Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-06-17

ly better that it should have been owe,
an open question than that 1t should
have been fagran: rebellion on the one
hand or illegal subjugation of brute
force Oh the other.
Except for the TACT claimed, the rels.
ttons now existing between those who
fought each other in that war could moi
exist with honor to either party. 1t is
practically acQuiesced in all over the
land by all parties. but some are danger.
ously teaching different theoretical
doctrine, with tendency to Infinite
harm.
Az for the occasion on which it was
delivered. it seems to me to bs pre-emi-
nently the one tor the discussion of a
| question OF such constant editorial com
ment, especially when it was discussed
in manner SO philosophical and free
from Partisanshlp, and SD we'll calcula-
ted to instruct. Judging from their
utterances on the subject, there is none
about which the average editor is more
III need Of distraction. That some took
otense al il Is small argument against
1t. 1t could offend nothing but igno-
rance. aud NO man ought tv be required
ought to be proud OF his address. 1t is
something to Le proud Of
But the Chief point "f his offending
seems to be the remarks abvut Lee and
Jackson. This is really lhe only thing
that has been speci:ied. It has been
specified. 1t has been chars I'D that his
address was but q laudatiOn OF them.
Here ID W hat he did say:
''lt deserves to be sald in explicit and
undlsguised contempt OF all this wkole.
sale misrepresen, alton vi history aud
slander Of the persons Of our fellow
countrymen, that however mistaken.
yet in strictness OF language Robert F..
Lee and Stonewail jackson were no
more traitors than George Washington
and mad Anthony Wayne. To the hon.
or OF our country. be it said, none of
them were traitors.''
Is there any laudation herep. Does
he ascribe to them any virtues ? Not in
the least. He only denies them to have
been guilty vi crime. Nothing OF praise,
only u negatlon of infamy.
Who asserts that they were traitors (?
1 am aware that some blatant political
demagogaes indulge In this kind OF vltu.
soberly declare it P The very parties
who indulge in this abuse give it the lie
by their actions. and prove it to be the
meanest kind Of demogoguery by vel
coming to their ranks with every mark
of confidence such men as Longstreet,
Mosby and Malone. And every acces.
sion to their strength from those who
took a prominent part in secession is
heralded all over the land with glad
shouts of Joy. They use it as party
cry to play upon the ignorance and pre-
Judice OF their followers, but they prove
by their acts that they do not believe it.
Has it come to such pass that such
an expression OF opinion, rs DR.. Laws
gave in his address, is to be considered
an otfense so great as to justify removal
from official position. Is there any
place, where public matters are discus
sed at all, that such remarks are held to
be discourteoas Are ex-confederaies
t. 60 about with bated breath and
downcast eyes as though living by SUI.
ferance qnlyl Is denial OF guilt by
them ofensivel Must the names OF
their dead comrades and henored lead
ers b. tabooed in every public discus
si'n as those under cloud of disgrace !?
Must they not only forbear to speak one
also not dare to clear their names OF
reproach?
Any voluntary ASSOCIATION where it
cannot be said. il public discussion, that
Lee and Jackson were not traitors with.
out giving otfense, is not lit organlza-
tion for any honest, self respecting ex.
confederate to belong to. l have hum
dreds OF personal aud political friends
who fought Tor the union in the late
war, and we msrt eye to eye and hand
in hand on equal ground IN every re-
spect, each knowing that ours Is union
OF hearts as well as ot territory, and
that this constitutes its ,chlet glory.
There are but two classes that take
ofense ut DIR. Laws address. One il
actuated by ignorant aud malignant
hate, and tue other is the selfish Office
seeking southerner, who is ready to
stuliiiy himself and show his super
loyalty by deprecating any honorable
mention OF his dead comrades. Both
OF these are unworthy of the notice OF
an honest, independent man.
For my part. aud know speak the
"f other rex.contederates gen.
orally, while l have accepted the results
OF the war as finally and forever settling
all the questions that caused it, and
have accepted it heartily and fully as
Indicated herein, vet l claim tor those
who went to battle tor the south full
credit tor equal honor and patriotism
with any other set Ut men that ever
lived, aud that our dead comrades were
NJ devoted patriots as the best of those
That fought on the other side, and were
no more traitors than they. On all
Lh hese points.
.'l'il cavil on the ninth part of u hair'
And l suppose any man or set of men
in Missouri will be very careful about
DR.. LAWS from his position on
account ot any thing contained IN his ad-
II ess, or on account OF the senseless
II amor of those who have not the capac.
~ u understand or appreciate it.
WILLIAM YOUNG.
l., v;nUfOn Mo lima , 1900