The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1902-05-09
FRIENDS; COURTESY ALL
ITON, MISSISSIPPI, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1907

Davis lived up to the right "as God
gave him to know the right" We
submit that any attempt to attach to
such man the odium associated with
the word traitor is ungenerous, un-
just and infamous.
1nasmuch as thousands OF citizens
Of Louisiana are included 10 this in.
dictment Of 'treasOn" that Mr..
Roosevelt has drawn against the
Southern people, it may not be amiss
to pause moment and read the
words spoken in the United States
Senate In 1881 by the late Judah Phil.
ip Benjamin, who has been character.
lied az the "Brains OF the Confeder.
acy." In defending the action Of
Louisiana in seeding from the Union,
Mr.. Benja said:
ut Is said that the right OF seces.
sion, II conceded, makes Of our gov.
ernment mere rope OF sand; that to
assert It's existence imputes to its
trainers Of the Constitution the folly
Of planting the seeds of death IN that
which was designed for perpetual ex-
istence. II this imputation were
true, sir, it would merely prove that
their offspring was not exempt from
that brutality which is the common
lot Of all that Is not created by higher
than human power. But it is not so,
sir. Let facts answer theory. For
two.thirds OF century this right has
been known by many.Of the States to
be, at all times, within their power.
Yet up to the present period, when
its exercise has become absolutely in.
dlspensable to people menaced al.
most with determination, there have
been but two instances in which IL
has been even threatened seriously;
the FIRST, when Massachusetts, led the
New England States In an attempt to
escape from the dangers OF our last
war with Great Britain; the second,
when the same State proposed to
secede on account Of the ADMISSION of
Texas as a new State in the Union.
1--WE are told that the
South is in rebellion without cause,
and that her citizens are traitors.
Rebellion! The very word is con.
fession; an avowal OF tyranny, out
rage and oppression. 1t is taken from
the despot's, code, and has no terrors
for others than slavish souls. When,
sir, did millions OF people, as single
uan, rise In organized, deliberate, un-
impassiuned rebellion against justice,
truth and honor? Well did a great
Englishnan exclaim on similar Oc.
casion: You might as we'll tell me
that they rebelled against the light OF
heaven, that they rejected the fruits
OF the earth. Men do not war against
their benetactors; they are not mad
enough to repel the instincts Of self.
preservation. pronounce fearlessly
that no intelligent people ever rose,
or ever will rise, against a sincere,
rational and benevolent authority.
No people were ever born blind. In.
fatuation is not a law OF human ma.
ture. When there is a revolt by Il free
people, with the common consent OF
all classes Of society, there must be a
criminal against whom that revolt is
aimed
"Traitors! Treason! Ay, sir, the
, people of the South initiate and glory
: 10 just such treason as gl0wed in the
soul OF Hampden; just such treason as
! leaped in living flame from the i'm.
Z passioned lips Of Henry; just such
, treason as encircles with sacred hale
the undyng name Of Washington"
When these words OF Davis and Of
!. BENJAMIN are recalled and when tlt
e lives OF these men and men like thes,
!. are remembered, Is il to be wondered
tat that The Southern people resen
e keenly Mr.. RO0seyelt's characterize
e ti0n Of Mr.. Davis as "a selfish poll
e tician," a "repudiator" and an ''arcl
d traitor? Davis and Lee and jackson
|. and Johnston and Benjamin an
/. other great Confederate leaders hav
J. long since crOssed over the river an
D are now resting In the shade OF tn
4, trees; but their spirit still lives IN II
II memory OF their people. In conten
% plating Mr.. Roosevelt's criticism
sr these dead Confeierates, one lnstinc
9. lively recalls the lines from VT
n Georgia Volunteer"
"He wields no wsrlike weapons now,
g. Returns no foeman's thrust
ia Who but coward would revile
An honest soldiers dustW
~ Afather novel method OF arrivin
y, ut verdict was adopted by the jul
'' . in the Wilmington murder case
- Jones county a few days since. Tw
)" ~ members were opposed to conviction
40 and IL looked as though q mistri
IN