The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-10-13
HOOPER'S BREAST
THIRTY YEARS
AFTER THE RECONSTRUCTION
Confederate and Federal Had Be
gun to Fraternize When He
Voted Against Confeds.

Does he not know that Senator Tay-
Tor was on the oaher side and that
Capt. Hooper had not been born until
after the reconstruction period ?-Ex-
tract from Nashville Tennessean> criti-
cising Gov. Vardaman for making a
straight democratic speech at Nash
ville.)
1t is true that Hooper was born after
the reconstruction period.
All the hatreds between men grow
ing out of scenes of fighting and blood
and death and ruin were beginning to
soften when Hooper was born.
Wheen hooper was in the legisla-
ture men of big souls and great cour-
age no longer waved the bloody shirt.
Confederate and Federal had begun
to fraternize and give cordial support
and sympathy to one another.
The brave Confederate stood at the
tomb of Grant.
The brave Federal bowed his head
when Beauregard and Semmes died.
But not fifteen years ago Hooper was
animated by sentiments that were
rampant in the breasts of East Tennes-
see bushwhackers in the late SOS.
Not one year after the war did Hoop
er work against providing home for
poverty-stricken and bodily-stricken
Confederate soldiers.
Not ten years after the war did he
cast his vote against these manned and
old men.
But thirty years after he cast his
vote against Confederate soldiers. Thir-
ty years are almost generation.
The fires of hate were in Hooper's
breast. Why he entertained them or
how he inherited them no man but
Hooper knows.
To have nourished this hate for Con-
federate soldiers marks Hooper as a
man of small soul, of narrow view and
as unable to appreciate the gallantry
displayed by the greatest fighting force
that ever barred their breasts in defense
of their homes and their country.
Such man is unworthy to be the
governor of state which sent an army
to the Confederacy and another army
to the Union.
And Mr.. Hooper has not the courage
of his convictions now. He apologies
Indirectly for his vote by saying that
mems minds have changed within fif-
teen years that the asperlties of hatred
of the war have softened within fifteen
years.
Now he processes devotion TO the
Confederate soldier.
Then when did he change his mind ?
In this matter his action is either
fraudulent, deceitful or foolish.
If he is sincere in regretting his vote
of fifteen years ago, he was foolish at
that time.
If he was foolish then, fifteen years
may not have cured him of his mental
| weakness.
The fact is that Hooper hates Con-
federate soldiers today as he did when
| in the legislature representing an East
Tennessee republican stronghold he de-
nounced then by his vote as unworthy
of the dole that the state might give
them, and held the decrepit among
them fit only to livein county pigsties,
politely called poorhouses.
And while we are on this subject an
other phase of Hooper's record is inter-
esting. Some women have presented
Hooper with flowers and other good
women have graced the speakers
stand. We ask these women to look
Into the records and see what Hoop
er's action and speech as member of
the legislature were on the age of con-
sent law.
Hooper will not do for governor of
Tennessee. If we are to have repub-
lican governor, let him at least be a
man of knightly soul, who admires
courage and chivalry, no matter under
what flag they ate displayed, and who
is willing to assist the needy, no mat
ter for which cause they fought. Com
mercial-Appeal