The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-07-07
THE LATE G.. l.. VALLANDIGHAM.

We have no inclination whatever to
detract from the honest fame of any
man, much less to traduce the character
of any one, living or dead but we must
think and may say that the adulatory
manner in which many Republican pa
pers have referred to the subject of this
article, since his death, has been unwor-
thy and inconsistent. He was, while
living, most prolific subject for the
obiurgation of the Republican press.
Webster's Unabridged" in fact, did
not furnish words strong and numerous
enough to express the infamy and igno-
miny they were prone to fasten upon
him. When he was sent through the
rebel lines, for giving aid and comfort
to the enemy in time of war, by sem
tence of n general courJ-martial, the
"Amcn" of the loyal press was unani-
nous throughout the land, and it was
given by none more emphatically than
by some of those who are now so lavish
in their encomiums upon his character.
Now that he is removed by death be-
yOnd the possibility of doing further
evil, they vie with his personal and po-
litical friends in recounting his virtues.
What is to be gained by such inconsist-
ency in journalism we are ut loss to
conceive. If it is done from no better
motive than political effect, the sooner
such scribblers lay down their pens the
better. If 1T is from tender regard for
those more deeply afflicted by his death,
they may spare their sympathIes, for no
friend of the deceased would or could
accept their professions as any thing
better than counterfeit. If, in abusing
Vallandigham while he lived, they i'm
agine they did him wrong, and now are
sorry and wish to atone for their sins,
eet them speak out like honest men and
say.so, and not adopt a sneaking, craven
hearted method of doing It. If their
denuncia&ions of him were then Just
and true, let them stand forever unre-
lieved of their force and terrible signif-
canoe and influence. If all were true
that was said against him, 1t is sufficient
that those to whom he WAS attached go
ciany should bear him in their hearts
with devoted affection, but do not de-
grade Journalism by a word In eKtenu-
uation of the wickedness of his politi-
cal history for any purpose of concilia-
ton. 1t would come now with q very
bad grace.
That Mr.. Vallandigham lad many es-
Unable social qualities, there is no
doubt. So has JEFF. Davis and Brick
Pomeroy, but it is only politically they |
are notorious; it will only be in relation
TO their political lives that history will
take any note of them; and their rec
Ords will be as ignominious as they are
now infamous. 1t is the political rec
ord of Mr.. Vallandigham that history
will exhibit; by his political life is he
known; his political reputation Is pub |
lie property, and by that must he be
identified. He sympathized with and
worked for the Southern CoRfederates
during the war, and to the day OF his
death never uttered word from which
IL could be inferred that he repented of
his political course and was sorry for
his sins. He was doubtless sincere in
his desire for the success of the Demo-
cratic party and his own advancement,
and it was his opinion, as it is confess
eddy that OF some of the Democratic ed