The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-24
A VOICE FROM CANNON COUNTY.
One Of Her Leading Men Prefer
the Wounded and Heroic
Hate TO Reid.

Ome OF Her Leading Mem Prefer
the Wounded and Heroic
Hate to Reid.
Special to the Nashville worldl
WOODBURY., May 16.-I see DR.. Nor
ton gives as an excuse for supporting
Judge Reid for Governor that Reid
made good Confederate soldier. /
have never heard of Judge Reid losing
any blood in the lost cause. But w.
B. Bate not only made gallant SOL
dier, but was shot all to pieces and
bears the effect OF his wounds to this
day. The idea of man giving such
an excuse for deserting his party,
when he sees the gallant Bate hobbling
along the streets of Nashville day by
day on one leg and a piece. Has he
forgotten that Gov. Bate was also
Confederate soldier, and the bravest
among the brave of all the gallant
sons OF Tennessee-th Marshall Ney
OF the South. A man who has fought
thousand battles for his country and
party, and not one against either. A
man who has been true to his princi-
pies, to his friends and his section, and
never deserted either.
Reid made a good soldier, did he?
So did Benedict Arnold; but he de-
serted his country in time of sore dis
tress, and he filed traitors grave.
England rewarded his treachery, but
despised the traitor. The Republi-
cans have rewarded Reid, but in their
hearts they despise him.
Morton says Reid called on his
comrades "to dress on him for ninty-
nine years or the war" And yet, when
the war closed he joined those very
enemies and aided them in depressing
and disfranchising the very men he
had induced and encouraged to contin-
ue the fight. This is the hero that
soldiers are called on TO worship.
Morton must have poor opinion of
the men who fought on either side Of
the great struggle, if he thinks that
there is gallant or true soldier, Fed
eral or Confederate. who does not in
his heart despise and condemn Reid
course, in deserting his comrades in
arms. Let man be true to his friends
and his principles and his enemies
will respect him. But if he deserts
either he deserves tho condemnation
Of every good man. No man should
be prescribed North or South. on ac-
count Of his position during the late
war. Men differed and differed hon
estly. Those who were true to their
convictions had the respect OF Their
opponents. / am q Confederate sol
dier, and yet the archives OF the Capi
tol will show that, day after day, in
1875, voted for Andrew johnson fol
| United States Senator. ! am proud
of my vote till this day. Johnson was
true to his principles, his friends and
his section, and never deserted either
When the war closed, and the Unior
was saved, he used his power and posi-
ton to stem the tide of fanaticism
| which would have made conquered
provinces Of the South. Where, then
was Morton's herdi Was he fghtin,
to save the liberty and property Of th'
men whom he had induced to contin
ue the struggle against the United
States Government Nay, he deserted
them, joined their enemies, and wal
aiding them in expressing his old com
rades. This is the hero of the feast
at which soldiers are invited to ban
quet. Ye gods! it would turn tn,
stomach of buzzard. No, no Morton
: no ex-Confederate man can accep
your invitation to such feast nor d.
l believe you can induce any one to .,
do. Evil will he the times, and tn,
country on the sure and rapid road t,
ruin and decay, when the morals o
men have beed SO corrupted that the,
will honor man who deserted hi
. principles, his comrades in arms an,
his country. This is the answer Q
every true soldier, citizen and patriot
J to your card of invitation. Mr.. Nor
ton excuse us; we cannot accept
, Respectfully. JAMES A. JONES.