The National tribune., 1906-08-30
GEN. j. WARREN KEIFER.
spieadfd Son OF Ohio, Who Has the
Courage of His Convictions.

Editor National Tribune: In n re-
cent issue of your paper mention is
made of a resolution by Gen. ]. Warren
-Keifer, of Ohio. proposing a reduction
of the representation from those South
ern States which have disfranchised a
large per cent of their colored citizens.
You expressed no opinion. simply say
ing nothing would be done in the mat
ter. Many of your readers, natives of
Ohio, residing in other States. myself
among the number, were pleased to see
this move on the part of Gen. Keifer
Raised in adjoining Counties, / knew
Gen. keifer in the army and after the
close of service, no special friendship
existing between US either in the SER
vice or after its close; yet no one who
knew him will deny his loyalty to the
Government and his ability as soldier
as regimental and brigade command
er. Few, If any, of those having no mill
tary experience or training prior to the
CIVIL war eXcelled Gen. keifer in or
ganizing and in handling troops in ac-
ION. Another characteristic worthy OF
mention, loyalty and respect for Gov
ernment, were pre-eminent features in
his discipline. No soldier, officer or en-
listed man was permitted to express a
sentiment tinctured with disloyalty or in
disparagement of the Government. The
recognition of his loyalty and ability is
a matter of record, from the time he
started as Major of the 11th Ohio up to
1864, when commissioned as a Briga-
dier-General, and in 1865 brevetted a
Major-General of Volunteers: then in
our war with Spain, 1898, commissioned
a Major-General.
Ohio men residing in Kansas are glad
to know an Ohio man in Congress has
the courage of his convictions the same
as on the battlefield. The mention of
Gen. Keifer's resolution called up eX-
pressions at different times by him on
the woeful consequences resulting from
vacillation and weakness of members OF
Congress from Northern States when
matters out of which the war was de-
veloped were under discussion. He was
emphatic In his belief had all members
of Congress from the North contended
for their honest convictions as they were
doing on the battlefield the rebellion
would never have materialiZed. Gen.
Keifer was prepared to speak advisedly.
He was young lawyer, a graduate of
Antioch College. Yellow Springs, o., a
close and careful student of the history
of his own Government as we'll as other
Governments. Do we not see evidence
conclusive Of some disposition of the
ruling element in those States that eX-
isted long prior to and during those try
ing years still clinging to the lost cause?
Still holding to the same sentiment of
the Vice President Of the so-called Con-
federacy in his first inaugural: 1.-THE
trainers OF the old Government intend
ed and thought they had so provided
that slavery would sooner or later be
abolished. Not so with the new Gov
ernment, which has made slavery the
chief cornerstone. Thus the stone
which the builders rejected hath be-
come the head of the corper."
Now, in conclusion, tbe loyal people
who subdued the rebellion and preserv-
ed the Government intended and
thought they had provided in the
amendments adopted after the close of
the civil war so that the ex-slaves and
their descendants have rights as full
citizens in the making of laws and their
execution. Then, is not Gen. Keifer's
resolution a move in the right direc-
tion?-L L. Zell, Winfield, Kan.