The National tribune., 1910-07-14

full conservation still vivid in their in
most souls. demanding honor and pur-
ity in public affairs. have stood four
square against the wrongs that we de-
piore. Rejoicing in the splendors OF
a dimless reminiscence. they have done
their share to promote the uplift, which
alone can work Il cure. They not only
fought and won the battles OF their
own generation. but they have aided
and they still aid their successors in
confronting the new dangers which
menace the land they love.
But these veterans occasionally fancy
they discern in certain recent occur
rences indications of n willingness to
surrender some sheaves from the har-
vest of their hard-won victory. They
read that etchings of Jefferson Davis
adorn the silver plate presented by the
State of Mississippi to a United States
battleship. They hear low-Grade di-
alect verses, without sense or rythm
or sentiment. wept over with hysteria
and delirium by devotees of the lost
cause, as patriotic tribute to it's van
ished glories. They are told of. mon
ument to the unspeakabie WirZ at An
dersonvilie. They see an effigy of Rob-
ert e. Lee in Statuary Han at Wash
ington.
All of them are amazed and many
of them are uncontrollably Indignant
the ideals and idols of a deplorable
past. But they have been schOoIed to
forbearance, tolerance and forgiveness.
lf there is not sensitiveness enough in
the South to cause shame for exhib-
tons of childish bravado, there is prob
ably patience enough in the North to
inspire spirit OF plying liberation,
until better counsels prevail.
Over against any childish bravado
and hysteric delirum, thus spasmod-
ically betrayed, we may set many en-
cauraging proofs of returned reason
and loyalty.
We may recall the exultant, defiant,
triumphant Americanism of the utter
ance of Henry Watterson. an ex-Con-
federate soldier, at the Loyal Legion
banquet in st. Paul: Il had rather
stand here tonight, surrounded by the
soldiers of the Union, than be Presi-
dent of the Southern 4Confederacy, IL
there were Southern. Confederacy,
which, thank God. there is not"
We may recall the clarion note of
pathetic penitence written by another
eX-Confederate in High Tide at Gettys-
burg:
They fell who lifted up hand.
And bade the sun in heaven stand.
They smote and fell. who set the bars
Against the progress of the stars.
And stayed the march OF motherland.
We may recall that in the Spanish
American war, Wheeler and Rosser and
Fitzhugh Lee promptly and joyousIy
donned the cast-off loyal blue, while
thousands of ardent young patriots in
the new and better Southland rallied
around the beautiful Flag of their
country and ours with the avowed pur-
pose of retrieving the mistake of their
20 ruI,n
Thus we may offset occasional spasms
Of bravado and hysteria with a per-
ception of the broader aspects and
deeper drifts of present conditions
then we may leave the rest to time,
to God and to history. We can en-
courage the doubling and despondent
to disregard the clouds which hide the
sky for moment, while the bright sun
that tints them crimson rises to shine
thousand years!
Let us have peacei
The men of 1851 buttressed the Re-
public so strongly that it may safely
defy more vigorous assaults than the
mock-heroics of the inconsolables. And
there are visible, tangible compensa-
tions. In the parks and squares of the
Capital we behold with affectionate ad-
miration the splendid equestrian statues
of Thomas and Mcpherson, of Sherman
we see the elaborate marble colon
nades which lead up to the four CO.
lossal bronze lions that fifty guard the
grand pedestal whereon will soon be
installed the statue of unconquered
Grant. On broad plaza we are shown
the space reserved for stately me-
mortal to the immortal Lincoln. These
tributes to the heroes of the war for
the Union stand conspicuous and I'M
afraid where all may see and rever-
enee, bathed in the air and sunshine
of freedom-and there they will stand
forever, tuneful as anthems of re-
demption from the mouths of cheru-
bin with their testimony to the Ma
TONS peril and deliverance.
Then, if we are inquisitive, we may
search out in the corner of a gloomy
chamber at the Congress House."
scarcely notable among the throng OF
more or less obscure favorite sons of
the several States, the alleged repre-
sentation of an insurgent General. 1t
had no recognized status, even there;
it has never been presented to or ac-
cepted by Congress; 1t is simply a lay
figure. devoted to exploiting the; misfit
uniform of a defunct conspiracy.
Surreptitiously introduced and tolerat-
DEASIaMS