The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-09-19
STANDARD OF LOYALTY.
J. w. ROBERTS. Editor.


sons in our city who make it their par
,icular business to inquire into the bust
ness Of their neighbors. and charg.
them with disloyalty. Ia many in
stances these charges are preferred
against persons from personal malice
and against those whose loyalty, per
haps. has never been questioned BY any
one except their enemies. Those who
prefer the charges. in general. are oi
little or no responsibility and who have
but little interest in our city. and the
peace and quiet of our citizens. These
inquisitors 60 even farther. and carry
around lists OF persons In their pockets
whom they have prescribed and threat
ened to Grive from the city. Some o.
these persons are over jealous, and in
attempting 10 do their country service,
only damage the cause and the com.
munity in which they live. We do
not know that any one has an exclusive
right to set himself up as standard Of
loyalty. Those who have no other
legitimate business but to denounce
their neighbors and accuse them Of
dis'oyalty. should remember that in
"a-.y i~e..nee. sh-. shemseives arc on
ly permitted to remain in civilized
and loyal community BY sufferance.
There is much better way Of show
ing 10 the people their loyalty than BY
prescribing their neighbo,s. Itis By
fighting rebels in the field with mus
kets. That blatant patriotism that
urges men. n.outof pure malice. TO charge
their neighbors with disloyal,y. is no.
such patriotism As loyal men should
possess. There is a way 10 punish
rebels without taking the law in our
own hands.-Learenrorsh Bulletin.
There is the very essence Of sound
doctrine and good sense in the fore
going remarks. There i. but one stand
ard Of loyalty. and that is to stand by
the government aud support tue ad
ministration in its efforts to crush out
rebellion. He Who does this is loyal
man. He who sets up his orn ri<rs
IS the standard Of loyalty for all. is
simply . bigot: and if he denounces
Others Tor not agreeing with him. he is
psrseeutcr: and all be lacks 10 make
him tyrant is the puwer.
We may disagree with . man on a
hsndred qoest'ons Of policy. but 1t We
attempt TO make him agree xilh MS in
nay oIe Of Them. BY force, vs become /,
despot. The Inquisition could do no
more.
Suppose our Baptist friends should
denounee ever man as . sinner, and
send him 10 ciernity-s hotter place
than earth-beeauss he s'would not be
immersed. what would the world say 10
such An attempt on their part? l.
would scout the church from society;
and Justly. Or. if the Presby ,+rians
should send the Baptist to hell because
they will no, sprinkle instead Of i'm :
n:ersins subjects for baptism. wI,ai
would become Of them !? They sould
20 the same way.
Well. what is the difference bets cen
religious persecution aud bigotry and
political: The one is as bad as the
other.
We believe nj immediate emancipa.
t'on-belieyc it is the only sound
doctrine and sound policy. Ba, sup
pose our neighbor. educated under diff.
ercnt circumstances. and alarmed With
that bugbear expressed BY the question:
what shall We do with the negroes ?"
thinks differently. and believes gradual
emancipation best Shall we kill him
because be differs with us? Certainly
NOT. lie has as much right 10 kill us
As We haze to kill him. il lie is loyal.
1t is our dsty 70 cndeayor to convince
him Of his error. bat at the same time
treat him with the respect due an
American citizen. This is liberty;
more than this is license and tyranny.
And so Of any other question which
does not involve . man's loyalty.
We despise oppression anywhere and
everywhere. whether on the plantation |
of the slave-owner, or in the land Of
the free. II man is really disloyal
''clean him ou':'' il be simply has
some enemy who howls "eopperhead''
because no doat like him.if any differ
rncs. surs Lis enemy out. for he i, the
wesst u tl,e two. ~
Dropping eli other differences. let I
'be fiiends VI the govcrnuen. stand
nnitedly together and AID each other. /
That 10 the var for honest patriots 10
::ss along. Who lore their country.