The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-26
A RECREANr sOUTHERNER.

On In. occasion of the celebration Of Wash
ington's birthday by the Washington Heights
Century Club Of New York. Colonel John X.
Fellows formerly Of Arkansas. was present,
and spoke 10 the toast. THE Congress OF the
United States the best illustl alton of repre-
sentative government" In the course OF his
remarks the speaker. according to the New
York Herald. created somewhat of n sensation
by declaring that, although he had been
nm officer in the Confederate army. he had al-
WAYS felt that he was a traitor TO the Federal
Government, and that if he had been caught
he deserved TO be- hung, and that this was not
done was due only 20 the benehcence of the
victorious government or the mercy of God"
No wonder Colonel Fellows created some
what Of n sensation by such remarkable ut
terance. He certainly asbrought down upon
himself deserved obloquy for such statement.
II he felt that entering the Confederate service
was treason TO the United States, he should
never have fought against his convictions;
but after having done so, ii would have been
far better for him, andmuch more to his credit
10 have kept his opinion 10 himself than 10
have mnde so shameless a confession. Ao-
cofding to Fellows. such grand men as Lee
Davis, Jackson, the two Johnstons and all the
other immortal heroes of the South who,
whether as officers or rs privates, fought. SUI
fered and died fortheirp principles, were merely
traitors and rebels. who deserved hang
ing without quarter and the only
reason they escaped il was because OF the
Of
this day has never dared TO bring one Of them,
not even the President of the Confederate
States to trial. or subject the constitutional
principles for which the South fought to the
test of the courts Of the United States. The
man who deliberately felt that he was com
uniting treason in entering the armies OF the
Confederacy. for the purpose Of repelling the
invasion of the Southern States by the
Federal forces. was really at heart traitor,
and the cause he was serving would not have
seriously suffered if he had been captured
and treated with the punishment which he
himself admits would have been fitting 10 his
Chine.
Colonel Fellows will not receive either the
admiration Of any Of his Northern fellow-cit-
lEGDS whose OplnlOu II Npith hf'ihof - N'~
sympathy Of his fellow Southerncrs III the re-
plarkable position he has taken. Ever since
the war closed he has been resident OF New
York city. actively engaged in the politics OF
that city and State, and making his living by
filling public positions. In the past quarter
of a century his mind has. no doubt, be-
come so warped and biased by constant asso-
citation and contact with Northern men and
South haters that ne has unconsciouslvimbibed
their ideas and sentiments TO such an extent
that he has adopted them as his own. The
fact that he has avowed that his course dur
ing the war was, in his opinion, that Of trai-
tor should when next he runs for office, berc-
membered. Neither party, Democratic nor
Republican, can afford 10 place one confess
edly guilty Of deliberate treason in position
of honor or trust. and the Southern Society
of New York, should by all means use their
influence and votes solidly in opposition 70
any man who must necessarily look on them
as pack Of traitors, and places them IN the
same category in which he has voluntarily
nlace1 himself