thing to be found
in that speech, NJ Buclanan's position and
course of the war cr 1912 have one rcdccming
feature which cannot be found In the present
position and course Of his assailants He was
opposed to the policy Of the war and ccnS,lrcd
the Administration for it, mode of conducting
il; but after the war was declared, he mani
Tested his devotion To his country by shoulder
ing his muSkct aud marching TO its defence.
Like thousands of true patriots Of that day,
Mr.. Buchanan differed with Mr. Madisons
administration as 10 its war policy, but his
heart and soul were with his country, and he
was ready to risk his life in its defence He
never belonged to that other class oroppouents
of the war who kept up their opposition, and
gave aid and comfort to the enemy, after the
war was declared Mr. Bucl,anan's assailamts
occupy n position at the present time which
has "A striking parallel in the conduct of that
unpatriotic class of opponents of the war of
1872 who covered their name with nfamy by
the sympathy which they manifested for the
enemy
But it is not our purpose to dignity this
stale charge against Mr. Buchanan by an clab-
A., Ia t,I La
soon after the speech was made to acknowl.
edge the error OF the sentiments it contained,
and TO rctract them; and now, for more than
thirty years, he has devoted his talents and
his energies to those great Democratic princi.
pies on which rest the continually increasing
prosperity and glory Of the country TO show
how ready Mr.. Buchanan has ever been to
rctract an erroneous opinion, as well as his
lirmncss and fearessncss in maintaining his
position when he believes it to be right, we
have obtained permission of Hon. George w.
Jones' of Tennessee, to publish letter written
to him in 1917, by Mr.. Buchanan, which will
place this anti-war charge in its true light.
Mr. Buchanan was, at the date of the letter,
il member of Mr. Folks Cabinet, and in the
canvass in Tennessee, Mr.. Polk was assailcd
for appointing to 50 elevated position man
who was opposed to the war of 1912. Mr..
Jones addressed a letter to Mr.. Buchanan,
asking him for the facts in connection with the
charge. TO this letter Mr.. Buchanan gave
the following frank and patriotic reply, which
Mr. Jones has allowed It's to publish:
WAsHlSGroS, April 90, 1S47.
My Dur Sir: have this moment received
your letter of the 18th inst, and hasten to
return an answer.
In one respect have been fortunate as a
public man. My political enemies are obliged
to go back for more than thirty years to find
plausible charges against me.
In 1914, when very young man, (beiDg
this day sc years Of age,) | made my first
public speech before meeting of my fellow
citizens of Lancaster. The object of this
speech was to urge upon them the duty of
invaded country. A volunteer company was
raised upon the spot, in which was the first,
believe to enter my name as private. We
forthwith proceeded to Baltimore, and served
until we were honorably discharged.
In October, 1914, l was elected member
of the Pennsylvania Legislature; and in that
body gave my support to every measure cal
culated. in my opinion, to aid the country
against the common enemy.
In 1915, after peace had been concluded,
| did express opinions in relation to the causes
and conduct of the war, which | very soon af-
ter regretted and recalled. Since that period
have been ten years a member of the House
of Representatives and an equal time of the
Senote, acting part on every question. My
political enemies, finding nothing assailable
throughout this long public career, now resort