The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-28
VALOR AND PATRIOTISM.


The Charleston News and Courier, prob
ably moved by the fear that its utterances may
not have a good effect in the North, is dis
posed to jsggle with the disloyal words it has
given utterance to during the last few days.
1t is not exactly dishonest, for it evidently is
still of the belief that the South should be
relieved, if possible, of the crime of ingrati-
tude and treason, but it would like to insist
on its point and get it accepted without arous-
ing feeling of indignation among those who
were loyal during the war. It now pretends
that its words were misquoted, and that taken
in their connection they were not bad enough
to call for criticism. 1t then proceeds to quote
from the quotation made by the Northern press
from its columns, on which excerpts editorials
have been built. 1t reproduces one of the para
graphs of the editorial it wrote, inclosing in
brackets what it claims was omitted by certain
of the Northern press that made use of it.
Here is the News and Courier's amended para
graph:
ssThe thing that is sure to come, and is COM
ing very fast, and sooner than was to be ex
pected, is not in any sense wish on the part
of the North that the South had won, nor to
give to the Southern States that independence
which they, no doubt, have ceased to crave,
but desire, rather, to justify the Southern
people in the fight they made and to relieve
them. one and all, from their foremost leader
to their humblest soldier, of that stain of
h1ood xvhioh facfouad ,1ro fhoY,,
in mems minds so long as it could be held
that the war was, on the part of the South,
wanton and inexcusable rebellion against
just and good government. When we come to
this pass, that it shall be admitted everywhere
that the South was right, under its construc-
ton of the Constitution; that its construction
of the Constitution was the construction which
obtained at the time the Constitution was
formed and was in the minds of the conven-
tions which gave that Constitution the breath
of life, and was asserted and purported to be
acted upon in Pennsylvania and New Eng
land, when those States had grievances under
the laws of the United States; when all this is
fully and frankly admitted, as it is beginning
to be admitted by thoughtful Northern men,
the faint of rebellion will be taken forever
away from the people of the South
Commenting on this paragraph from its
own columns the News and Courier says it
finds 'nothing in this that should be offensive
to the North or that discredits Northern valor
and fidelity" 1t will be observed that the
News and Courier is very careful in the selec-
ton of its words. There is nothing in this
that discredits Northern valor and fidelity.
There was much more in the war of the re-
bellion than valor and fidelity as distinguished
from love of country and loyalty. The North
has never failed to admit that the South was
valorous and brave. But it is very far from
being enough to make good patriotic citizens,
as this country discovered to its fearful cost.
There was nothing in the treason and rebellion
of the South to discredit the valor and fidelity
of the North, but rather they gave opportun-
ity for the display Of these virtues in thou
sand ways and on numberless occasions. This
is not the point, and the News and Courier
knows it is not. That paper started out with
the evident intention Of relieving the South
from all blame, and knew it could not do it
without placing it on the North, which it did
not hesitate to do in the following words
"The Southern States were faithful to the
Constitution from the beginning. The North
ern States derided it, Knocked at it and multi
fed it."
This is what the Indianapolis Journal would
like to see the News and Courier. elucidate. If
the News and Courier believed this when it
wrote it, why not stick to it9 The Indian
apolis Journal does not hesitate to say what
it means and to stand up for it after it takes
its position. TO get the question down to the
point where there can be no doubt about the
meaning of everything, we should like to have
the News and Courier answer specifically
whether the North was justified in putting
down the Rebellion; and il it was, was it not
patriotic duty that resulted in the good of
all the people, South as well as North? Do
you still think the Union armies were Gin
vaders" without the pale Of the Constitution
Were the Union soldiers patriots or tyrants
bent on having their way at the expense of
the Constitution 1t has been common saw
ing throughout the South that the Northern
army was ''invading" the South with
out any right to do so. 1t has not
been so many days since this expression was
employed in the Senate of the United States
by Southern member. When is this thing
to ceasef Will the day ever come when the
South will not strive 70 plorifv tha South M
the expense, not of Northern yalor, but of
Northern patriotism Will the South ever
concede that the North was actuated by the
Hottest potriotism, and that it was right, and
the South wrongg Or are we to have it taught
forever that the cause of the South was the
only righteous one, and as just to-day as it