Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-25


OF the southern Democracy, and that
they may now be as fully trusted with
all the interests of the Government as
the loyal men of the north who have
ever been it's friends. Would that an
impartial inquiry, seeking only to find
the truth, might sustain this assump-
tlon; but a familiar acquaintance,
based upon personal experience and
observation, with the temper of the old
slaveholdlng element of the south and
It's expectations stakod upon Demo-
cratic ascendancy, shows that no more
dangerous and fatal delusions could be
entertained.
lis true, slavery and secession, the
primal causes of southern alienation.
are dead and buried, but it is equally
true that their authors and advocates
ana terrible consequences, still survive.
Inc Hills, Gordons, and Lamars who
led the Confederates into rebellion with
enthusiastic ardOr continue to be their
chosen leaders, and are supported with
all the zeal and devotion of former
days. The loss of thousands of their
bravest sons and millions of treasure,
with ruined homes and universal inn
poverlshment and sorrow inflicted upon
them, has not taken scintilla of their
confidence from the authors of their
misfortunes and why? Simply for
the reason that they still believe the
Lost Cause" to have been just and
righteous, and hold it in affectionate
remembrance as the palladium of their
hberties.*
The politician who seeks their favor
and has exhausted every other expe-
d1ent without success, can appeal
to this fond sentiment with unerring
assurance. 1t is TIE sentiment of the
hastings, the church and the school,
and unites society in it's tender ties as
the only remaining emblem of COM
mon suferings in a common cause.
Every idea of human liberty, every
principle by which they would govern
the State and the Nation, every sense
OF justice toward their fellow men,
every conception Of their duty as
citizens, and every hope they have for
themselves orfor the nation, is limited
by the traditions, teachings and preju-
dlces of the Past; and to dissent from
these and adopt the more enlightened
and progressive views of the north
meets with a visitation of calumny, de-
nunciation, and prescription that the
most courageous men will shrink from
encountering.
WAR OF INVASION AND VANDALISM.
Kindred to this feeling, and to add to
it's intensity, is deep sense of the i'm
agined injuries inflicted by the north.
The war is looked upon as a savage
vandalism, which despoiled their prop
erty, murdered their sons, and sup
pressed their dearest rights wholly
without cause-a crusade of oppres-
sions and robbery that perpetrated the
most atroclOus wrongs upon an unof-
Tending, innocent, and blameless peo-
pie; and this belief in the great wrongs
OF the north, and their own unmerited
suffering, is as strong to-day as it was
ten years ago, and stubbornly refuses
to be reconciled except upon its own
terms.
HOW THE SITUATION rs ACCEPTED.
If the modifying influence of time
has perceptibly improved this we'll
known temper it is difficult to discover
the character Or extent of the change.
In every instance where new conditions
*Fhe south is to-day ruled over by the
miserable thrall of Yankeedom; but thew
cannot muzzle our chivalry and patriotic
devotion to the Lost Cause We have
fought for our rights, but in Gods dispen-
sation we are vanquished, but not cowed.
Slavery was divine institution, and we
must have that institution or the south will
ever be bankrupt. They speak of our cause
as the +" Lost Cause" If SO shall it be lost
forever? No new generation has sprung
up, and at a not far distant day there will
be 8 stars and bars' floating proudly over
our Sunny South. In the next political
campaign we must, even if in the minority,
support q southern man who will build ND
our interests and hurl the Yankee pickpock-
cts from our midst. We are to-day united to
the Puritanieal host by an artificial tie; but
we are distinct people, and God and the
right will enable us to show to the world
the truth and the equity Of our claims
Our statesmen now in Congress are the
cream of that body, and are the only ele-
ment that reflects credit on the United
States. Is it not better to hang on to the
Lost Cause" than to stay in a government
delivered by the Rev. J. Taylor Martin at
Charlotte, N. c., May 5, 1876, Confederate
memorial day]
We bow not in the spirit of cravens; and
while we bend to the "higher law" author
ity, that pollutes our Republic as trans
mitted to us by our fathers, respect for our
selves, our posterity, and the good opinion
of mankiod forbid our enrolling ourselves
as the whiaing slaves, or silent slaves, of the
conquering power. We hsvc surrendered none
of our consvactions and still claim the riqht of
MEDICATION In looking back at our past
actions and motives, and the wrongs we
have suffered and are still suffering, we con-
TESS that we have no regrets for the choice
we made between the "higher-law" license
of MAJ orities in the Union, and the sacred
security of self-government in the States
between the Federal and Confederate gov
ernments. We are not conscious O. soil
tary dereliction of duty either as citizens or
soldiers, and feel that truth, reason and re-
igion exculpate us from wrong doing. We
know we were right, and though crushed
to earth, we should ever remember and
teach our children to remember, OUR CAUSE
WAS JUST! We are still proud of the cause
and glory in the fight we made Posterity
will yet decide that, though we lost all but
honor, to save honor it was better to have
fought and lost, than not to have fought
at all-TEXtraCt from an address hv FIR