National Republican., 1883-12-07
A NOBLE REPLY.
A PhiIosophic and Patriotic Letter From
Prosecuted Rendjustcr Editor.

Prosecuted Rendjustor Editor.
Mr. ]. G. Fowler, editor ofthe Bristol Tenn. }
News, was grossly insultod by the intolerant
bourbons Of his section on account Of his
bold expressions Of friendship for Gen. Ma
hone and the readluster cause. The persecu-
tion was so malignant aud persistent that the
report started that Mr.. Fowler had made up
his mind to emigrate to escape IL. The
free circulation of this report called from the
gentleman q remarkable letter, of which the
following is the principal portion:
In the twenty-three years have lived in
this county have witnessed often the com
pcnsatiug swing of that public pendulum
which beats and measures the struggle
between thought and passion, vice and
virtue.
have seen tho American union denounced
as yoke of tyranny and by the same people
regarded afterward as the only ark of refuge
have seen Virginia and Tennessee jarred
from their places in the union by the blow
that smote Fort Sumter and have lived to
see those who, against the advice of Virginia
and Tennessee, struck the blow, enjoying
fresh prosperity to themselves while Virginia
and Tennessee wero mourning, in.groat need,
for means to replace themselves in the union.
have lived TO SEQ slavery declared to be of
divine origin and blessing to mankind, and
then, before the expiration of n single sena-
torial term, tho same people declare II had
boon q curse tn our country and they would
not see it ro-established if they could
have, ,lived to SEQ Abraham Lincoln, when
dead, mourned as great, good, and generous
by the same people, who, four years previous,
had denounced him as q chimpanese aud an
idiot. i have lived to sec Andrew johnson
run out of Tennessee pressed and pursued
with weapons. and then welcomed back as
hn dali a.f thA ho,,
lived to see the same people who applauded
the pulling of his nose and the slapping OF his
face in Bristol In 1861, wboop and hurrah for
him as an incorruptible president in. 1855.
l have lived to SEQ Benjamin L. Butlor
crowned with the governorship Of one of tho
greatest states that fought the long battle of
American independence by tho party, o Sec
tion of which had previously outlAwed him
as spoon thief, degrador Of woman, and an
enemy of man.
l have lived to SEQ Horace Grooley de-
nounced as the originator aud developer of
national sedition, and author of every south
ern misfortune and sorrow, and then quickly
proposed and pushed for tho loftest pedestal
of honor and power by one and tho same
southern people.
l have lived to sec Gen. Garfield denounced
as public thief and placarded with tho de-
flaming and cabalistic 1920" by tho same peo-
pie who in less than year mourned his
unexpected death as a calamity to America.
havo lived to SEQ John Il. Massey pro-
posed and voted for as the representative OF
Virginia in tho American congress by the
same party and people who, little more than
u year previous had denounced him rs the
embodiment of all that dishonor could mean
or degradation imply.
| / have lived to SEQ Hunnicut, like Massey,
stoned and egged in Richmond, and then
voted for by the same people to represen 4
bai ity In tha ~
the United States, and afterward live re-
spocted and die regretted on Virginia soil
| L have lived to SEQ Robert w. Hughes
hooted by state line mob when he attempted
to present his views rs candidute for con-
gress, and then by these same people pro-
nouDced a humane and model federal Judge,
have lived to sec political party afraid
for twelve years, to assume the namo Democ-
racy, and then suddenly denounce as un-
worthy of public confidence another party
which refuses to assume that name
l have lived to see party denounce as
larceny and as felony the readjustment of the
public debt of Virginia, and then quickly pro-
pose to make good tho larceny and to enjoy
| tho benefits of It.
J have lived to sec party mako Wickham
its candidate for the state senateafter having
denounced him rs political traitor, who tried
to mako governor of Virginia, Wells, who
favored the Acknowledgement Of the flower o.
| virginia mannOOu ana chlvnlry.
j have lived to see the same party, lately
under the nom de plume Of debt payers, pro
pose as their candidate for seat in our legis
lature a man recently and then a large dc
faulter to tho national government. Sucl
has been public opinion and such it may bt
again. But let mono of us judge it harshly
for in so doing we shall each condemn him
self. Who has not at any time had on hi
tongue the fire of intolerance, nor in his vein!
the virus of persecutionP
As for mo, cherish the proud recollection
that at no time within the limits named il
this letter have deemed IL meet to stain ar
hour of victory with aught that could wount
those who had boen beaten. l have not IL
the sweet hour of triumph been guilty of OF
indignity to any man. l might hav,
wounded such one, but should have dc
based and degraded myself only. The wount
Of my defeated opponent would have healed
but the damned spot of my own abasemen
might have been hard 10 remove. Other
could not have removed 1t, and j should a
least have had the humiliation of havinI
myself to wipe 1t off.
l have been and am now engaged in
movement which some persons seem unequa
to the task of comprehending or appreciating
l have believed that liberalism and nationa
free suffrage, free education, free thought
and free speech, restored state sovereignt,
and the resumption Of protection by Virgins
to all her weak and unfortunate children wer
werth struggle and would command the re
spect of mankind. l believe that struggl
cannot fail. / know public opinion will Ii
the end always be just
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