The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-10-18
Cen. Walkers Record

the slightest reflection. Ills Iecoiu
made on the fold is dear to every
Southerner, and his services there
should not be forgotten, whether
g1eat or small 1t is sufficient that
he was a soldier
However, we think that the old
soldier should remember that during
the darkest days of reconstruction
this same General Walker wrote
letter to President Andrew Johnson,
craving the pardon Of the Federal
Government and acknowledging that
he erred in espousing the cause of
secession. This letter has been pub
lishel and has not been denied. Cen
cral Walkers personal organ, the
Ncrs of Bristol, is as dumb as an oy-
ster regarding it. Such being the
case, we take it that it is true.
1t has been said that Gent, Wal
ker had to take this oath. That is
not true at all. We can name thous-
ands who never took it, and who
would have died rather than have
taken it. General Longstreet took
it they say. Yes, and pray what is
General Longstreet in the South to-
day? An alien, an exile who
has tho contempt Of the entire South
Old Jubal Early, that sterling Nir-
ginian, that noble self sacrificing
man, when General Longstreet Of
fcrcd to shake hands with him at
the unwilling of the Lee monument,
said don't care to shake hands with
a L. traitor, The war is ended and
we do not seek to rekindlc the flames
Of sectional hatred, but we wish to
show the old soldiers, the men who
wore the gray, the noblest, grandest
body of men who ever drew sword
how confidence can be misplaced and
how traitors can act. They have
nevcrsaid that their course was wrong
They made of their swords plough
shares, and battled as maniully
against adverse fortune, as they did
against the armed invader of our soil.
They have never yet, like cravens,
bended the knee in cowardly suppl
cation to the arm of might. They
have never acknowledged their error
in defending the soil that gave them
birth, and it is the brightest memory
of which Virginians can boast. Con-
qucred but not humbled, overcome by
superior members, it did not, never
theless, make us traitors. When Vir-
ginians acknowledged themselves as
such, God pity them. We can bid
a sad and everlasting farewell to our
greatness. No longer can we boast
that to be a Virginian is greater than
4 King.
1t is for this that we condemn
General Walker and it is this that
reflects upon his record as a soldier
1t shows him up in his true colors.
So impatient for office, so anxious for
spoils, he was regardless of the
means, by which he elevated himself.
His record since the war has been in
keeping with the johnson letter. He
has confessed himself a Republican
for the sake Of office, and he has
muddled his statements so confusing
ly that it is hard to reconcile them
He has said the Democratic party
had left him. How absurd, as if
party could leave one forlorn, individ-
nal. He has said that he had not
voted Democratic ticket for ten
years. Then, general in what light
are we to consider you when you were
a candidate for the Democratic nom
nation for encouragement nine years
ago? fyou had not voted the Dem
ocratic ticket the year before, why
were you a candidate? 1t appears
very much like the convention, which
nominated Lee, Massey and Ayers,
had a traitor in that camp. We are
taking General Walkers own state
mcnts. We do not wish to do linn
injnsticc--bnt justice. When a man
aspircs to represent the people his
public record should have the search,
light thrown, upon it. We deny
that principles have ali to do with
this canvas. The men should be
weighed by the intelligent voter as
we'll as the principles they represent.
On the one hand the Democratic nom
NEE stands without reproach. His
private and his public life is as white
IS the driven snow. Not one word
have the inpcuions Rennblican sem.