Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-09-18
That $4,000 Confederate Column

Dear Sir I'm one of your late issues
we see that one Col. Allen has assured
Mr.. Taft that us, 900 unpurchased and
unpurchasable Confederate Veterans"
of Virginia would give him their sup
port and votes. The statement has,
perhaps, been more widely published
and commented upon than it seems to
deserve. The audacity of such state
ment has no doubt prompted such pub
LEGATION and comment. By all who
still honor and cherish the spirit of the
old Confederate soldier, the truth of
such statement should not be allowed
to go unchallenged. One who in the
past has had some opportunity of
knowing the prevalent sentiment
among the veterans of Virginia, begs
leave to ask, through your sound DEM
ocratic paper, for some information
touching this matter.
How and where did this gallant
Colonel win his spurs ? On what "field
of bloody fray" did he so inspire his
$1,000 unpurchased and mpurchasable
followers, with confidence in his valor
and devotion to duty and the right,
that now at his mere word, they will
meekly repent of all their evil deeds
and follow him into the camp of the
enemy?
Is the Colonel so closely identified
with the old Confederates in sympathy
and personal touch that he can safely
promise Mr.. Taft how $1,000 of them
are going to vote in the coming election2
Then again, why does the Colonel
style his $1,000 "unpurchased and I'M
purchasable ?" Would he forestall a
suspicion that might get abroad and
find Judgment in the public mind, that
at least part of his 1900 were not
purchased. AS to the poor remnant of
the $4,000, the 'unpurchasable" pure
ones, Spaniard would shut his eyes
and reply with significant gesture,
"Quien Sabe." Is there to be any
'loot," and does the Confederate Col
onel give due and timely notice to the
comprehensive that they are toe
pure to share in it
Ought not these "unpurchasable'
know that the Republican party ex-
poets the "penitant sinner to ''go way
back and sit down." and does not well
come him with the 'fatted calf, ring,
robes and shoes, to the feasting and
dancing" of the loyal ones who never
went out from their fathers house and
| wasted their substance in riotouS liv-
ing, but abided at home and took good
care Of the stuff and Themselves? Was
there any need of the assurance of the
Colonel to these "unpurchasablen ones
that there would be no loot for them?
All they, poor souls, could expect
would be the satisfaction of having be-
fooled and befouled themselves.
Again. Was not the genial Colonel
over generous in his bargain with Mr..
Taft. 1t is true that he was giving Mr..
Taft "quid" for what he hoped would
be Mr.. Taft's "pro quo" in case he is
elected. But can either deliver the
goods ?
If Mr.. Taft carries out the Roosevelt
policies, if he is elected, does not the
Colonel stand most excellent chance
of holding high place in the Ananias
club =?
Did not the Colonel in his enthusi-
asm make bad break when he COM
pared his idol to Gen. Robert E. Lee.
II there is one sentiment universal
among all Southern people, it is, that
it is bordering on sacrilege to make
any comparison, especially with one
from that side of the line, with one
who is incompatible.
What the Colonel may say in his
moments of enthusiasm is of course of
little Importance, but we sincerely re-
greet and heartily condemn the suspic-
ion even that has been put upon the
fair name of Virginia Confederate SOL
dierS.
NOT ONE OF THE CoLoNEL's
PROMISED $1,000.