The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-07
A MEASURE OF PROGRESS.

"A MEAS AEhL4 III H. NAAN-4-'-7e
We, as a people. are becoming more
tolerant. We are not so much inclined
to believe that everybody else but our
selves is absolutely wrong on every
subject under the sun on which we
happen to have the remotest shadow OIL
an opinion The Baptists do not fight
the Presbyterians as much as they once
did, and the Aethcdists are more toler-
ant towards the Baptists. The children
Of a Republican family are not taught
now that the surest way to hell IS 10
be a Democrat, and Democrats do not
scott at Republicans because the latter
do not get drunk A good many Demo-
Gratis have become prohibitionists and
more Republicans have formed the
habit of taking something occasion
ally.
The state Journal remarked recently
that the North and South are drawing
nearer. one another as the wounds of
the Civil War heal, and it cited as an
instance the funeral of q Confederate
veteran in a southern Kansas town in
which the paIIbearers were all Union
veterans; and the local G. A. R. post
passed resolutions Of regret concerning
the deceased.
A northern Kansas town has now
matched that The Memorial Day SER
mon in Jewell City was preached by
the son of a Confederate soldier, and
he put into it a. great deal of the view
point of the southerner. This minister
viewed the war from both sides. While
his father went to the Confederacy, his
family was divided, an uncle going
north
The minister was Rev. J. S. TIMBER
ger, pastor Of the Baptist church at
Jewell City. The character of his ad-
dress was a little unusual, according to
the Jewell Republican, as the southern
ers and patriotic stay-at-honnes were
given a full share of the praise along
with the Union soldiers
Twenty years ago such a sermon
would have aroused the ire Of the vet
Grams and their friends" adds the Re
publican, but they are willing to con-
cede many things now in extenuation
of the actions of their old enemies, that
they would not have conceded then.
Mr.. Umberger is a southerner himself,
and although his sentiments are as 10y
al as anybody's now, his father was
Confederate soldier and he himself wit
messed the trials and suffering Of the
south, and he was taught to look upon
the issue with southern eyes. His moth
ers mother endured the anguish Of
bidding goodbye to her two sons on
the same day. One went north TO join
the Union army and one went south to
Join the Confederate army. The Con-
federate returned with one leg shot off,
and the one who went north was killed
in battle. Rev. Mr.. Umberger, himself
the son of a Confederate soldier. mar
ried the daughter of a Union soldier;
so he thinks the war is over so far as
| he is concerned: and while he with
holds no honors from the men who
/ fought to preserve the Union, he can
not say aught against his father or his
/ fathers comrades, who were equally
brave and equally sincere in their con-
/ victions. The old soldiers listened with
! great interest to the speakers frank
statements and seemed to appreciate
his position, though they did not all
| agree with his sentiments
Which shows that while we believe
more than ever in the business Of the
cause of the Union and rejoice over the
downfall of slavery and the preserva-
ton of the flag, we can appreciate that
the south thought it was right, and we
respect it for standing up for that idea
of right, mistaken though it was. We
are progressing.