Middletown transcript., 1872-09-14
A Strong Case Of Neutrality.

A letter to the ST. Louis Republican,
from Mt Vernon, III says: l much doubt
whether anything in the way Of neutrality
has ever been heard Of approaching that
contained in the following epis,le. which,
through the kindness Of friend, has been
permitted to fall into my hands. It is
from father residing in this county, to
his son, promising young physician, To-.
Gated IN another part of the State.
Ny DEAR SoS: One Of the most pleas
ing reflections in my declining years, is
the ready obedience which you have al.
ways yielded to my wishes Your fathers
advice 10 you now is. as it was when you
enlisted in the war, namely, Le neutral
You aud | must be ycry neutral that is
to say, that while we take neither side as
4 side. we 60 our length for Greeley aud
Brown This is the genuine thing. my
son. /; is, in my judgment, the quint-
essence OF neutrality,
! have lately been much amused at some
of my Democratic friends who appear anx-
ious 10 learn which side | am going to
take in this contest. have uniformly
assured them that should take neither
side a. a side; that if knew myself am
perfectly neutral, and that | should mind
my own business and vote for Greeley and
Brown. Not for the world, nv boy.
would have you think that am attempt.
ins 10 dictate, or IN any way to control you
in this matter. have only this to say on
that head
You asked me by the last mall to let
you have Que hundred dollars to purchase
surgical instruments. | will answer YOUR
letter shortly Meantime, (do you un.
lersianlD y ! am neutral; take no side
as side, but | swear by Greeley aud
Brown They are my men and am do.
ing all can for them. send you white
hat, which is sign and symbol Of our
neutrality. | will answer your. hundred
dollar letter in good time Meanwhile |
would like TO hear who the Greeley hat
f,s
Understand me, my son. Some parents
undertake to control and direct the opin-
ions Of their children This is cruel. Ia.
rents should be neutral in such matters
and leave their children to do as they
please. Al that can fnd in my heart
to do is to kindly advise you in the premi-
scs, aud to give you n gentle hint-nn
more. You inform pe In, the surgical
instruments g.e necessity, and that
you are unable 10 purchase them You.
therefore like good and du,iful son. call
upon your father 10 aid you.
Certainly you ough, to have the instru-
nen,s. You may expect soon to hear
from me But. as | was saying. | am dc.
termined to maintain my neutral ground.
and 20 1t strong for Greeley aud Brown
Ii your hat is too small. stretch it. You
ought 10 have those instruments lust as
certainly as that | am going to support
Greeley and Brown.
While no, wishing or intending in any
way to influence you III the least. | would
remark that have just the one hundred
dollsrs that have no present Use for
and stand Oh neutral ground--in other
words | am for the Ciacinnati. Baltimore
ticket against the field repeat, | have
just the one hundred dollars TO spare tina,
you ask for. Meanwhile would il not be
well for you to drop me line as to how
you stand on the subjccty Upon nv
soul, think i, would
agree with you that the surgical in
strunents arc necessity. Ii is necessary
for the good Of our common country tha,
you should be neutral-thai is to say, tha,
you should initiate the patriotic example
Of your father, ard work and vote fo-
Greeley and Brown.
Indeed, scarcely know what to do
with that loose bundled dollars. You can
write ct your leisure and lie, me know how
you stand. wish you to exercise your
own judgment aud act as you think best,
but you ought to have those inslrmen.s.
and you know where TO end mo.
Your aifcstionatc father, J.B."