The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-02-03
LET WAR Be OVER,
PEACE FOREVER REMAIN
Pension Bill COuIdn't Be.
come Law, Anyway, Be.
cause of Constitution

Speaker Murray has addressed the
following letter to saltwater G. A. R.
headquarters
Guthrie. okla, January 26, Messrs.
n. b. Easton NJ Langsham & Evans,
Committee Headquarters, saltwater
G. a. r. 40, Z. saltwater. Okla. Your
printed circular headed Protest
against Rebel Pension Bill.H is now
before me, in which you use great
deal Of abusive language against the
| old soldiers who we're ON the losing
side OF $ nSmorablc conflict ! am
sure that All good citizens are glad
Of tho result Of that war. but no one
/ at this late day should use the Ian.
guage used in the circular sent TO me
and which ! presume you are dis
| tributing broadcast You must re-
member that conditions are different
and otherwise than before the war
want to suggest to YOU those nlnda-
mental principles of which perhaps
! You have never thought before. and OF
which am sure many of our citizens
are not acquainted. or they would
look with more charity upon the ac-
ton of these old soldiers. who too OF
ten are dubbed "rebeisn and guilty OF
treason My friends, do you know
that no man can be guilty OF treason
for fighting a country or government
Of which he, himself is not a citizen?
fou refer to the Chic aid Choc,
and other tribes of Indians in your
circular You forget that they were
not citizens OF the United States, nor
We're any other Indians until the re-
cent act of Congress made them such.
nor We're the people resident of the
United State6 citizens OF the United
States until after the Civil WA, and
until the ratification az the 18TH 18th
and 10th amendments TO the Constitu-
tion OF the United States; and hence
there was no such thing until their
ratification as a citizen of the United
states, each person In the United
States being a citizen of one of the
States, therefore. granting that the
men who fought on the Southern side
were misguided or under a mistaken
opinion, they fought for their own ma
tive State, and was not only not gull.
" OF treason, and those who followed
the blue from legal and moral stand
point We're similarly situated. the only
difference IN these 5wo contending
forces being those who wore the blue
We're on the side 0i victory OF arms
and on the side which beyond doubt
was best for the preservation OF
American institutions For this rea.
son Jeif Davis was never tried for
treason; had he been a citizen OF the
United States during the Civil War.
he would have been guilty and be-
yond doubt would have been hung.
but he was merely a citizen of the
State of Mississippi fighting for his
own state. Since tie adoption of the
tnree amendments referred 20, all are
now citizens OF the United States. but
whatever may be said about the right
or the wrong / trust those gentlemen
who were on the side OF victory and
are now properly cared for under the
tisht policy Of the government should
be Kind enough not TO raise these is
sues az this late hour, since the bill
against which you protest was not
asked Tor by eX-Confederate soldiers
out was introduced Dy one who was
not himself on either side of that CON
met but who desired 10 do service
20 both BE II said TO the credit of
the confederate soldier that since
s'''t' NNA NrirAN AAA At iNA "a iN lIlllNU
country and In the conflicts against
this government since. he has been on
the side of his country. and striven
hard under extreme difficulties for a
Reunited country. Those victorious I'm
arms can al least be eharitabie and
not try TO heap odium upon men who
had the sanction of their own con-
science Ia that conflict ! was too
Young 20 know anything about the
civil War except from the cold letter
oi history, having been born in 1863:
otherwise I have not known either In
sentiment or otherwise that such a
war ever existed. ] honor those
brave soldiers whowent down on the
battlefield OF thar conflict on either
side. and J shall protest against the
abuse which Is contained In your cir-
culaf iet the war be over, let Blace
forever remain, for the bill OF which
you complain cannot become law
without ap amendment 10 the Consti-
tuition OF Oklahoma, which amend
ment must be ratified by "A majority
OF the otes OF The people OF the State.
1 am sure II you viii look al the
matter IN the light in which / at-
teplPt 20 present h % YOU that yon
VIII burn Your circulars and not again
attempt 20 raise this old dead Is.
snei that you Viii recognize an good
men who stand 40 for reanited
country Tor honor ami integrity ofl
the Federal Government. and The
rights Of the State against corporate
graft and greed, as uolnpatriots and
fellow citizens
Assuring You a0d yonr assotiaiion
81 the highest esteem and regard i0rt
fonf Patriotism and NRlof. / ana.
Most sincerely.
WN q MURRAY