Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 220, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1917 — An Indiana Precedent. [ARTICLE]

An Indiana Precedent.

Indianapolis Star. Senator LaFollette’s course has been repeatedly compared to that of the copperheads in the civil war, but copperheads had a variety of methods of showing their disloyalty. Some of them, like Vallandigham, of Ohio, openly denounced the government and its war policy; others secretly conspired against the interests of the Union, like the Knights of the Golden Circle, who gave Governor Morton of Indiana so much trouble; while others, like Senator Jesse D. Bright of Indiana, affected a loyalty which they did not practice. LaFollett’s offense is like that of Bright’s. The Indianian voted with the South against the North just as LaFollette, affecting to be anxious for peace, votes against all measures looking to the increase of our war strength. Bright professed patriotic sentiments, but made speeches which were intended to encourage the enemies of the Union. On one occasion he forgot his caution and wrote this letter to Jefferson Davis, president of the Southern confederacy: “My Dear Sir—Allow me to introduce to your acquaintance my friend, Thomas Lincoln of Texas. He visits your capital mainly to dispose of what he regards as a great improvement to firearms. I recommend him to your favorable consideration as a|gentleman of the first respectability and reliable in every respect.”

A charge of treason was brought against him, and’though the judiciary committee decided that the evidence was not sufficient to convict, the, senate voted to expel him. The senate majority felt, as Col. Roosevelt says he would feel if he were a colleague of LaFollette, that their self-respect would not permit them to associate on even terms with a man of doubtful loyalty. It is not pleasant to think that the record of an Indianian serves as a precedent for such cases as that of the Wisconsin senator, but history is history and example is example. If the senate wishes to get rid of the pestiferous LaFollette, it can do so, and it ought to do so.