The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-07-07
A BeIated Hero.
louisville Courier. Ionrnnl.1

''NN N'SN 10y - III pdi llCulNI, rs n uOI
unpromisipg cadet of that Journal
ism, which, although p ecocious, il
all too-quics- Of-lrigger, he should
steer clear of rash conclusions about
matters he did not see with his own
eyes or hear with his own ears
Otherwise, he will be presently indit-
ing book 10 be entitled, why |
Was Not Born Before the War, and
What Don't Know About Ameri-
can Historyw
With the characteristic bravery OF
youth a ID ignorance, assuming that
there is a "quarren between the
Courier-JOurns! and its es Leaned con-
temporary OF South Carolina, the
Charleston News and Courier, "ovpr
the question OF SECESSION whereas
there is the merest theoretical diff
Terence of opinion touching an alb.
stract point or no force or moment,
between twOgOod friends, seeking to
while away the tedium Of a sum
mer's afternoon our Juvenile oracle
nel,Vels the. following brOadside OF
blank cartridges and pop. gun rhetoric
Into the unOtlendlng, yet 1t must Ge
"u'hi'NCu VIC hplSyi ChuTln-h-J u " p.
1--WE do not object to Mr.. Watterson
holding any opinion he may choose with
respect 10 the doctrines OF secession. Mr.
WattersOn may admit that he fought
for cause which he believed to be
wrong, and that he sinned against his
own conscience when he took up arms
against the Union; II is painful to h-ar
such an admission, but if Mr.. Waiter
son chooses to make the confession il
is none of our business. But Mr.. Wat
lersOn must confess for himself alone
We eut=r our most emphatic protest
when he undertakes to make it appear
that the people of the South entered
into wicked and cauSeless rebellion
knowing that they were wrong. 1t is
the least that can be said in behalf OF
tue South and the soldiers of the Con-
federaCy that they believed they were
right. Ii this can not be said then
there is no answer to the worst that has
been said. He is a false teacher of
history who attempts to lay all the
blame of that war upon the Southern
people, and We insist that the coming
generations of Southern people shall
not be so taught. The applause of Pur-
Tan bigOt, is Il poor reward for teaching
Southern children to turn with shame
from The graves OF their fathers"
Dear, Oear 1t is too Tad, is it not
Nevertheless, ii is a great comfort 70
US to be assured by our hot but crude
gospeler that he does not "Object
to any "OpiniOnsn we may hold
with respect TO the doctrine of seces-
siOu." Al first we were afraid that
he might, because, in that event, we
should have been Obliged to hold our
peace, leaving the cause of truth to
sweat for l.. AS it is, wo may cen
say word, albeit with Difference
and humility, in our own abOminable
benait.
We shall not need to go beyond
the confines of the State Of Tennes-
see for some partial mitigation OF the
euOrmity OF the Otfense which We
have unwItting'y perpetrated against
our young friend OF Memphis. His
condemnation is sweeping as his
scorn - witGering, we confess; aud
il may be that We shall not be able
wholly TO eXculpate ourselves. But
we shall at least succeed in showing
that as TO the unpardOnable sin OF
denying the doctrine OF secession,
aud opposing the secession move
ment, the unhappy subject Of his
resentment, was in very numerous
and very good company, albeit many
Of the nOblest and Uruest, the nearest
and dearest, must now be looked for
where the thistles blow.
During the month Of February,
lS6l-after the secession Of the Cur
States and the establishment OF the
Southern Contederscy-there was a
battle-royal in Tennessee over both
the actuality and the theory OF seces.
sion. The idea OF secession WAS 80
odious that by an unprecedented
majority the people oil Tennessee
refused 10 call convention even to
consider it. The candidates for the
proposed convention who We're sus-
pected of entertaining secession or
disuniNn proclivities were every
where defeated for seats in the con-
vention the people decided not to
hold. a
Throughout this battle, denuncia-
tious OF secession and invOcatiOns to
the Union were universal, emanating
from none in tones more resonant
and earnest than from the lips of
men who subsequently became he.
rOes in Confederate armies. Their
victory over secession and disunion
WAS complete, King Harris, as the
present eminent Tennessee Senator
and honOred President of the Senate,
WAS then called land may he live
long to dist guish and 10 bless the
brave people lac has served 30 ably
and so faithfully!) was literally over.
whelmed by the verdict Of the ballot
box against opinions he cUnscien-
ti0usly believed and had elOquently
and firmly maintained.
This was in February. But Linden
saw another sight. The advent OF
the spring time brought with it sun
and flower; bat it did not bring sec
tional peace and love. A puff OF
powder smoke at the South, scrap
OF paper at the North, the shot upon
Sumter by Beauregsrd, the call for
troops by Lincoln, and all was over.
Tne extremists in the two sections
had their way at last. Blood was
sprinkled in the face OF the people.
and blood is thicker than wafer.
The debate WAS ended. The Union
was broken. 1t was war, and Tennes-
see, which had stood so true to the
ark and covenant OF the compact,
when finally reduced to the bitter
necessity of choosing between two
combatants already engaged, the
North and the South, sent her judg-
ment to the rear, and followed her
attaotions straivht intO the COnfedeT-