The American Spectator

Phil, I don’t really disagree with much that either you or James have said. I think the Civil War revisionists have a case when it comes to critiquing the Union but less so when it comes to defending the Confederacy.

That said, many Southerners still have appreciation for the sacrifices of their ancestors for reasons having nothing to do with slavery, just as many fought for the Confederate cause for reasons having nothing to do with slavery (even though I myself believe that cause is tainted by the leading role the slave power played). But if we are going to disown everyone who has ever uttered an unorthodox thought on this subject, we’d have to get rid of many of the conservative movement’s founding fathers (including Frank Meyer), Walter Williams, and, if the last few Reader Mail debates on the subject are at all representative, about half our readers. I’d rather not do that.