The National tribune., 1888-07-26
REBEL GuSH.
The Speech Of Hooker, of Mississippi, at Gettys-
burg.

burg.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Last week
after an absence of % years, | visited the
battlefield of Gettysburg, and as a men,
Der of the Association of the Army of the
Potomac, took part in the Reunion of the
blue and gray. Tosay that l was pleased with
the sentiments expressed by one of the South
ern speakers Hon. Mr. Hooker, M. c., would
be far from the truth. ] had read Jackson's
speech made at Macon, Ga, during the gush over
JET Davis and the rebel flag, in which that crank
compared the cause of the South with that of
Gladstone in his efforts for home rule IN
Ireland; but / was not prepared to listen to
that nonsense at our Reunion. l would like
to ask the Hon. Mr. Hooker to mention where
or when the Government of the United States
ever proposed to interfere with home rule
In any of the States of the Union prior to the
rebellion or even since? Or when did the
people representing any great political party
propose to Interfere with home rule IN any
State of the Union? Or do you understand
home rule to mean the right of a Southern State
missouri, for instanCe) TO enter with armed
mobs common Territory, take forcible posses
sion thereof elect its legislators, its representa-
tives and all other officers needed in the ma
chinery of Territorial Government, contrary to
the expressed wishes of the people who have be-
come under the Constitution and laws OF the Ter
ritory actual settlers? This, if my memory
does not fail, was the kind of home rule" the
Southern States endeavoTed to force on Kansas
Or did you not rebel against the United States
Government for the reason that the people had
distinctly and decidedly said in the election OF
Abraham Lincoln that the Government OF the
United States had a perfect right to prohibit
human bondage in all its Territories?
Now, Mr.. Editor if the Hon. Mr. Hooker had
been honest and sincere in his acceptance of the
situation as a final settlement of all differences
between the blue and gray, North and
South, he would have said: I'VE rebelled be-
because the North proposed to destroy slavery
by preventing its extension intofree territory
the true and only cause of the strife between
the States,-and now that slavery has been
brushed away before the fiery carnage OF
war; all disturbing questions are at an end,
and the Winter of our discomfort made glorl-
GUS Summer by the union of all the States,
with the freest people and best Government
under the SUM-"
The honorable gentleman did not do this,
but he tries TO excuse the rebellion and the
| participators therein by classifying history. He
insults the intelligence of 10000 soldiers he
was addressing, and hundreds of thousands
| throughout the country.
This home-rule twaddle may answer before
Southern audience or with the average Mem
| Der of Congress, I'm fact, it might be just the
! thing for the majority of the present Pension
COmmittee,-but with the men who with brain
anu muSC4o put tOAu inc ICD6lAlOl, anu uiddS ~
possible for Reunion on the historic field OF
Gettysburg, it serves rather to irritate than
unite in the full fraternal feeling desired.
In National Cemetery, in presence of
10000 Union soldiers and over the graves of
our honored dead, this sleeveless ex- Confederate
soldier and present Member of Congress at
tempts to falsfy the records of legislation in
order to show that he is worthy to reune with
men who saved the Nation.
For my part / can't see where the mag
nauimity of the Southern members comes in.
Why did he not do the same as Gen. Long
street and Gov. Gordon2 Make clean breast
of it, acknowledge the error of secession and
accept the present situation as the best possible
result Of the contest.-JAs L. DUNN, Surgeon,
I0Qth and 1l1th Pa