The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-07-19
Letter from Hon. Il. w. Webster.
Kenosha. July 16, 1860.

perhaps have not deserved your silence for the
reason that differ from you in opinion. And
indeed it should matter but little to one in times
of excitement, what any party paper may say of
him, as editorials ae more frequently dictated by
personal prejudice and party passion, than by
any honest intent to speak the truth, or do JUS
tice to an opponent. Your paper and editorials
are not exceptions to this remark ] had a right
however, to expect, that after you had devoted
one article to me, which was not only imperfect
ly executed as to facts, but bad in intent I'll
After / had let you have your own say, as |
would an elderly lady, without reply, had
right then to expect that you would be satisfied
with your own vindicaton, and leave me to smile
or greve as l pleased, at the amount of contempt
or ccnsure you had raised against me, and this
without further feers or misrepresentation -
And cannot now think but must have been
inadvertently guilty of some other inGiscretion
towards your editorial corps, than merely Civ
ing advice to children on the last 4th of July
And may have uhconsciously offended the Ke-
nosha Times as it had quite a long article in
last week S issue, somewhat devoted to me. Be
this as it may. shall avail myself of the free
dom of the press, of which you are so great
admirers to state the facts in relation to our tb
of July celebration
The orator of the day, and the Rev. gentleman
who acted as chaplain, were both Republicans,
invited by myself as a committee of one. for
the very purpose of avoiding the Uery appearance
of any intent on my part, of showing partaity
to gentlemen of my political opinions, as we'll as
cause they are both very worthy men The
marshal of the day and his assistants were all
Republicans. This was well enough too. for
"They are all honorable men,
The city voted $50 towards paying the ex-
penses of the celebration, the balance was CON
trbuted alike by persons of all political opin-
ions Of this money your office received four
dollars for printing the handbills and q notice
III the papers. Not one cent was subscribed by
any one in the Office. asked to have the Of
flee contribute the printing, or part of it-not
one cert was paid, but it was claimed that the
printing was done cheap. Perhaps it was ri
The celebration was understood aud designed to
| be one OF union without distinction of party 1t
was designed and understood to be national and
not political. Is The streets and the Park were
| places OF common and general resort during the
entire day and evening. Every one had a right
and it was fit, that every one should 90 in these
places without having obtruded upon his atten-
tion the political or religious dogmas of any par
| ty or sect. Not that deny the right or fitness,
upon such days to hold Estate Conventions, -
Democratic or Republican, political gatherings,
when it is understood that they are to be Of a
| party nature, and when held in places that are
set apart for party purposes, and not dedicated
to national purposes for the day. [4] Bat when
a time and place are devoted to national and ge-
NEAL purposes, Irrespective of party or political
differences, my opinion has been and now is
that 1t lily COMFORTS with those common ameni-
ties and proprieties which render not only a re-
currence OF that day desirable, but which tends
to promote that good feeling among members
of the same community, which makes society de-
sireable. | had thought that when the citizens
OF the same community had joined together in
one common place to celebrate nations birth
day that D" the booming of the cannon and the
rejoicing of the people should hush all potica
differences" 81 This | had been taught by
one of our early patriots had read in one OF
Abraham Lincoln's speeches. 4" that we hold
this annual celebration to remind ourselves of all
the good done since the Declaration of Indepen-
dence,of how it was done, and who did it and how
we are historically connected with it; and we
60 from these meetings in better humor with
! ourseiYes-we feel more attached the one to the
other, and more firmly bound to the country we
inhabit. In every way we are better men In the
age and race and country in which we live, fol
these celebrations | had learned to respect
such sentiments. [6] And l thought that the
common courtesy due from friends md neigh,
bors and fellow citizens, who had united in ne
common purpose upon one Common, should for
7 bid the introduction of anything that might teni
to destroy or mar the attachment one felt to the
other to diminish the goo humor among us, Of
that would turn the "rejoicings of the people
into hOwlingS and groanings of an excited mob
III Acting under these Impressions is it sin
gular that when | saw come upon the Park, til,
common resort of ALL amid the amusements and
recreations OF the day, a procession preceded b,
a band of music hired and paid for out of thu
: common fund, in he van of which was carrie,
a banner with an Ominous bird inscribed there
on,-lol-the same banner used at a Republi
can ratification meeting, attended by persons 0
f,,n III IL n
Lincoln and Hamlin" thereon attended with al
the pageantry that the patriotic ingenuity q
those youthful Wide Awakes' could intro
duce, 1" so novel and so chaste ~ Is il singula
that when | saw amid those gentle youths tw,
of the editors of the Telegraph, one adorne
with red sash to disti guish him from "any
body " else-the Republican Glee Club wit
) song book in hand, and gathered around tn
stand erected for the purposes of the day. tn
fathers of those BOYS and the venerable
senior editor of the Telegraph and several @
the old public funcionaries' of the city an
county, and one boy" with gray beard who i
, deacon in the church is it singular that on
should think it not all boys play?" Is sin
guar that being outside of the ''elect'' such al
the " senior editor the Glee Club and other
who had known from two hours to three day
before, that such a demonstration was to com
off, that l should make the following remarks t.
those young men. aud nothing more and tina
in the kindest manner ? 81
l said to the young man holding the Lincoln
banner, q do not think it is good taste in 70,
to be carrying that banner to-day, Men Of al
political parties have joined in this celebration
and this will not tend to create good feeling.
would take it down. Mr.. II Durkee stood nea
to me, and SAID substantially the same to him
he concurred with me, and asked the young mar
to take down the banner. He did so, and sup
a. 4bo Il Al
moment did not think any man OF boy intended
to make political speech But Just then saw
upon the stand quite a number arranging The
chairs some ore said there was to be a " Lin
coin speech" Inquired of one or two if There
was to be political speech. 90 There is to be ;
speech, they said; l stepped on to the stand &
made like inquiry, and received similar an
Swer. AT this moment " Master Chancey Bal
.dwin" came up to me and / remarked to him,
you have more days than this to live, / hope
| T10l-a mistake madei by you to-day, NAV fol
! low you for years. / would advise you not tC
deliver political speech here to-day. Men OF
all political sentiments have Joined in this cele
| bration, and to make political speech here is
| in bad taste | think. This is the nations not 8
| party's day.
| He replied in very gentlqmanly manner, q
| do not want to speak At about this time there
were loud calls for Baldwin, and a scene en-
| Sueu WHICH VIII hoG uiueFlahe 10 describe.
have only to say that if those who participated in
it are satisfied, am. / attempted to speak E
few words TO those present, in explanation o.
what had said to the young men, and in expla
nation of my purpose there; but was Prev nj
ed for long time by tempest in a teapot,
by screeches and groans. The senior editor O
the Telegraph came upon the stand witt otheI
full grown boys. He looked wise and said no,
thing. Till Amid the excitement Mr.. Dur
kee announced that Master c. Baldwin" wo'f
not speak. This but increased the divine ire" o
the deacon and other boys. After while the
'' tumult dwindled to calm" said TO taos,
present, substantially what had to the yount
men, and added that l did not think this fiji
ting time TO make Douglas, Lincoln or Rreckin
ridge speeches. Buff they wished to convert tn,
4th of July into political day, and to have DO
litical speeches, they might.
/ But that il WIS hut i,,sI thnt IT,. IL.