The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-20
.rpnnr1cAr MALIGNITY.

Last week bill was bc1ore tno oonnso ".
thu TInited States to remove the poitca'
d,..h;l,,ias Of General Walker. OF Savan-
nah incurred by reason OF his having been
IN tbs seryice OF the United States before
the war and having during the war been q
soldier in the Confederate army. Senator
Daniel Of Virginia. offered an amendment
% tbs bill providing that tho disabilities OF
all snch persons should be declared re-
rovsd but a South-hating Republican
senator objected to the amendment. and
Mr.. Daniel had to withdraw it lest it might
peril General Walkers bill. The objection
70 the amendment is put upon the ground
that each person who is under such dis-
abilities should be subjected to the humilia-
ton of coming TO Congress and begging u
TO remove them.
This is a most discredtable. disgraceful
position to assume. Why should gentlemen
who happen to fall within this class DO
treated differently from the rest of the pop
ulation? They were no more earnest IN
their determination 10 fight the war out 70
successful conclusion than the other men,
bers of the Southern communities. Each
and every Southerner was bent and deter
mined on winning our fight if it were posi-
BILE. and the old army officers were no more
bent on this than any other Southern man.
What sense then is there in making DIS
tjnction between them? None whatever.
and the bill. as Mr.. Daniel offered 1t. ougnE
to be passed.
These South haters seem to be unable 70
get it out of their minds that there IS some
sort of disgrace attached TO our people fof
the part they took in the war. They had as
we'll know that no man here has the slightest
feeling Of shame or disgrace on account OF
his part as Confederate soldier; not only
so. but every worthy Confederate soldier IS
prouder of his record as such than Of anything
else in his life, and with such feelings does
he regard his part in the war that he would
do again Just what he did between 1861 and
1865 if similar occasion arose again.
They will speak of our struggle as
Rebellion" only, thinking that they there
by affix some kind of stigma to it. 1t was
no Rebellion. but since it pleases them TO athx
that title to it. we say TO them the greatest
act which the English people ever per-
formed stands recorded in history as the
great Rebellion" That movement OF her
liberty-loying people which placed limits on
Royal prerogatives showed the power OF the
people, and raised the great plebeie to her
throne. is still called by those who glory
in the patriotism Of Cromwell and IN the
learning, pety and genius of Milton, the
great Rebellion" So, if it gives our North
ern friends any satisfsctionto characterize us
as Rebels" or to speak Of our great
struggle as Rebellion, they are welcome to
60 so. Never vet has tyrannical power failed
to denominate as Rebels those patriotic cit
liens who have sought to put curbs upon
that power, and we glory in the name. since
it certifes that each one called Rebel was
of that patriotic band ready to lay down all
in resistance 10 tyranny and oppression. II
Is shame and disgrace to this govern
ment that ut the end of nearly thirty years
its statute books should bear any trace Of an
attempt to place ignominy upon any partici-
pant on the Southern side in the war.