The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-06-26
Justice Lamar and the south.

The address of Justice Lamar at the
commencement of Center College, Ken
lucky. was scholarly. as are all the lit
erary productions of this distinguished
representative of the democratic party
The tone of the address was pitched or
political lines, at which the CONNER
cial Gazette is not surprised, for the
life and the training OF the speaker
have been in politics. and not in the
law. But why did Justice Lamar take
the political lines that converged on q
most extraordinary assertion-namely.
that Jefferson Davis, though he had
been reduced to the felon's cell. his dis
embodied spirit still walks the land
holding the scepter OF a sovereignty
unequaled by that Of any ruler?" The
Commercial Gazette quotes from
the printed report in the Courier
Journal of the 18th inst. We
assume that so carefully edited
journal prints correct account of the
speech. What sort of teaching OF the
people is that Justice Lamar applauds:
Is it the south to be forever either ar
imperium in imperiO-Or the master Of
the national government? What does
the phrase. The South has in good
faith accepted the results of the war;
mean? Ii means. from the utterances
OF the speaker. nothing in good faith.
if Jefferson Davis still represents a con.
stltuency and sovereignty greater than
that of the president of the United
States or of any ruler"
The Commercial Gazette may venture
safely in answering this rhetorical
boast. but it is hardly worth the print.
ers ink to do so. Yet we earnestly re.
gret that a member of the supreme
court of the United States. who was ap.
pointed to represent the south. should
return to the politics of 1850 and en-.
deavOr to revive in 1891 the political
creed of William L. Eancey. What dc
the honeyed words OF the speaker sig.
nify-hOneyed and guided wOrds--about
the maguanimity of the north? If the
South Is to be considered as a thing
apart. in the Nation. and its political
integrity from the standpoint OF 1850 l.
10 be maintained. what then are the so
called results of the war? Is the chic
Of one recognition OF the sovereignty
OF Jefferson Davis. or what that name
represents: Are the young men at.
tending the colleges in the South 10 be
taught this lesson by Justice of the
Supreme Court OF the United States? L
the secession school OF politics to be re.
vived?
The utter lack of national sentiment
or feeling-nay. the existence OF hostil-
ity to everything representing the
Nation-is the canker in the South. es-
pecially in Mississippi, the home o,
Justice Lamar. 1t is to be deplored
that such is the situation-deplored fOl
the sake of Mississippi. and not for the
sake OF the Nation, whose supremacy
can not be shaken by any threats or by
any deluSion or action possible within
grasp Of a sectional school or party.
We willingly accord applause for the
heroic achievements and deeds oil
proves of the southern people. We
are proud of those virtues which make
2 strong character: but citizenship. to
be effective and noble. must De national
in its aspirations. not prOvincially and
sectional. No public man can contrib
ute to this patriotic duty more than
Justice Lamar: certainly no citizen
from the Southern States in public life
could more gracefully and efficiently
lead the young men OF the south into
the broad highway of a new political
career. whose horizon is the ultimate
limits of the republic. and whose con-
ception and ideal o. its citizenship
ought TO be the RCmanus Sum o. ST.
Paul Gazette.