The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-31
For The Union.


For the Union.
Ma. EDIroR Error ceases TO be dan.
gerous when reason is left free TO combat
it," Pardon me, Mr.. Editor, for taking
your well.chosen motto as the foundation of
my remarks. Itappeurs to Inc it Mr.. USuM
would comprehend its full import, he might
change the dangerous opinion which he
made public in the Union" Of August II.
The opinion is erroneous, and consequently
dangerous it is blind fanaticism, and all
fanaticism is based on error.
Now, that l may not be guilty of assert.
ing what cannot prove, with your per-
mission, | desire TO show that Mr.. UNuM's
position Is erroneous. This desire 10 do
not because feel myself TO be one Of those
horrid "stay- at home-traitors," whose hands
are covered with "innocent blood" or who
plotted the last coming Of "Pap Price," but
because l feel myself to be as loyal, and TO
have been so from the very first, as the
gentleman ever dared to be.
Now, let us understand the gentleman be-
fore we proceed to answer him, for do not
wish to misrepresent him. The general
idea underlying his remarks is: "No SYM
pathy, no good will, no kindly feelings, fol
the vanquished.' He mentions in particu.
lar, preachers, school teachers snd lawyers,
as being "the stay at home, never did any
thing traitors" Then he lays down the
standard of loyalty the rest Of his commu-
nication is sarcastic defamation. With
the above ideas before me, l am not sur.
prised 10 find the gentleman subscribing
himself "Unum;" he ought 10 have addet
".MonStrum Horrendum," with which Unuu
must necessarily agree according 10 my
Latin grammar. Now, why is the idea o
no sympathy for rebels erroneous ?
LIST. Because it is in direct opposition t,
the teachings of divine truth to its CRANE
principle Of love /; to its forgiviDg and char
liable spirit. To quote passages in proc
Of this would be an insult TO the intelligence
Of this community. therefore omit them.
I'd. II the idea of Mr.. UNum would b.
acted upon, its tendency would be, not t.
change the feeling of rebelism in the van
pushed, and especially in the "stay HON
traitors" but it would only strengthen 1t
and perhaps manifest itself in acts. T
prove that this will be the effect, refer tn
gentleman TO Romans XII.2O: ''If thy enc
my hunger feed him, if he thirst give hin
drink, for by SO doing you shall heap coal
of fire on his head" Consequently, BY no
so doing you will freeze all the affection
and human feelings, and after awhile yol
will have demons in human form instead O
passive stay at. home traitors."
The amnesty proclamation was an appl
of discord in rebeldom; and thus it will
ever be in all such combinations and con
spiracies. In proof of the above position,
refer the gentleman to the following histor
ical facts LIST. To The capture of Jerusalem
by Titus ; I'd. To Julius Caesar in his tri
umph over Pompey Sd, To NapoleonI il
his conduct towards the Bourbons- from
which he will see that not only is the 4" Lua
UeritatiS," but also The "Lur HiStor,ae, )
against his principle of revenge.
spare the French, they are our Breth
rem" was the cry of Henry w, as his vic
torious army pursued his fleeing rebel sub.
jeets and thus will every noble, high-soul
ed and magnanimous patriot say respecting
the vanquished. Our sainted three, SAN
and AARON STEINMETz and V. SrALEY
were too brave, noble aud magnanimous to
thirst for revenge because the power was
in their hands. Could their voices be
heard il would be, clemency toward their
erring fellow-men, and they would no,
thank the gentleman for associating their
glory covered names with such an infamous
idea of no mercy, no sympathy, for our fel
low-citizens.
Ask the brave men of the Add who il was
that saved them from the murderous design
of Anderson, and who nursed and consolec
them while suflerIng9 They were the loya
men at heart, whom the gentleman denom
mates "stay- at-home traitors"
AMIcus PATRIE EFT HuMANITAT1s.