The friend who sent us Liet. [sic] Jackson’s letter for publication says, “In another letter, Lieut. Jackson speaks of one or two cowards, but says he will mention no names, so we are left in the dark as to who they are, excepting what we hear from other sources. We think they should be published as an example.”
Now, we think entirely different. No man is a coward by his own choice or election. – Cowardice, although considered an unworthy trait of character – certainly an unfortunate one – is a natural result of the peculiar organization of the despised being who is afflicted with it; he can no more control the de[illegible] of it in the face of danger than [illegible: an infant?] can keep from crying when in pain: it is a fact, it cannot be of his own willful making and is not a crime; and therefore we should pity rather than abuse the miserable creature whose physical deficiency makes him a coward. Thus far we differ with “civilized” society. We have not the heart to abuse a man because he can’t help running when another points a loaded gun at him and means to shoot. Although it is an unfortunate thing for our army that there are so many of that kind of men in it, yet there are cowards at home, as well as in the army, of a different manner and character – a kind of moral coward – who willfully take advantage of every opportunity to strike at the heart of loyalty, by continually finding faults and magnifying them, in the character and conduct of the only loyal and brave. Such persons do more injury to the cause of the Union that the man who runs from bullets can possibly do.
When we have a little more time and space we propose showing up these moral cowards in their proper light. They are the persons to make “examples” of, and not the poor fool who is a coward against his own will.
– Published in the Stark County News, Thursday, February 5, 1863
Now, we think entirely different. No man is a coward by his own choice or election. – Cowardice, although considered an unworthy trait of character – certainly an unfortunate one – is a natural result of the peculiar organization of the despised being who is afflicted with it; he can no more control the de[illegible] of it in the face of danger than [illegible: an infant?] can keep from crying when in pain: it is a fact, it cannot be of his own willful making and is not a crime; and therefore we should pity rather than abuse the miserable creature whose physical deficiency makes him a coward. Thus far we differ with “civilized” society. We have not the heart to abuse a man because he can’t help running when another points a loaded gun at him and means to shoot. Although it is an unfortunate thing for our army that there are so many of that kind of men in it, yet there are cowards at home, as well as in the army, of a different manner and character – a kind of moral coward – who willfully take advantage of every opportunity to strike at the heart of loyalty, by continually finding faults and magnifying them, in the character and conduct of the only loyal and brave. Such persons do more injury to the cause of the Union that the man who runs from bullets can possibly do.
When we have a little more time and space we propose showing up these moral cowards in their proper light. They are the persons to make “examples” of, and not the poor fool who is a coward against his own will.
– Published in the Stark County News, Thursday, February 5, 1863
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