The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-09-04
A SHARP REPLY.

A SHARP REPLY.
On learning that jeff. Davis had consented
to address county fair at Rockford, a gen
tleman of Dixon extended an invitation &c
the same distinguished "secesh," to speak at
a horse fair at the latter place.
In the meantime the loyal.stay-athome rad
icals Of the former place raised fearful hui
labalo about JEFF. coming there, and he get
ting notice thereof declined. Here is the re.
ply to the Dixon party. It is sharp and hits
right and left. If any one doubts that JET
really wrote this letter, and suspects that il is
bogus, let him be consoed with the reflection
that the letter loses not u particle Of its pun
gency on that account
MEMPHIS TENN, Aug. l3, 1875.
JAMES L. CAMP, ESQ.,, Post Master, Dixon, Ill.
Honored Sir:-Yours Of the 9th inst invit
ing me to deliver an address al the fair Of the
Dixon Park Association in September, is at
hand.
Life's enchanted cup but sparkles near the
brim, and my youthful days passed in the
Rock River Valley, were the happiest OF my
life, and confess, to you, q long desire to re-
visit it; to refresh nay early dreams Of life
and to observe the wonderful development Of
country which remember only asa wilder.
ness inhabited by savages That Of this
pleasure l would be deprived, up TO the pres.
ent time had believed.
We Judge actions by events, and for this
reason nothing succeeds so well as success.
If julius Caesar had not lived to cross the
Rubicon, what would history have called
Julius Caesar. If Grant had not succeeded
he would have been recognized not rs the re.
fined and polished gentleman that he ia. His
noble aspirations might be misunderstood. If
Washington had not been successful in the
first American rebellion, how would Wash.
ington be regarded at the present day
"Treason doth never prosper;
What is the reason?
Why, if it prospers
None dare call it trcasonl"
! confess that this was the manner, from
my point Of view, IN which | regarded the
subject previous TO the receipt of your fiat.
tering letter. now am persuaded that trea-
son is like diamonds-there is nothing TO be
made by the small trade, truth which, If
had recognized q little earlier, 1t might have
urged me to play more tragic part than
ed upon me befitting tokens Of regard.
1t is easier for the generous to forgive than
for oiiense to ask ii. You seem TO be carry.
ing out the policy SO classlcally portrayed by
| Plutarch. How successful Caesar carried out
the policy of forgiveness with Catullus, and
the Cardinal Mazarine gave the same kind Of
treatment 10 the learned Quelet and the most
famous OF Latin poems remains to commcm.
crate his action. We forgive too little and
forget too much
! We are now suffering from the heat and
prepossessions that cleave 10 party. Party
spirit breeds passion; passion warps our
| judgment and our judgment effects our nor.
ais. How many minds are filed with un.
charitable and barbarous notions out of their
party zeal? What cruelties and outrages
would some not commit against the people of
the South, whom they would honor and es.
TEEN, if, instead of considering them AS they
are represented they knew them as they are ?
There are people OF the greatest propricty re
duced into shameful errors and prejudices
and made bad even by the nobest of princi.
lples-the love of their country. ] cannot
forbear mentioning the famous Spanish prov.
erb "if there were neither fools or knaves in
the world, all the people would be of one
mind"
With one class of Northern people am
well acqualnted-that which composed the
} soldiery. Major Williams of your city exlen.
ded to me gentlemanly courtesies when was
captive, ever to be remembered, There is
a sympathy of kin between braye hearts.
y respect the soldiers of the North, for while
we fought like men reared in land of free
dom, instilled by the spirit leftus by a Wash
ington, and Jackson and n Southern spirit
which in the past has brought luster upon
The American name, the men OF The North
fought like heroes and victory was the re
!. ward for their courage. AS intima ted, the mer
{ who did the fighting for the North hav,
met, but curiosity-one OF the strongest and
most lasting of our appetltes-nrgcs me TO e
|, to see the men who have been the principa
gamers by the war and TO whom peace Is dis
! tasteful. \ large class who did the flghiIn.
only with their mouths, are yet discharci nl
: their fierce oral batteries, forgetting that The
q war closed some ten years ago. A mar witt
bravery only in his mouth and patriotism
only in his pocket eXerts aa unwholesome in
fiuence-we have them IN the South and
= suppose the species exist North. Dixon,
am told, boasts of q mum Der OF civil mi litar,
heroes-who were never ut war, are never al
peace, but who are the political manipulation.
OF their countrymen. To see this class N
men will compensate me richly for The hard
ships and fatigue, at my time Of liic. which d
journey North would cost. ltwolld be mos
gratifying for me 10 speak al horse race II
Is Sd appropriate too, educated and holding
Tie strict religious notions that do. Ii Is
appropriate for many reasons. The Dixon
Park Association has proven itself so eni.