The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1904-03-04
PROFESSIONAL CONFEDERATE

| delivered an address to one or more
of the schools, and In 1t he praised
Abraham Lincoln, and held him and
his career up as a model. For this
he has been attacked with farocous
bitterness. The lady President OF
of the daughters of the Confederacy.
the leading dailies and perhaps others
have denounced him and his utter
ances and he Is especially criticised
be cause he went out side of the South
to find a model instead OF holding up
Jeffeeson Davis, Robert +. Lee or
some other Southerner, and especially
some Confederate hero. We have
nothing to suggest as to the good
taste or wisdom or justice of the
praise Of Abraham Lincoln we have
neither apology, defense, criticism,
approval nor ditapproval to make
of anything raid by Mr.. Wilson.
This would be Irrelevant to the point
we desire to emphasize. The right
OF Mr. Wilson to hold and In decorous
language express any judgment he
he pleased concerning Mr.. Lincoln or
any one else should be upquestioned;
and when challenged 1t becomes the
cause of every free man and free wo-
men In the South. To hold other
wise Is destructive OF true liberty.
And this spirit of virulence, of vio-
lence, OF intolerance; this denouncia
ton Of those who dare to hold and ex-
press their own views without asking
permission must be exercised.
1t was intoerable when slavery ex-
isted-yet there WAS an apparent de
fsnse-a plausible excuse for this in
tolerated and intimldating spirit. 1t
was urged that the danger OF negro
revolt-the horrors Of slave insur-
rection-made It a crime of the most
heious character for any one to pub
licly utter doctaine or opinions that
attacked the lawtulnes or righteuous
of that Institution. But since the
abolition Of slavery there Is neither
justification nor excuse for this spirit
of intimidation.
We had 1t In Kentucky during the
campaign OF 1896; 1t was rampant
during the campaign OF 1899; and
while less dangerous 1t was annoying
In 1900. 1t is too prevalent In the
Southern States. Men are ostracis
ed fer opinions and attacted fer
the Inference of their opinions.
Abraham Lincoln was OF Southern
blood as much as Mr.. Davis or
Gen. Lee; he came from Virgiri,
stock, and was born in Ken
lucky. 1t Is true he sprang from
humble people and was born in pow
erty and reared In straiteued and hard
circumstances. He was a product of
the border South; he belongs to the
category OF eminent sous of the Dor
der South. He won high position
and international fame; he is held in
the highest esteem by millions OF the
civilized people OF the world. His
lie was full OF romance, of toll, of
sacrifice, OF success, and he has left
utterances that posterity will not
let die. But all this Is irrelevant to
the real matter at issue. Can a gen
tlemen in public position In the South
speak with praise of Abraham Lincoln
without running the risk of personal
abuse-of violent denunciation ostra-
cism1 Is speech In New Orlesn free!
There has grown up In Kentucky
and some OF the Southern States a re
cent spurious so-called Confederate
sentiment. There has come Into X.
istence and prominence class OF PRO
fessional Coniederates. Soon after
the war the professional Grand Army
Federal became very clamorous and
extremely patriotic. He INDUCED in
virulent abuse of the South; he want
ed the parole granted by Grant vio-
lated; he breathed lightaings and
beloved thunder at the South and
her dead and her living. But he had
the excuse that he was masquerading
as patriot to create sentiment in
favor OF enormous pensions. In re-
cent years his Confederate brotht r
and type has come to the front. He
finds 1t impossible to speak well of
any one who wore the blue; he Is In
tent on the preparation of partial his
tories, he appears In full uniform at
all reunions, and is as,noisy now as
he was silent-as fierce now as he