The National tribune., 1894-06-14

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''Straws show which way the wind blows"
These are not idle words, but anyone who
takes the trouble to investigate these matters
will find that they are true, and that the con-
dition of things there is even worse than l
have said. If things continue this way, the
time will come when no loyal American cltl-
zen can live in Virginia in the peaceful pos
session of his rights.
Something must be done To whom shall
we look if not the brave defenders of our
country? If these statements of facts will only
have the effect of rousing public sentiment to
the true condition of affairs in the South and
will induce the G. A. r. to investigate this
matter and to send a considerable represen-
tation to Richmond next Memorial Day to
show those Southern people what the Oak
really is, more good will be done for the COM
mon country's cause than anything that has
Grant at Appomattox.
Not until this duty has been faithfully per-
formed will we live in reality
with Freedom soil beneath our feet
And Freedoms banner streaming DER US.
This communication, though long, will
bear the most careful reading, from be-
ginning to end. 1t bears every indica-
ton of having been written by far
minded, iudicious man, who has exag-
gerated nothing, and had no wish to
exaggerate-rather the reverse-what
he has seen. He feels the deep sorrow
that any man who loves his country, and
has fought for her, must feel at what he
was compelled to know. The letter will
move the comrades more to sorrow than
to anger, though there is abundant ma
terial in it for both. 1t will be sorrow
that the heavy hand Of affection has
taught the people of the South SO little.
IF there ever was that bitter sorrow, the
lesson of which should have sunk deep
into the hearts of the people, it was the
misery which they deliberately drew
upon themselves by firing upon Fort
Sumter.
1t was precisely such teachings as
these Of Cave, Rosser, ct al. which led
them up to the commission of that act of
stupendous folly. Then as now the hot
headed and emotional among them suf-
fered themselves to be led away by just
such senseless rhodomontade, which the
people of the rest Of the country viewed
with careless disdain, thinking it impos-
sible that the sensible majority of South
erners would be in the least affected by it.
But the utterances grew more infam-
matory from year to year and extended
to the leading newspapers, and the men
sent to Congress. Stiff, few outside of
the South, could make themselves believe
that this was more than mere rhetorical
fustian, intended to catch the greundlings.
1t seemed incredible then, and as it
seems incredible now, that sober, think
ing, rejecting men should have any
thing but contempt for such wild and
whirling words. The mad firing ON
Fort Sumter was a startling revelation
to these complacent ones Of the extent
to which the South was following the
insane lead of these frantic counsellors.
Even after that desperate act many of
these cherished the hope that the solid,
sensible men of the South would assert
themselves and "call down" the fire.
breathing lunatics. 1t seemed SO absurd,
SO causeless, SO wicked, so suicidal, that
it appeared impossible that the bulk of
the Southern people should permit it.
We know the awful result. It's history
is written in the graves of 100000
fighting men-nearly one from every
home in the country,-and the Treasury
accounts of over s8,000,000,000 ex-
pended.
Terrible as the affection was it fell
much heavier on the South-on the
section which had with wicked folly pre-
cipitated the war. It would certainly
seem that in the clear light of to-day,
with all the awful consequences of that
momentous crime fresh in every mind.
that such things as our correspondent
describes would be looked upon by the
Southerners themselves with the great
adherence.
That they do not do so, that they are
treading again the vicious round which
| led to the calamitous rebellion is a
source of the profoundest amazement
and sorrow to every man who loves his
country and prays for her prosperity.
ANOTHER plank Of the Chicago plat
Ii