Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-01

tempted the overthrow OF the great
American republic. At the sacrifice OF
millions Of treasure and rivers Of blood
poured out by patriotic sons OF freedom
the rebellion was suppressed and the
union saved and preserved for all fu-
ture generations. The survivors Of the
blue and the gray have f%raternized and
fought battles under the Stars and
Stripes, and the memory Of the brave
men who fell i'm the war Of the rebellion
will be cherished on both sides without
resentment by either.
There is, however, a broad line Of de-
nIarcation that cannot and should not
be wiped out. The American tory never
will stand on the same plane in history
with the American patriot OF revolu-
t]lOnary days. The memory of Benedict
Arnold, WHO rendered valiant service in
the early stages of the revolutionary
struggle, cannot be linked with that Of
George Washington.
For the same reason every attempt
to link the name Of Abraham Lincoln
with that Of Jefferson Davis or Robert
E. Lee is a sacrllege that must shock
the moral sentiment Of every true lover
Of liberty. The emotional outburst at
the American metropolis a few days
ago at which Charles Francis Adams
~eulogized Robert T.. Lee, Henry Waiter
son paid a warm tribute to Abraham
Lincoln, and William Hepburn Russell
lauded jefferson Davis to the skies has
the tendency to place these men before
the new generation of Americans on an
equal plane. when In fact they repre-
sent principles as far apart as the poles.
Lincoln, Lee and Davis were southern
men by birth and this is all they had in
common. Davis and Lee were born in
a ffiuence and were both educated at the
West Point Military academy at the ex-
pense OF the nation. Abraham Lincoln
was born in poverty and educated by his
dedicated by their military training TO
the defense of the flag and when they
raised their arms against that emblem
Of glory and organized armies to destroy
the government they had sworn to de-
fend and protect they were guilty of
the highest crime an American citizen
can commit. Their reasonable course
may be forgiven, but 1t cannot and
should not be glorifed by speech, or by
monument.
At the outbreak of the civil war. Lee
was colonel of the Second United States
cavalry. Had he been imbued with the
highest ideal of the American soldier
he would have rallied with General
Scott under the flag of the union rather
than with Jefferson Davis under the
flag of disunion. He would have emu.
lated the course pursued by that loyal
and gallant Virginlan, General Thomas,
or that loyal son of Tennessee, the in
vincible Farragut. If he entertained
conscientious scruples against fighting
his native state he should have broken
his sword across his knee and retired
to private life.
The Qualification Of Jefferson Davis by
men who wore the blue borders on bias.
phemy. 1t is an insult to the memory
OF thousands of brave men who were
subjected to the horrors Of Anderson.
vile and other confederate prisons with
the full knowledge and consent of JEFF
erson Davis. 1t is a monstrous refiac.
ton upon the memory of Abraham Lin.
coin, for whose assassination Jefferson
sponsible. 1t is a matter of recorded
history that Davis encouraged and ap-
proved the plot for the abduction OF
Lincoln from Washington to Richmond
which was the prelude to Wilkes
Booths %dastardly crime. And 1t is also
n matter of history that Davis and hi,
cabinet approved the plot to scatter vel
low fever infection in New York ant
other northern cities whose population
during the war was chiefly made up Of
defenseless women and children.
Is it not amazing that Americans whC
revere the memory of Lincoln should b,
carried away by sentimental gush owe
Davis or Lee when If Davis and lie,
had had their way the American unioI
would have been dismembered anC
slavery enthroned and perpetuated? HaC
Lincoln been forced to capituJate trea
son would have been triumphant, 10y
atty Inundated and the march OF prog
ress and civilization In America tune
back for centuries. If Davis and lie,
had succeeded, the disunited states
would have beer Mexicanized and Mex
leo unparalleled. If Davis ard Lee haC
triumphed no single American republi,
would have counted for more anon,
the nations of the world than does Ven
ezuela today.
The cause represented by Lincoln wa
humanity and civilization. The mar
tyred emancipation needs no monument
Lee and Davis deserve none at tn,
hands of n nation dedicated to freedom
and free institutions.
NOT s. TISFACrORF.
The treaty providing for the appoint
ment Of n commission Of jurists to set
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