VP Beast Butler?

[Rick Smith]

(12-17-2014 01:04 PM)Don1946 Wrote:  

(12-15-2014 03:37 PM)Rick Smith Wrote:  Robert James, father of Frank & Jesse, died in California around 1850 and Gene is correct, he was a highly educated Baptist minister.

The white supremacist tag is an easy one to assign to Southerners when feelings run high, but there was plenty to go around from Northerners and Union people as well. Some of Mr. Lincoln's comments regarding blacks could be tagged as racist or supremacist.

A little thoughtfulness is called for, I think, on the issue.

Rick, I gather you concede that Jesse James was a violent murderer and robber? But you are concerned that he is unfairly branded as a pro-slavery white supremacist? I don't think there is any debate over which side he was on, is there? According to Stiles, who was cited earlier as an authority, he and his gang were aligned with the Klan, wore hoods, repudiated emancipation, shot blacks on sight. Lincoln's views on race, James's father's piety, or northern attitudes on race are completely irrelevant to this matter.

Do you really want to defend Jesse James?!

I'm curious why so many posters who seem hostile to Lincoln's ideals and so eager to vindicate the Confederacy are drawn to this forum. Am I alone in finding this strange?

Don,

I am not here to defend Jesse James, but only take exception to your use of a modern phrase and looking at the 19th century through a 21st century lens.

As to Mr. Lincoln's politics; I would not attempt to defend those either.

Rick