Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-06-14
A REBEL SPEECH.

GENERAL BRADLEY JOHNSON sTIRS UP
THE SPIRIT OF SECESSION, ASSERTING
THAT TIE NORTH HAD NO RIGHT TO
FIGHT FOR THE UNION, AND THAT IF
HE HAD a CHANCE HE WOULD GO 10
; WAR AGAIN FOR THE GLORIOUS CON
FEDERATE CAUSE-CLEvELAND CON-
TRoLLED BY CoNFEDERATES.
Washington Special, June I.
The red-hOt rebel speech delivered in
Baltimore yesterday by General Bradley
7. johnson, formerly of Virginia, at the
Confederate memorial ceremonies held
there, is not the least interesting subject
of gossip here. 1t is a valuable and time
ly contribution to the campaign gossip,
and comes in good season on top of the
st. Louis nominations. General John
son, among other things, said:
L expect to live to see the time
when the cause of the Confderates will
be looked upon as that of true eonstitu-
tional liberty the world over. When the
records shall be truly written and un-
derstoOd of men the world will learn that
our fight was for local government
the same battle that Gladstone is fight
ing for the Irish tO-day-whieh is max
ing new chapter in the history of the
world. Is any feeling more widespread
to-day than respect for Robert E. Lee?
At any time in the past one hundred
years where were there greater Yenera-
ton and love for any man than for
Stonewall Jackson? Does any story stir
the English race deeper than the death
of Ashby, who fell, leading a charge,
twenty-six years ago to-day? How does
the world measure the exploits of the
dashing Jeb Stuart? The story of such
devotion to cause, of high courage and
manliness in fight, has touched the heart
of all the world, and this feeling grows
stronger and more universal as time
goes on. Never was the South making
greater strides in material progress than
now. She is acquiring wealth and pow
er swiftly and surely. Material prosper
ity is something great and worthy of ad-
miration, but there are aspirations high
er than mere accumulation of wealth,
a feeling nobler than the desire to get
rich. VIII your New South produce
such men as the history of the Common
wealths of the past can point to? Show
me Commonwealth that made such
record as Virginia from 1776 to 1866
from the day of Washington to that of
Robert E. Lee-for genius, for patriot
ism, brains, craftsmanship, ideas which
characterized the great men who came
from the old South. The work of these
men will go down in history to posteri-
ty. So will the deeds of the soldier who
followed the Confederate cause in pov-
erty, hunger, without pay and clothing,
standing at his post for four years at the
risk of his life, with no hope of reward
or promotion, no pension to look
for when he was MANNED, and no dream
of land grant for his services. OF all
tt.e~m the men Of that elassAthe sterling pri-
all. 1t is impossible for such men not
to be honored. l do not believe the
United States had a right to coerce the
Southern people. have said l would
fight if they tried to do it, and did fight.
l would do the same thing tomorrow, as
God is my witness.
Many of US might have kept out of
that war, but we didn't. The
South is progressing She is not dead.
These old Confederate soldiers and their
elect ninety out of every one
hundred congressman, thirty-fOur L. ).
Senators and the President of the Unit
ed States. Applause. The Govern
ment Of the United States is controlled
by Confederate soldiers. 1t is always
the case that when you get into a posi-
tion to command respect, you will get
These old Confederate soldiers
are not idle. Their work for twenty
six years in government, in railroads and
industrial enterprises of all sorts is max
ing itself felt all over this land. In 1890
Texas will send twenty-five men to Con-
gress. The anxiety will be then not who
can carry New York in the election, but
who can win in Texas. Applause.
A Maryland man fought naval bat
tie in Hampton Roads with Monitor
that caused change in naval warfare
all over the world, and there is not a line
in the history of this State about him. A
Maryland man defended the harbOr Of
Mobile such as no other ever did, but he
ROt IlO IcCOIu IOI H. GNCA SOnACOCAdtC
soldier carries with him, chained to his
heart, casket of his dead hopes and
aspirations all through his life, as Doug
las did the heart of Bruce to the Holy
Land, to show his devotion to the cause
for which he fought. If the time should
ever come, and it were necessary, there
are ten thousand in Maryland who would
stand for their cause as Douglas did for
Bruce.
have no sympathy with that slush
and sentimentality that is always gush-
ing over to the other people. l won't do
that 1 recall the sentimentality exhib-
tied by some Just before the eightieth
birthday of Jefferson Davis, man who,
of all Confederates, has been singled out
by his enemies and branded by malice
and prejudice and kept from his rights
I can not forget Jefferson Davis. He is
a patient statesman and hero. He Is
renowned for his patriotism. hope he
will 90 down to his grave with the dis
his enemies have put up
on him, for am sure he has no desire
for it to be otherwise, and would never
accept the right of suffrage except by
unanimous consent, of which there IS
not the remotest hope.
A DEMOCRATIC OPINION.
New York sun.
As matter of composition it the st.
Louis platform is clumsy, ineongru-
Gus piece of work, and as for principles
the whole of it is contained in the first
twelve lines.