The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-08
Clevcland's Patriotic Letter.

BLOWING ROCK, n. c.. Aug. g.
President Cleveland in his pathetic
and patriotic letter. which has lately
come to the knowledge Of the public. adj
dressed TO Justice Lamar, shortly before
his death. uses this significant and pro-
phetic language. "Our Southern friends,
II they persist. will be left alone with
their frecOinage heresy. The danger is
that another Southern idea ard a change
Of heediessnoss FOR public safety on linan-
cial questions Will do service In place of
tho memories CT the civil war" IL is not
altogether fair OF the South 70 call the
free coinage Of silver, another South
ern idea for, while the South, IN her
poverty, Inherited rs n fatal legacy from
the war and aggravated by the protective
and the pension policy of the government
seem almost universally 10 be clutching
at the silver Illusion with a Mlcawber
crecuiity. yet free coinage had a Western
rather than a Southern parcntage, and is
supported as eagerly and blirdly IN the
one section as in the other. N-vertho-
less. apart from this slight injustice, the
statement IS Pregnant with truth and "A
most friendly warning. For weary
years. the bloody shirt has been fran
ticaliy but successfully waved m cleo
lions at ths North. ana no party call
has 20 tre1 the Northern heart as 20 ac-
cuss the South Of ~dislOyalty 70 the Union
aud thus keep olive the bitrer memories
OF che was between The State. "Reb-
els" and traitors" have done good ser-
vice 10 partissns and mOnoDolists and
helped 10 fasten ca orr oyerourdened
shoulders most partial, mischieVous and
oppressive legislation. Time. with its
notifying Influence was beginning 20
a9suage bitterness and 10 show the mean
ness and cruelty OF these harbored Sec
ti0nal prejudices. The old anlmOsltiog.
cherished against rs. We're so FAR being
chasfened and restrained as 10 allow the
North TO hope for a decent Republican
party IN the South. All were rejoicing
IN Is more fraternal disposition shown to-
wards rs and beginning 10 indulge a hope
thst In the course of year,. We might be
restored 10 our former relations OF re-
spect and equality. Now. these hopes
ara dashed and ths Intelligent ard bust
ness North. Interested Ia our development
and most capable OF aiding 10, is being
solidihed In opposition 20 as, as II never
was I'm ne burning Gays OF reconstruc-
ton. "Heedlessuess Cor public safety
on financial qUestcrS," will be more ef-
fective ga subjectins us 20 inferiorlty IN
the judgment of the pest men OF the
North than was tile brutal cry Of the
bloody shirt" What can be more ur-
wise than Tor the Southern people 10
AhAl W AANHN ANHA A'"NN HHHt H-"A'"f ~"
sauiting the foundations OF private and
paolc credit. weakening financial integ-
r.ty ana rectitude, and condemniug US 10
less influence IN legislation and
diplomacy. ia Tho councils OF the country
Ira Ill departments II the government,
thai We hay over before reached? In
the address, OF NJ. Curry, before the
Confederate reunion. an abstract Of
which We published with favorable COM
nent, IN appealing 10 the survivors q
the lost cause as 70 the right discharge
OF their duty 70 the South and the Union.
he urged an advocacy OF national issues
esset snd broad enough TO eface section
alisn sn6 said with incOntestihle truth
that a ~dcpart1re from our past honorable
record as a conservative. laW-ablling
people. and our adoption OF panaceas. pre-
SERTED by rOisy and rhetorical pollti-
clans. would make most difficult the task
we hsd rightly end cOnscientiously un-
dertsken of placing before the country
ana %posteriy our claim 10 wide patriot
ism and to loyalty 10 the Constitution.
Y