The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-07-04

rot Inc ihuepehdt
From A Reader.

certain quarter. Every shot must
have hit the mark. Load up again. Mr.
Editor, using chain shot and ho, shot,
grape shot and bomb shells-bombard
every den Of infamy, lay regular seige
TO the entrenched hosts of thieves, and
their allies.
Give no quarter, let your motto be.
Victory or DEATH" Let it be speedily
decided. whether majority of Jetfer
son county are thieves and abe.;ors of
thieves. II need be. there is host
ready to stand By you and every other
honest, independent. ouispoken editor
Success to free press. free pulpit
and Tree schools. A READER.
l. would seem from the foregoing tina;
our remarks last week caused some
comment; and We are to'3, bu. hope it is
a mistake, that some bitterness of feel
ing was manifested. Certainly there is
nothing-not line. word or an inti-
mation-in any part of the las; issue al
which an honest man can take offense.
There is nothing said or intended 10 be
understood to reflect upon any maa who
is good citizen. an upright man,
friend of the government, and au obsery
er Of the laws of his country. Against
such there is No law" We only had
reference 10 ihieves, robbers and their
abettors. That is all. And we surely
think every good man and loyal citizen
is with us. In fact we know that all
such cannot be otherwise than with us;
for he is not good man who upholds
crime in any shape. nor be loyal ciii
zen, who aids or countenances the gio-
latioe of law JEFF. Davis is yiolaior
and usurper of law; and all who do like
him are of the "same SOFT" That is
plain.
We wrote no word as personal
thrust at any man. We were speaking
of crimes and Of those engaged in unlaw-
full acts. We have only praise for hon
est men. No man who is not engaged
in crime, nor aiding those who are, can can
possibly End fault with any thing We
have ever said or written against crim-
inal offenses.
There is certain class of men wLo
have been looking from oae stand point
SO long they only see one side of The
question. and ,ha; side through pref
udiced vision. They would not com.
mi: certain acts themselves, because
they are too honest to take something
that does bot belong TO them wiibou
rendering aD equivalent for it; bu, they
are rather favorable to some one else do
ing what they feel is too sinful and de
grading for them to do themselves
Now We wish in all kindness, and ye
in solemn earnest, to ask these men
few questions.
Would you like for youEf sons 10 g
and do what your conscience and n IAN.
hood tell you is degrading and wrong
In other words, would you Ike to see
your sons committing those acts from
which you shrink, thus debasing them
to level where you cannot stoop? Il
not; ii you would not sink your own
sons in crime. would you wish 10 sink
your neighbor's sons?
Think OF these things with candor
Look at them In all their bearings. Re-
fleet upon consequences-consequences
which may live when you are dead and
gone. Remember that human nature
needs and requires restraints, no, license
that it requires all the force of laws
and moral precepts TO keep men right;
that We are fighting foi government
to sustain law FOR the very reason that
1t will protect US; that lawlessness is
anarchy and rebellion - think of all
these things and then act like national
beings who have the good Of their coun-
try. of society and future generations
at heart. Do this; and we have no
fesrs of tie verdict. An honest man,
in case SO plain. cannot fail to come
10 IN honest conclusion.
We are the enemy Of no man. unless
he Is an enemy Of our government; We
wish all well. But we are utterly op-
posed 10 crime. When we speak of
crimes We mean what VIC say; and no
one should feel himself alluded 10 unless
he is guilty.
If our positions are no, correct, the
columns OF this journal are always open
TO any respectful rejoinder that may
be written ior publication. If we are
wrong in any position it is our desire