The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-27
TWO WAYS OF VIEWING THE sA"H
SUBJECT.
Tn that cad. bitter interview between Lady
Macduf and her son the following occu'S


This definition Of traitor contains the eS-
sential element Of the term. 1t involves 'ne
idea OF falsehood- betrayal OF trust.
The thoughts are suggested 10y receh'
editorial in the New York Tribune. Az inc
memorial day in Charleston. ;. G.. the news
and Courier had an article greatly eulogis'ic
of Stonewall jackson. and the Tribune CON-
renting upon it. said The majority OF the
people Of this country regard jackson as
rebel and traitor"
We do not believe that the majority Of the
people of this country regard Jackson as
traitor. We believe that opinion IS confined
&c small minority Of the people composed OF
sectional factionists like the New York TIL
bune. We believe the great majority OF the
people of this country view our late struggle
from the broad and catholic standpoint OF
great revolution. in which men took the SIDE
dictated to them by their consciences, and
where this occurs there is no element OF Urea
son. for there is no element of falsehood or
betrayal Of trust
The idea OF the New York Tribune and OF
those Of Is stripe is that Robert h. Lee ana
Stonewal Jackson arc traitors because they
received their military education at the Tow
ernment's expense-they swore allegiance 70
the Government and then fought IN war
which aimed at destroying the Government
they were educated by and had sworn to
maintain They swore and led" says the
Tribune This is most Inadequate
idea Of citizens duties aud rights.
There rests in the Individual man as merged
into the whole mass an inalienaOle
right which rises when the proper occasion
comes. far above the command OF princes
potentates or powers 1t is principle which
authorizes the son TO raise his hand against
his father when that father forgetting
parental duty. treats that son as if he were a
beast 1t is a principle which Iusiines the
most honored and favored officer Of gov
eminent in rcbelling against its authority
when that government would degrade him
from his full rights of citizenship. The
principle is nowhere So nobly described as in
that document which the Tribune is eter-
nally prating about. but wholly m!sunder-
stands the Declaration of Independence.
Says that glorious instrument.
When in the course of human events n b.
copcs necessary FOX one people 10 dissolve the
political bands which have connected them
with an tber and 10 assume among the pow
ers Of the earth the separate and equal station
10 which the laws of nature and OF natures
God entitle them. decent respect 10 the
opinions Of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them 10 the
separation"
Which is a distinct. categorical recognition
of the proposition that there may be armed
resistance of Government that contains no
element Of treason whatever. The occasion
for these must Of course be judged Of most
seriously. If they amount to no more than
Aaron Burr's filibusterng expedition they
NAV of course be treason. If they are a move
ment prompted by the heart and conscience
of people they contain no element OF trea-
son and it IS an insult TO mankind TO call
them such. Whether the special occasion Is
one in which a man is or is not traitor IS a
question which can DO determined by God
alone
Man may fix on him his fnaer-msrk and
call him traitor, but he may stand neyerthe-
less before the great white throne In all the
purity of uDspotted chastity. And SO, we be-
lieve. Robert L. Lee and Stonewal Jackson
stand IN the opinion Of the overwhelming
mass of mankind. Ii is. therefore. not only
ridiculous. but most insulting. for the Tribune
to continue to speak of these great patriots
as traitors They were Christian gentlemen,
patriots and heroes, and Will 50 be ranked by
mankind in oil time to come.
How differently the conquered but gener-
Gus people of the South view this affair.
Recently Admiral Gherardis fleet paid a
visit to Southern waters In it was the
famous old KearsarRe At Savannah, the
modern cruisers Philadelphia and New
ark being Of too great draught to
cross the bar, the Admiral transferred
his flag TO the Kearsarge and steamed up 10
anchorage of the city. The people knew
perfectly well that the ship was the Kearsarge
and that she had sank the Alabama Never
theless thousands lined the beach and cheered
with voice and waived American flags and
handkerchiefs. The ship was oyerrun with
visitors and many ladies took away a cap rib
bon as trophy Of the event. A most inter
esting incident was a visit 10 the ship of Miss
Kell. Her father, living near Savannah, was
first lieutenant of the Alabama when she
sank. and the lady has been born since that
event. This young lady went over the ship
with the greatest pleasure and no trace Of re-
sentiment
Now think you, Mr. Tribune. that these peo-
pie have forgotten their sympathies Of the war.
or are any less loyal and intense in their de-
votion TO Stonewall Jacksons memory than
they were then TO his person? If you think
so YOU know them not. Their sympathies
and feelings are the same now that they were
then. But they are a large-hearted, broad
minded, brave and sincere people. What
they did was noble and generous tribute TO
an enemy though conquering enemy. that
had fought them valiantly in open fight
They were capable of rising far above the
Tribunes plane and Of dofling their hats to u
foe. though a toe who had struck them
mortal blow.
At Charleston, S c., the officers of the feet
were rendered a complimentary entertain
ment in the Grand Opera-house. where the
Bohemian Girl' was played. At the end of
the third act the whole troupe came before
the curtain and sang the Star Spangled Ban
ner." The actresses carried small American
flags in their belts. The officers during the