The National tribune., 1907-02-28

were equally patriotic in the sense that
they as fondly loved their native land
as did their triumphant rebel brothers,
differing with them only concerning a
certain shibboleth of mo taxation with
out representation and one or two lit>
tie things like that.
And now we are presented with a
new postulate-or shall we say dis
pensetion ?-on the same theme, to the
effect that our "erring brothers" of the
South were as patriotic in the definitive
sense that they loved their native coun-
try as were we of the North who Of
fered our lives in the effort to reunite
the broken and dismembered frag-
ments Of once glorious Union." which,
always in the name of an exalted pa
triotism, of course, they did their best
to destroy.
Ones country in the modern sense is
a geogra phical expression which defines
certain terrestrial limits inhabited by a
race or people rendered homogeneous
by a central Government. by common
laws, language and social institutions
practically interchangeable. For COLI
venience of Government there are
usually subdivisions. as of Provinces,
Cantons, Colonies, States. From these
subdivisions there may arise local ques-
tions of polity that tend to evolve GER
tain antagoniSms on the part OF one
Province against another or on the part
of one or more of them against the
central authority. If in the latter case
the cause of divergence is not due to
any oppressive Or invidious act on the
part of the central Government but
arises from a restless and intolerant
ambition on the part of a section to
dominate and control in its own sec
tional interests the benevolence and the
political legislation of the Government,
and in its failure to accomplish this It
erects the red flag of revolt and plunSes
the Nation into the horrors of civil war.
can that act by any code of morals or
ethics be commended as a heroic at
tempt at resisting tyranny or sanctified
as an impulse of pure and self-devoted
patriotism? Can it be designated by
any other names than those of treason
and rebellion and its participants by
any other appellatives than rebels and
traitors? Not surely patriots, accord
ing 10 the accepted definition-"a per-
son who loves his country and Zealously
supports and defends it and its inter-
ests."
DR.. Johnson's acidulated remark at
the head of this writing, whether mere
ly satirical, condemnatory or sincere,
probably possesses as much value as a
contribution to eternal truth as the ipse
dixit of Mr.. Charles Francis Adams,
who in his Grafton at the Washington
and Lee University, at Lexington, Va,
on the 10th ultimo in commemora-
ton of the centennial of the birth of
Gen. Robert E. Lee. made out the rebel
leader constructively to be an exemplary
patriot as pure and self-devoted as any
in the worlds Hall of Fame. He, in
deed. admits that his hero in abjur-
ing his allegiance to the Government
and bearing arms against it, was tech
nically military traitor" whatever
distinction may exist, whether of high
or low degree of infamy, between that
kind of a traitor or any other kind.
And to give force to his qualified stig
ma, Mr.. Adams proudly declares: and
as the result of much patient study and
most mature reflection. under similar
conditions 1 would myself have done
exactly what Lee did,
There were many loyal people who,
not stopping for mature reflection" or
obeying any mandate of power. self
interest or anything but the dictates of
the spirit of loyalty and the
love of the Union implanted in their
hearts, refused to do what Lee did"
There were both humble and aristo-
cratic families, loyal to the core and
steadfast in their faith, scattered thru
out Virginia, in which state Mr.. Adams
asserts that "the original spirit of State
existed in greater intensity"
than it did anywhere else. Regiments
of loyal Virginians fought thru the war
for the Union cause. Among leading
public men of wealth and influence was
that striking figure, John Minor Bolts.
of Culpeper; Col. Strother, of Berkeley.
and his son, David H, "Porte Crayon,"
the once famous artist and writer. and
many others more or less prominent.
These mostly became refugees. but
-
could have saved their property, as Lee
probably thought he had saved Arling-
ton, by so doing, they could not make
up their minds to do what Lee did,"
and chose exile and poverty instead
with a clear conscience and a patriot's