The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-19
A Forceful Reply TO Gen. Hundley's Rel
ersnCe 10 the Stubs testimony.
NO ARRANGEMENT OR PROSECUTION.
The General Mysterious Transitions OF
Mixed Metaphor and His Tbrce-foia
Duty Obligations More Sacred than
Observance OF the written Law.

ing Of the organization In this city last
october. was the most strkinely dramatic
scene OF tho session has made the loi-
lowing ringing reply to General George j.
JIundlcy's published criticism OF ms tcs-
tiInony before tho recent History inVes-
tigating Committee OF the Grand camp
Editor OF The Times.
Sill am very sorry that General
Hundlcy does not approve or The views
which / took OF the testimony whtch
gaVe whilst under examination Oy 'he
recent investigating Committee. am
sure that 1 would Chcerfuliy make any
reasonable onOrt TO win the Generals
appreciation. or TO appcasc his resent
ment. but IL really seems TO me that he
demands too much
His opinion is that the proper time
for me 10 have accused his client would
have been when tho evidence WAS weak;
and that ! ought TO have TeIrained from
accusation altogether when the evidence
had become strong. or. TO employ ms
pwn vivid and picturesque Imagery
Achilles should not have sulked IN his
Tent" when the first vague conjectrcs
prose. and when all was doubt and dark
ness. but should have promptly sailed
forth, smiling tho shadows, and doing
battle with the intrcuchaut air
while when the evidence had gathered
strength. when the dawn approached.
and with 10 tho season OF action. Achilles
respCi sive 10 demands Il sarcasm. swiftly
changes shape into Jupiter touaus and
thus. by a more or less dextorOus tugelc.
which Is doubtless fun Of meaning II one
had but the clue 10 II. we see the very
type and en- bCdymont Of deeds converted
into a WCre symbol Of sounds. This SUD
den charge Of figure Is a little bewilder-
ing 10 the uninitiated. and so on this
point ] will simply say that ] shall be
both proud and glad 10 sit at my crit
les feet. and under his kindly guidance
20 study tho mysterious transitions Of the
mixed metaphor.
a PALPkBLE ERROR.
But now I approach a graver subject
General llundicy distinctly charges me
with having made "a terrible arraig omcnt
or prosecution Of Colonel Stubs
"for exercising his constitutional prvi-
lege in voting in the House or Delegates
for Mr.. Massey the man or his choice
for Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
ton"
Thu gross and palpable error OF Cen
eral bundloys should be 10 him a NE
long warning 10 never again trust his
memory on a subject Of any moment.
The words which / uttered are a part OF
the record and General lIundlcy might
easily have found them The incident
alluded 10 was q simple one, and free
from am complications. Mr.. Massey's
supporters had brought Barnes History
into the issue defending that book. and
with that issue before the HoUse. Colo
mel Stubs had voted for Mr. Massey |
spoke not az an Of Colonel Stubs con-
stitutional rights. hut merely Of his in
consistency for he has publicly de-
nOunccd the Barnes History over and
over again. And now. since General
Hundicy has been thoughtful enough to
recall this matter. IL is obviously in Or
der Tor his client Colonel Stubs, TO
solve another problem by explaining his
reasons for voting in this month of De
Ccmher. for the maintenance Of status
which ne had promised to do his hest TO
overthrow during the approf ching spring?
or General Hundley's scathing criu-
cism of the Examining Committee / will
not trust myself 10 speak There was
certainly no member Of that body but
who felt the pain and disgrace Of the sit
uaion az least as kcenly as did the ac-
cused' and yet In their pathetic sorrow
and In the tenderness with which they
delivered their reluctant judgment. Cen
eral liundley c1n discern nothing but
the marks OF vacinaung weakness.
HIS TRIPLE DUTY
7 am willing To- make every possible
allowance for General Hundlcy on the
score OF his zeal In his clients behalf the
more SO because ne has defined hts duties
as being OF "a thrcc-fold charactcr-nrst
IN his relation 90 the case as volunteer
then az me cali Of his client and finally
AZ the solicitation of friends. But ] stin
think that DC has done me grave and
needless wrong i'm charging that ] made
"a terrible arra.enment OF Colonel Stubbs
for exercising, his constitutional privi-
leges"
Indeed so careful was / 20 avoid even
tho remotost intmation that Colonel
Stubs had done any unlawful thing. that
declared in ;he strongest language at
my command chat did not call i'm ques-
ion his lawful right 10 make lawful traf-
nc with any man." and / have never had
the shadow of "a doubt but that he would
be able before any legal tribunal in Chris
tendon. % scatter 90 the winds any
charge Of unlawful conduct. as easily as
the reused lion shakes the dcw-dr0ps
from MS manc.
Bw that has never been the question.
No one has accused Colonel Stubs Of
any infracdon of the written law.
OTHER OBLIGATIONS.
But there are other duties >sr7'other
obligations which dcvolve upon us-obli-
cations which are more commanding and
more sacred than those which are in
scrlbed on amy statute book obligations
which neither congresses nor courts can
can enforce. obligations which began 20
emerge when men ceased 60 be savages:
obligations which a man may ignore or
betrav and vet go unwhippod OF human
justice; obligations which are as certain
10 incifc derisi0n in the pcttifogEcr as
they are o. awaken an that is noblest In
the man. obligations which have neither
sanctuary nor citadel save I'm that sense
OF honor which IS the Growing glory Of
the moral sentiments Of mankind And
~ us 10 those sentiments that a soldier ap-
yeals when he asks Judgment by his COM
rades on any charge which may seem TO
touch his personal honor.
know how prevalent Is tho cynic
Fcorn which sncors az any mention OF
'snere sentiment" And IN that scOrn We
may we'll descry ono Of The darkest por-
tents Of the times. For 81 Sc neither more
nor less than true that-sentimcnt apart
there remains nothing but abicct fear
10 restrain the statesman from barierng
ne ballot or the soldier from selling his
fac JOHN ClSSONS.
Richmond Va. December IS 1891.
B4ETON HEIGHTS NEVIS.