The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-16
xxox yonv 8. WISE.
He Explains His Speech Before the Ne"
York Republican Club.

This evening. April 18th. at p. NJ, 1
have seen two editorials In your issue
~ the 10th. with statements from General
Fitzhugh Lee and from General Early,
az 10 an episode which occurred at the
West Side Republican Club. In New York,
Anrll 9TH Those present did not misin-
terpret what raid. Nobody in New York
did So and but for your expressed de-
sire 10 know what / said, l would not
feel like intruding IL upon you. we
differ SO radically not only In our Views.
but in the way we look at things. / have
long since despaired either Of convincing
you and those who think as you do, or
OF making you appreciate that my views
may be either as sincere or as intelligent
as your own. To myself, to my Con-
federate comrades, TO the memory or
my dear father, to General Lee. who was
scarcely less dear TO me, and to my
children, ! owe IL to repel the suggestion
first put forward here that l ever i'm
puted to him anything like an apology
for or regret OF his course I'm the Con-
federate war.
What said was elected by two speeches
that preceded mine. Their tendency was
to emphasize an idea that support of
the Union in the war was a test OF
mans party afliliation now; that those
who were Confederates or Confederate
sympathlzers then are Democrats now;
and that those who upheld the Union are
now Republicans. There never was n
more absurd pretension. In my reply, In
which / confess that as an ex-Confede-
rate felt nettled at such suggestions.
said the time had passed when the Re-
publican party could live upon reminis-
censes: that the times had changed. and
we had changed with them; that l had
no quarrel with any Republican, who,
being a Jealous Union man during the
war, found consolation in "reminiscences
concerning its bold fight and brilliant
victory; but that my affilaton with
him must be explained and based upon
events long subsequent TO the war; that
as a boy I bad believed my first allegi-
ance was due to my mother State; that
those who thought as | did had staked
their lives and fortunes on that issue.
and were led by one whose noble life and
splendid career excluded the idea that
he was less honest, less conscientious
less self-sacriicing, less firm in his faith,
than any American who had ever lived or
died: that II was idle now for any party
TO expect so he called a National parry,
unless II conceded TO all the participants
in that fight equal sincerity of purpose,
unless II embraced all sections, and I'M
less II found issues in the living present
on which to claim support; that old is
sues were dead and that Lee. himself.
had told his soldiers 10 take and had
himself taken. an oath Of alleciance de
claring that he would thenceforth bear
true faith and allegiance TO the Govern
ment Of the United States. and support.
protect. and defend II against all enemies
whatsoever. foreign or domestic" that
when my father. who never took the oath.
called on him 10 ask him II he had done
so. he replied that he had. and that he
considered that the surrender at Appomat-
tox settled the vexed question as TO where
primary allegiance was due thereafter.
and removed all objection to taking the
oath.
There can be no question about Cen
cral Lees views on this point, They were
published rot only in the letter TO my
father, but in many forms.
The cheering Of these sentiments was
repeated. / then proceeded 10 say that
in these words OF General Lee. I found
my warrant for being a Republican. with
out fear Of dsoyalty 10 the dead Con-
federacy: that while It was per
haps the only loyal party 10 the Govern
ment in time of war. that fact was no
objection 10 It with me. now that the
COnfederacy was dead. and nv old chief
the date of surrender, and counselled his
followers 10 do the same: that when
William Lloyd Garrison's son was vot-
ing the Democratic ticket surely there
was some sort Of eternal fitness OF things
that the son OF the man who hung John
Brown should be Republican. &c. &c.
A moments reflection would have
taught YOU could rot have said General
Toe advised anybody 10 be a Republican.
When he was alive | could not have
been. and wOIld not have been Repub-
lican had he advised me ever so strongly.
The feelings OF war were then too strong;
the Republicans had done too much TO
defeat us, for me TO forgive or forget
so soon. The personal and intense feel
ing of sectionalsm in the Republican
party was still too identical with that
Of our recent foeman TO permit afiiiation
with them by men whose feelings were
in the green graves of the Confederacy.
At least I could not understand IT, II |
was not a question Of principles II was |
a question Of feelings. and I yielded 10 |
no man living in the tenderness Of my |
feelings then and now for my old com |
rades II was the knowledge OF their |
honesty rs well as their valor that |
brought me 10 my feet.
The generous response OF my audience |
showed me that they not only recognized |
in me n Confederate true 10 his cause |
70 the last. but that they honored al |
true COnfederates and gave them credit |
for all the sincerity I claimed for them, |
however radically they differed from !
them as 10 the war. I hope the time |
may come when the Confederate cOmmu- |
mites may be rs catholic in feeling to- |
wards their opponents.
II was not until many years after the /
war when war prejudices had subsidized, (
and the personnel OF parties had greatly |
changed. that felt justified in becoming |
A Republican. although from the time |
became a careful student Of our cOnsti-
tutional theories I believed I'm the FEEDER
llist construction. II General Ice had !
become a Republican during the time
he lived I would have felt although |
could not explain exactly why that he
had somehow. or In some way. deserted |
his old ALLEGIANCE That was from 1865
10 1870. When I became a Republican
In 1850 considered that the act I'm view
y the changed conditions Of men, parties
md events, had no more bearing on the
question OF my Confederate record than
nv views on the currency, the tariff.
Dr. civil service.
7 love my old Confederate comrades
With inexpressible Tenderness. I know
now brave and long-suffering and honest
hey We're All that I beg OF them is
10 trust me not TO betray the memory |
Il our dead; not 10 abuse me IL differ
With them as to the politics Of the
present. which have no earthly bearing
IN the past. Respectfully,
JOHN S. WISE.
Williamsburg