The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-10-15
AN OPEN LETTER
To Certain TranS-MlSSiS-
Sippi Veterans.

ranks to the standard of Reputation
States Rights and Anarchy. The mum.
bar of the seceders has been grossly over
estimated. 1t is not one-tenth what il
is claimed to be, yet one in 100 is far
too many in such contest as this for
the vital principles of National integrity.
1t pains us to see among these some
really good comrades. To these We adj
dress ourselves:
AT heart, you must distrust, even
hate, the leaders you are now following
under the stress of an assumed exigency.
There is scarcely a man among them in
whom you can have any real confidence.
We challenge you to name them. You
have always seen every one of them
arrayed in support of measures and ideas
which you have rightfully considered of
gravest injury to the country. You
have believed them to be eonspirators,
intriguers, malevolent wreckers, when
they were not cheap, empty, noisy
charlatans. Again We challenge you to
name exceptions to this class
Coming down from generalities TO per-
sonalities, YOU know that nearly all of
these have been persistent, INSCRIPTIONS
enemies of yourselves, and all veterans
as a class. Again, we challenge you
to mention exeeptions-from Senator
Isham c. Harris, the chief organizer of
the Free Silver conspiracy, down to the
most active Bryan worker in your own
Township. The first you know to have
been a fellow-traitor with Jeff Davis.
The last you know equally well was, if
old enough, persistent Copperhead
during the war.
Can it be that all these men have
suddenly become wise, patriotic, and
country-loving, while all of us, who for
merly struggled with you against them,
have been transformed into tools of the
money power" "myrmidons of Wall
Street" hirelings of the enemies of
the country" "plutocrats," " liars and
thieves?
Can you believe that something has
gone through the country which has in
the twinkling of an eye changed all
your old comrades, friends, associates,
and leaders into vicious rascals, and all
your old-time enemies into sagacious,
self-sacrifcing patriots?
Such thing never happened before,
even in the age of miracles.
We have all had the fullest sympathy
with you in the troubles which have
descended upon you. You know that.
We felt the highest comradely pride in
your courage and enterprise when you
went out into the far wilds and literally
made the wilderness blossom as rose.
We babe you Godspeed when you
started, we followed your progress with
the deepest interest, we hurrahed loudly
when you conquered the American
Deser," as another triumph of the grand
men who had carried the destiny of the
country upon their bayonets, and de-
veloped their courage and selfreliance
by our side in the awful school of war.
And when misfortunes fell upon you
when the grasshoppers, the droutb,
the tornadoes came upon you like the
Of God-who were so ready
with their money and their sympathy as
your old comrades?
Whence came the relief that was
contributed? Whence came
the countless millions of dollars which
have been sent across the Mississippi to
help develop your country with rail-
roads, churches and schoolhouses, and
other improvements to make it a fit
home for civilized Americans? Was it
not all from the East, which these lead
ers are trying to array you against
Was not the greater part of this money
from the savings-banks, in which the
and women have deposited
their little surplus? Do you recall any
notable contributions or investments by
the silver-mine owners?
Can you make yourselves believe that
all the men who have stood so faithfully
by you ever since you first donned the
blue. more than 30 wears apo. have sud-