Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-25
THE CONFEDERATE VETERAN
OF NASHVILLE
in July. 1900, number makes the fol-
lowing review of
OF NASHVILLE
IN THE WAKE OF WAR

The position of the South during
that wretched period of our history
known as reconstruction is fully vindi-
Gated. Readers of RED Rock will
see confirmation from aditferent stand
point. In astory entitled SIN the w AXE
of War;" Verne S. Pease has told Of
our trials in fearless manner, and
has given to our final defense, by means
of secret societies, an honest face.
Much has been written and published
about those troublous times, but the
subject generally has been handled
with gloves often kid gloves. SIN
the Wake of War" lays bare the dis
tasteful attitude OF thosein power with
out mincing words or concealing facts.
The story opens with prologue, in
which is given fair picture of the
ante bellum South, located at a summer
ing place in the hills to the west of the
Great Central Basin of Middle Tenn
essee. The war is skipped, and the
story proper begins with the home
ward journey of two Confederate sold
iers. The waste and devastation of
of our homes is strongly drawn, and
the sincere purpose and heroic efforts
of returned Confederates to restore
order, bring back to life the almost
extinct forces ofcommerce and society,
and tomalIe living for their families,
are hot sighted. Then the meddling
of the provost marshals, the under
handed conduct of the agents for the
Freedmen's Bureau and the melting
of the negroes to deeds of lawlessness
by both of these political factors are
given without color.
The carpetbagger is next introduce
ed and who would not recognize him?
In all his ignorance, malice and cow
ardice he is made to appear an indie
pendent and unique creation.
AS last defense our people were
driven to secret societies, commonly
known to the world as the X. K. K,
and the author finds only justifica-
ton for the order. In closing achapter
on the subject, he says: st quelled
lawlessness, restored order and pre-
served it until greed was thrown Tor
tumbled) from the saddle, and justice
resumed her sway. All this it did,
and there are grave reasons to do ubt
if likeresults couldhave been attained
by more open means" While the
book is doubtless intended to be more
historical than romantic the tale of
love is not neglected. A sweeter pic
ture of home life is not otter publish
ed, and more dainty love story has
not appeared oflate. Before the book
had been out a month the publishers
and author had over score Of un-
qualified Endorsements from the South
ern press. And, strange to say, our
vindication in this case comes from a
man of Northern birth and education,
but of strong Southern sympathies.
Mr.. Pease lived in Middle Tennessee
for ten years, and made thorough
study of his subject-not from books,
but from the traditions of our people.
Col. WET. Nixon, ,of .Ardmore, Ind,
T., who supplied the author valuable
data for SIN the Wake of War;" is
reported by the Daily Ardmorite as
follows: The scene is laid in Tenn
essee Immediately succeeding the sur
render of Gen. Lee at Appomattox.
The return of the Confederate sold
Ter to his dev astated fields, his cour-
age and energy in the effort to bring
back to life and vigor the paralyzed
and almost extinct forces of commerce
and society, and his honest and earn
est support and encouragement in
this undertaking by the actual soldiers
of the Federal army are brought out
with a clearness and viuidness which
contrats brightly with the sombre pic
ture of the carpetbagger, whom he next
introduces. In delineating the carpet
bagger-the man who came upon the
scene like aghoul after the brave mon
Of both armies had laid down their
arms and clasped hands once more in
fraternity author minces no words,
but pictures him in all his venom and
spleen and arrogance. The lights
and shadows of that period are blend-
ed in mastery manner, making the
story one, of absorbing interest, while
giving the latter generation an insight
q the political lamentations which de-
feated the magnanimous purposes OF
Grant and Lincoln after the war, A