The National tribune., 1910-02-24
HEYBURN,s POSITION.

Editor National Tribune: / thank you
for your editorial in the issue of The
National Tribune of Feb. 10 approving
my position in regard to legislation re-
lating to the Southern Confederacy
land the placing of the statue of Robert
E Lee in the National Capitol. Much
thoughtless criticism of my action has
been expressed in the newspapers of
the country, which seem to have con-
sidered the question only in the most
superficial way. 1t is gratifying to have
your outspoken approval, and 1 sincere
" hope that it will come to the atten-
ton of many people, and that it will
cause them to think again on this great
subject and to think rightly. No one
could regret more than l do the neces-
sity of reOpening the consideration of
the issues of the war, but when those
issues We're forced upon us for consId-
Grafton il became with me a question
of duty to oppose legislation that in
word and spirit antagonized the princi-
pies of loyalty to the Flag and the Gov
ernment it stands for, and / did what
l conceived to be my duty. / trust that
/ shall not fail in the performance of
such duty whenever and wherever l
may De confronted with the question.
That l was alone in my position and
my vote in no way troubles me. l
know from the hundreds of letters that
l haye received and from the official
action of many patriotic bodies in every
part of the United States that while l
stood alone in my vote / do not stand
alone in the sentiment that it repre-
sented, nor do / believe the time will
ever come when the loyal hearts of the
American people will not sustain me in
my action. Sincerely yours-W. B.
Hepburn.
We are not surprised, as the Senator
from patriotic men and women who ap-
prove his action. We shall be greatly
surprised if he does not receive many
thousands. He said in the Senate just
what millions of earnest. patriotic peo-
pie desire to have said in that august
body. and he is entitled to the warm
thanks of every one Of them for voic-.
ing their beliefs in such a forceful, dig
nified way. Like him, they do not want
to reopen the issues of the war, but
when these issues are wantonly re-
opened by the other side no one who
has any love for his country or regard
for the cause for which a million lives
were lost can sit silent. The blame for
reopening these issues must all the time
rest upon those who will not let their
wrongdoing be forgotten, but insist on
thrusting it upon public attention. AS
Senator Hepburn said, we do not wish
to interfere with their private ceIebra-
tions, their Reunions or any other pure
ly domestic matters. We respect the
memories of those who fell bravely in
defense of great mistake. They were
deluded into war by designing poIiti-
clans and unscrupulous slave lords, they
had not opportunity for better informa-
tion, and we must give them the respect
always accorded to men who die for
that they deem their duty. Respect for
these men, however, is something quite
apart from faunting in public the hate
full banner which led these men
10 their death and which to the great
mass of loyal people can be only sig
nificant of resistance to the National
and the horrors of civil
war.
The statue of Lee in Confederate uni
form in the National Capitol cannot
have anything else than the same mean
ing. The Confederate uniform is much
more in evidence than the manly vir-
tues of r. E. Lee, of which so much
is said. 1t is not put there because Lee
was a Christian, man of high char
acter and had been a good Colonel in
the United States Army. 1t is put there,
and the Confederate uniform empha-
sizes this fact. because he became emil
pent in fighting the Government which
had nurtured and supported him, and
the statue can have no other meaning to
the millions who will gaze upon it.
1on.- Dr. ALL n.a IL. -.