Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-07-29

This is my fathers statement of the af-
fair, and silences those who claim Rogers
was not admitted. His name is also given
in Montana Historical Record, Vol. IL,
as one OF the members of the first legis-
lature.
Col. Rogers was In every sense a gen.
tleman; of medium height, slender of
figure, and with the bearing of one who
was well bred. He had fair hair and
beard, and blue or gray eyes. He was
universally respected by all who knew
him, including my father. whose duty it
was to oppose him.
The story has often been told of the
erection of q flagstaff at Virginia City on
the eve of an early Fourth Of July. by
some ardent Unionists, only to have 1t
cut down before the celebration took
place, by some equally ardent Confeder-
ates. AT once the Union men rallied, an
other pole was brought dow from the
mountain; firmly planted and safely
guarded. n the glorious Fourth was
properly celebrated.
An amusing experience was mine while
living in Fort Benton, when calling on a
friend who came from the south. and
had lost everything she possessed by
Sherman's march to the sea. I under
| stood how she felt regarding the Lost
Cause" She was equally cautious about
wounding my feelings.
In the course Of u conversation, on
tne Oay referred 10, Sne CnanCeu TO
| speak the work Yankee" and at once
FASTENED to apologize for having, as she
thought, insulted me. / said nothing,
but inwardly laughed. as my mind re-
verted to the days Of my youth, when
the town historion, in giving the roll
call Of distinguished New Englanders,
tried to impress us with his answering
belief hat the ankees were the salt OF
this earth, and the salvation of our
country. My friend was brought up to
despise Yankees; and / was taught to
reverence them. AS MIR. Dooley would say
And there ye are"
All Southern women were not 30 con-
siderate as was this friend of mine
Northern women often had q hard time
Of it when they were in the company of
Southern m AS a rule, however,
the former were forebearing, and did not
retort, as they might have done.
The news Of President Lincoln's assass-
ination led to violent expressions OF
feeling by both parties. Had 1t been
confined to that, little harm would have
been done; but 1t was whispered then
and later. that more han one man was
killed because Of the intense feeling
awakened In Confederate and Unionist
alike by the story Of the tragedy enacted
at Ford's theater In Washington.
AS ! have formerly told, a neighbor's
child made a visit to us for the purpose
OF announcing: Didn't we say so;"
I'm eighteen hundred and sixty-five,
Abe Lincoln would be dead, n not
alive"
We made no answer, for we understood
that the child was sent to deliver THU
message by her Missouri parents.
After peace was declared, this Southern
element unwittingly operated against tn,
best interests OF the Territory. and II
this were aided by Northern sympathiz-
ers. The calling Of two Illegal sessions
of the legislature entailed additional ex
pense. which the territory was then IL
no condition to assume. Then followed
the fight with the judiciary, apparentl,
for no reason but that these Judge
were to be appointed by President Lin
! coin. This fight was the immedat
cause of the death Of one man at tn
; hands Of the ~vigilantes, n the tenn
| porary resurrection Of this organization
which would otherwise have gladly yield
l ed its power to the courts.
1t was while this mutual antagonist
existed between the W parties, tn
name OF Edgerton county was change
, to Lewis and Clark. Judge Pembertor
+ himself one Of the voluntary exiles fror
: the Sunny South, In a lengthy articl
i contributed to the Montana Histories
! Records. denies that politics had any
, thing to do with the transaction. Other
4 who were there at the time, tell q differ
p IGA4S WY AA6CAS VIA y "a W
pointee OF President Lincoln, which wa
sufficient to condemn him. 1t was ais
! limited by those who understood the tru
I inwardness of the situation, that thi
: action vas the outgrowth as well, c
antogonism to the governors nephew
I and intimate friend, Col. Wilbur Fis
: Sanders.
a Some one has said, tina Montana. lk
e Idaho, was never reconstructed. 1t wa
t unnecessary. Time has wrought tn
miracle, and today descendants OF tn
r blacklist Of BLACK" republicans may b
g found voting the democratic ticket, an
: vice versa. History is making clear tn
fact that neither Of the combatants 1
the Civil War knew the causes which lie
9 to it, and for which they 50 gallantl
e were willing to lay down their lives I
e defend. The relentless course of event
: used them as pawns in this great We
: game. and they were powerless to resis
s.. --X-
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