New-York tribune., 1902-06-21
BITTERNESS UNFORGOTTEN.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: There seems a feeling OF intense contempt
for the ridicuousy disgusting speech deh'ereu "E
Charles Francis Adams at Chicago. and sort OF
general surprise that The Tribune shouIo meas
bly, indorse such maudn rot
What Adams may say not say is as MI
Toots would put it. ''of no consequence hut "hdt
The Tribune says is Of interest to most ih'e''iSe
readers-readers who have been taught that urea
son Is r crime of the first magnitude When or
where has such an insult been offered those loyal
Americans who saved the country which Lee was
irving TO destroy? Then. too. why should Lee De
brought forward the bright particular star OF
the rebellion? Why ignore Davis? Why not nave
,u,o monuments erected at the capital? They were
both alike traitors. wth this difference DAVIS
said long in advance that II certain condluohS
sbo,Id arise-viz.. the election OF Lincoln Ike
nubIican President-he would advocate secession
TIE 70 hie word in a manly way-n wrong act
can he manly-he retired from the United states
Senate and devoted his energies TO advancing Sc
cession His frankness of avowal or intention ana
his pronptness TO keep good his expressed pur-
nose were creditabe TO his honesty and that was
something.
Rut how unlike Lees action, Davis was out IN
the open: Lee was hanging about Scotts head
quarters at Washington, cognizant Of all Scott
knew or the administration. at the time whiH-
nerinr about his duty to his State and indifferent
to the fate of his country The time came when
to rnanv the probability Of the triumph of seces-
sion was opened and then Lee Joined the rebels.
Now I respectfully submit that his conduct, un-
like that Of Davis was despcable beyond express
nurinq the war Lee showed his true character in
tho treatment extended TO Union prisoners. LIBBY
prison the horrors of which cannot be painted In
words was within a biscuit throw OF Lee mead
IN its most terrible form. Did any one ever hear
Of Lee lifting his hand 10 relieve their trlshtfu
WTatrter defines treason as 1.-The offence OF at
ternnting TO overthrow the government of the
state 10 which the offender owes allegiance In
re I-nited States treason is confined to the actual
1eyving of war against the United States, and
5aires traitor" as lone who violates his allie
glance and betravs his country one guilty OF trea
sl% What then was Robert e Lee but a
traitor of deepest dye-guilty OF treason the most
1mrinfI the war the pulpit and the platform We'd
With ono another through their utteranceS TO make
trassor odfOus: now Adams not only seeks to throw
about il the garb of respectahiltY. out eNtoS the
ertfon of zee comparing him with Washington:
boidinq him ND to Americans one greater and
rnnre worthy Of honor than the long list OF dlSun-
truished men who died that their country might
can recall the days when The Tribune thun-
anv naper that treason was crime against hu-
ynanity Are we understand that what was a
wrong IN the early sixties is right to-day, or in
o+ber words If those in the South to-day who are
opposed to negro suffrage should start out, as
Tavis and his associates did in rebellion against
the government would 1t be treason. or would
you place them the plane with those who nave
ALWAYS stood by the government against What your
paper forty years ago denounced as infamous
son?
IN buid a monument Lee will receive aught
hut a most unmitgated feeling Of contempt from
the loyal North. =
New York, June 20 lS2