The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-20
WITH Il THE EDITORS Ell /
WISDOM FROM UNCLE JOE

Inc current numDer. OIL the SATURDAY EVeNluS
Post contains an interview with Uncle Joe Can
non in which the veteran congressman gives some
"reminiscences of civil war times, with pertinent
comment on the conditions of today. Mr.. Cannon
is we'll qualified to speak on the subject, for at
the time Of the war he was district attorney for
his district in illinois, and ii, the performance Of
his duties he came into close contact with many
phases of life which were closely related to the
war. He was especially familiar with the exhibi-
tons of disloyalty which were common, and was
called on to undertake the prosecutions Of many
persons who were engaged in disloya enterprises.
Mr. Cannon tells of the difficulties under which
Lincoln labored. The south was in arms, and the
north was full of people who either sympathized
with the south or who were opposed to the war
on general principles. And, in comparing the con-
ditions now with the conditions then andin other
wars, Mr.. Cannon makes the point that now, for
the first time in its history, the United States
is engaged in great war without the exist of
open, active and avowed opposition on the part Of
large number Of it's own people. Mention is
made of the fact that i'm the revolutionary war
the colonial authorities had to contend with the
loyalists; that large element of the population
was avowedly opposed to thesWar of 1872; that
the Mexican war was similarly opposed; and that
during the civil war opposition to the course Of
the government was vigorous and outspoken, in
by extreme republicans for not moving fast
enough, and by extreme democrats for moving
at all. @3 m,
One cannot read the story Of those days, told
by man who participated in the events, without
being impressed by the unanimity Of feeling that
exists now, compared with the rank and open
disloyalty that was freely exhibited by thousands
Of people in the north at that time. It is true that
there are now among US persons who are disloyal,
and that seditious speeches have been made, and
obstacles have been placed in the way Of the
government.
But, after all, these things exist, in most cases.
under some sort Of cloak, and even those who make
seditious speeches, which must be public, are usu
ally careful to maintain some appearance Of 10y
atty, and to convey their meaning largely BY hint
and inuendo rather than by direct statement. Dur
ing the civil war there were in progression every
section reasonable activities, .coriductedin the
most open manner, which it would be impossi-
bic to parallel today. ss... ,s, Al 81 @ @ sss.
In the light Of the experience which his many
years of life and service have brought him, MI.
Cannon writes: Is. FS vi &. e sss Nh
1T is probably just as we'll for the country that
Lincoln refused to take as seriously as some 9th.
ers myself included, the conspiraces in the West
and the acts of sedition of his time Who knows !?
l have seen some of the conflicts that
have ragged over our own nationality, and have
seen the union of the American people into q
composite'body to meet a foreign foe. have lived
to see the south enroll black men as soldiers
clothed in the uniform of the nations defenders,
and have read of France and England bestow7
ing medals of honor on these descendan Of Amer
lean slaves in recognition Of their courage and
fidelity in fighting for the cause Of freedom fot
white men in Europe. No the millennium has not
come, but the transformations on the American
stage in the last so years show more progress to-
ward that old prophecy than toward the destruc-
ton Of the world al Asmasedon1 Grand Forks 4
Herald. So .8a ,fs. ~ S.. vs.
4 i. - 10 $50