The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-05-21
A 4" FOOLS ERRAND."

! The Author Makes some Pertinent Alusions
to a Current Case, and Denies the Personal
Identity OF Characters in the Book.
Editor OF the New York Tribune.
SIR The numerous attempts which have
been made to fix an autobiographlc character
upon "A Fools Errand have been somewhat
provoking and very ludcrous. desire space
in your columns to state that no mans life is
there intended to be drawn. SO far as the in
cidents Of the work are concerned almost ev-
cry one OF them is simple fact. They are gath
cred from numerous lives. and attributed to
such OF the characters rs the action OF the sto-
ry demanded.
The views Of public affairs attributed to Com
fort Servosse, and the deductions therefrom
are those which the author held at the times set
forth in the story, and the conclusions which he
reached are those which the author has long
held, in common with most northern men who
have been IN the furnace heat OF the recon
struction contests, from the hour when the mir
acle Of emancipation was fresh to oil minds and
hearts until the present. II was this experience
which inspired the hook, and, from the knowl-
edge which It gave, The facts were cleaned
with which the various characters are fitted
forth, and the spirit nd tender cy OF events il
Illustrated.
Like Comfort Servosse, the author at first
wondered at the manifestations OF the power OF
the past, only half comprehended by him, over
those who had been reared under its influ ences.
He despised the tmdly and caution OF the ma
tive Unionist, wondered at the arrogance and
prejudice OF the former ruling class, was angry
at the servility and submission to insult and
outrage of the freedmen. AS he grew bette
informed he'll began to pity them all because of
the past, whose influence had made them what
they were.
Then when the great couater-revoluion set
IN, and the spirit OF the dead confederacy over
threw and defed the power of the nation when
the element which had insugurated war recon-
quered for the south its old power, even en-
HANGED and strengthened, the author felt all
that admiration for the audacity, skill and dar
ing manifested, and the success achieved, which
g expressed by Servossc. And when at length
they succeeded, by persistent and unblushing
arrogance, in compelling the north to approve
their methods, excuse their excuses, and in
dorse their justification, he felt the ssme apyry
amazement, and admitted the justice OF their
contempt which the fact OF their success engen-
dered toward the north. He admitted with re-
greet and shame that from 1860 until to day the
ruling class OF the south have been consistent
and trus to themselves. They have yielded
nothing, surrendered nothing and los; nothing
OF political power. Overwhelmed IN conflict,
they have triumphed in the political arena, and
that triumph, under ordinary crcums tances,
has been the most pronounced and brilliant OF
any age or country.
This fact is admirably illustrated by the re-
cent affair at West Point. The animating spirit
of the Confederacy was hostility to the recog-
milton Of the negro's manhood. The south had
not then and has not now any antpathy to the
negro as a =" niger 1t approves, indorses and
likes him as such. II only hates him as man,
an equal, political Coordinate, an element or
representative OF power. 1t is the same spirit