The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-22
LANCASTER.
Co MY Politics The Lost Cause and other
Subjects Charmingly Treated by
Cleaner.
Correspondence Of The Free Lance

be capable Of laughing when the hear
aches, as prominent writer has de-
clared, then much Of this true wisdom
will be evinced today among the uneasy
Office seekers who will throng upon the
Court house green There is laternal
strife among the Democratic brethren
just now. which will sGbside after the
regular county election in May.
The present Commonwealth 5 AttOr
ney is being opposed by two dry -
men; one his neighbor, Mr.. b II.
Robinson, and the other from White
Stone, Mr. VIM. Sanders We cannot
| blame Mr. Robinson for his feeling
slightly exasperated last Saturday, the
18th, at Lancaster ourt-house, where
his party met for the purpose Of select
ing delegates to the county convention
to nominate county officers. 1t seems
that compromise was effected, the
friends If Mr.. Z. J Downing. the
present Commonwealth Attorney,
agreeing to support Mr.. I. 5. Brent in
consideration Of Brent's friends sup
porting Downing. Mr. Brent is Com.
missioner Of Revenue for this county,
and has, it is said, been a faithful Of
fcer Mr.. Downing Is near neighbor
of this scribe, and has won many
friends by his gentleinanly department,
but he has a most Importunate oppo-
nent in Mr. Robinson, whose large and
helpless family, no doubt, is some in
centive to his importantly.
We have heard that harmony did not
prevail in the other precincts. At
Payne's Shop two delegates were se-
lected, and at Litwalton, we are in
formed that one faction of the party
refused to take part in the proceed
ings.
The feasibility Of deferriug the sol
emn ceremony Of picture unyeiling"
until the 4th Of July has been discussed
and will probably be left to the discre-
tion of Judge Wright.
1t is said the Confederate veterans
are 10 convene again that day, but
what brain is willy enough to harmon
ize the Fourth Of July with the South
ern Confederacy?
Why cannot we learn in our patriot
ism what " the fitness of things " i'm
plies, and in much doing learn to do
all things decently. and in order. 3"
Since it behooyes us TO copy the rest of
the world, do not let us conglomerate
so much as to heap ridicule upon our
selves.
Our forefathers greeted the glorious
Fourth with JOY and enthusiasm they,
too, were called "rebels," but is was
successful rebellion They crowned the
day with garlands of roses; so should
we But let us not of "The Lost
Cause "a thousand times more holy,
more precious, because it was lost to
us-bring our Grape to drape over those
roses Another day, another time more
congenial to bruised hearts for that. 1t
is very sweet and graceful sentiment
that brings the dear old Confederates to-
gether from time 10 time in a social
way, to tell of the past in song and in
story, but we must admit little gro
tesque is the sight Of marching SOL
diery, devoid of practice, and age and
iDfirmity, blending to weigh down the
once towering forms. There was a
pathus in.the scene, but the incongruity
of all of it would force itself upon the
ladies on the fair grounds, near Kill
marnock, a few years ago, and we
laughed and cried by turns
All of The Free Lance readers we
know were interested in the unyeiling
ceremony which occurred in Richmond
a short time ago Every heart was
touched when the Daughter Of the
Confederacy was disclosed to view.
Would any one, for moment, indulge
in the ill-taste of choosing the Fourth
of July. a day of general hilarity, for
such a solemn rite?
Some Of the faces to be unveiled in
our Courthouse are remembered by
this generation.
Virginians, our county men, are look
ing down upon us from those walls,
each in the evolution Of time, perform
ing we'll his part in life as fast as new
issues confronted him If his lips could
sneak, what would that autocrat, King
Garter, say TO the Democratic assemb-
blage ready to hiss King George, ready
TO celebrate their nations independ-
eLce: Surely you will not violate the
sanctity of this lover Of royalty by un-
yelling his portrait on the Fourth Of
| July. for had he lived till 1776 he
would most surely have been an un-
compromising Tory. Probably his
ghost is disturbed by being thus humil-
lated, for who knows hut some OF his
companion pictures were the descen-
dants Of his retainers, and it is said
they were not allowed to enter old
Christ Church through the same portal
that received himself and family.
That the Z" Stars and Bars should
hang that day with the =" Stars and
Stripes, " may be admissible to few
persons, bat the majority are not so
thoroughly reconstructed as that. There
is surely time for all things, with
out the crowding into the space of one
day all the mirth and carousal demand
ed by the Fourth Of July; ali the pathos
Of lost, but honored cause; all the
solemnity due the honored dead
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